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Ossett Albion’s
visit to Christchurch Meadow was Belper’s final pre-season friendly
before last Saturday’s big kick off.
The Nailers had to
make two key changes to the starting line up after Mark Barnard and Paul
Pettinger cried off with food poisoning so Scott Lowe came into the
centre of defence and Thomas Pressman, son of reserve team manager Kevin
filled the void between the posts.
Belper had already
played Ossett at Dimple Wells a couple of weeks ago and had returned with
a 4-2 victory so Albion probably felt that they had something to prove at
the Meadow.
It was a lively
start from both sides but it took until the 6th minute before
a serious attempt was made on goal when Andy Catton fired in a shot from
the edge of the area just over the cross bar.
Lee Stevenson went
close with a lazy looking effort from 20 yards in the 14th
minute that went just past the post, but from a corner kick in the 16th
minute Jon Hobson jumped above everyone to nod the ball into the
net.
James Colliver
nearly made it two in the 17th minute with a powerful header
from just inside the penalty area as the Nailers pushed Albion back into
their own half.
Dave Syers forced
Thomas Pressman into his first real save in the 29th minute
with a header that looked set to creep in just under the angle, but
Pressman got a hand to the ball.
The Nailers went
further ahead in the 40th minute when Lee Stevenson
scored with a delightful header from a Jimmy Ghaichem cross and it was
just reward for Belper’s industry throughout the first period.
But an
uncharacteristic error from Colliver in the 43rd minute gave
Ossett an unexpected opportunity to reduce the arrears and Shane
Kelsey took full advantage with a slide rule shot just wide of
Pressman.
The Nailers nearly
regained their two goal lead in the 48th minute when Ghaichem
got to the by-line and crossed for Ben Walker, but his shot bounced up
and over the cross bar.
Great work from
Andy Rushbury set up Ben Walker for a shot on the turn early in the
second period, but Scott Bennett dived at full stretch to palm the ball
away.
The Nailers
conjured up another opportunity in the 68th minute when
Ghaichem worked some magic down the right and crossed to the near post
where Pete Smith scooped the ball over the top.
David Syers had
his sights on the Belper goal in the 73rd minutes but put his
shot narrowly wide as the Nailers were almost caught napping.
However Albion drew
level in the 79th minute when a well-struck shot bounced off
Pressman’s chest leaving Dave Syers to run in an easy equaliser.
Stevenson thought
he was going to score in the 82nd minute when the ball fell to
him on the edge of the six-yard are but Bennett somehow got his body in
the way.
However the
Nailers were gifted an opportunity to regain the lead when an Albion
defender handled inside the box, and allowed Stevenson the
opportunity to score from the penalty spot.
The Nailers’ lead
lasted barely a minute because Gareth Hamlet latched onto a loose
ball on the edge of the six yard area to drill the ball home to leave
things all square at the end.
Photo
Gallery – Courtesy of Tim Harrison Photography
Nigel Odrini
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