Belper record third successive victory

By Jermaine Johnstone

 

Belper Town secured a third straight win over AFC Mansfield despite going down to 10 men at the Silver X Stadium to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The first chance of the game went the way of the home side when Nathan Curtis got on the end of a Danny South header in the box and volleyed just over the bar.

A dominant opening 15 minutes should have been rewarded with a goal when George Milner broke down the left side in the 14th minute and found Craig Nelthorpe with a low cross, but the midfielders effort failed to trouble Jason White in the Mansfield goal.

Sebastian Malkowski was largely a spectator in the first half, but was called into action 20 minutes in  to catch Keaton Ward’s underwhelming free-kick from 25 yards out.

Belper had a penalty appeal turned away by the referee just eight minutes later when Alfred Thompson got to the byline and whipped in a great cross aiming for South. The striker went down under pressure from the Mansfield centre halfs, but the referee Hristo Karaivanov was unmoved.

Belper started the second half just as they had spent the first and had another great chance to take the lead just over 60 seconds into the second period. A corner fell to the feet of Danny Gordon on the left side of the box and the midfielder squared for South on the penalty spot whose effort was blocked on the line.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 54th minute of the game when Nelthorpe broke down the left and beat Mansfield right back Liam Marsden to get to the byline before whipping in a delicious cross for South to head in from point blank.

Nelthorpe nearly got on the scoresheet himself just before the hour mark when the ball fell to him on the edge of the area and he worked space for a low shot. The midfielders goal-bound effort was blocked Jack Broadhead.

The Nailers’ task was made harder by the dismissal of captain Alex Peterson just after the hour, the defender adjudged to have brought down Charlie Dawes on the edge of the box to receive a second booking.

Belper sealed the victory six minutes from time when Milner won the ball back high up the pitch and drove at the Mansfield back four before releasing Derry Robson who coolly slotted home to put the game beyond the visitors.

The result means Belper have secured a first clean sheet since December and move to within two points of the top six, but have played a game more than sixth placed Ossett United.

Belper Town: Malkowski, Thompson, Clark, Nelthorpe (Mackie 86), Peterson, Assenso, Robson, Gordon (Coy 89), South, Milner Curtis (Crouz 75). Unused subs: Owen

AFC Mansfield: White, Marsden, Annable, Lindley (Wall 55), Lawrence (D’laryea 80), Broadhead, Dear, Buxton, Fearon, Ward, Dawes (Ghaichem 75). Unused subs: Dudley, Crosby

Referee: Hristo Karaivanov

Attendance: 302