BELPER UTD 1-0 EASTWOOD CFC

Belper Utd..............1 (Jack Tyson 79')
Eastwood CFC.......0

No joy in Derbyshire for Eastwood

Belper Utd leapfrogged over Eastwood in the league table after a dour and uninspiring game on a cold Tuesday evening.

A few half chances in the opening skirmishes produced nothing. Dom Allen fired just wide early on and Jordan Turner for Eastwood saw a shot turned away for a corner on 11 minutes. The home side produced the first bit of quality after 20 minutes when impressive full back Robert Mulonga fed Dylan Garnett inside the box but the danger was averted. The home side were using the width of the pitch with both wingers providing decent chances. Richard Hanslow also tried his luck with a super effort but the shot narrowly went wide of Mark Rathbone's post.

It was cat and mouse stuff with the visitors forward line unable to penetrate a stout defence marshalled well by Marc Strzyzewski and partner Oliver Simpson. The veteran Strzyzewski has been around this league for a fair while and it showed as he dominated and time and again he repelled any threat from the visitors.

Just before the break the best chance of the game. Josh Wright played in Hanslow who should have opened the scoring but his shot fizzed narrowly wide.

Goalless at the break and all to play for. The game continued to be played with both sides respecting one another but neither able to break down the other.

Kieran Knight cleverly played in Sam Moore after 50 but was denied by a linesman's flag as he bore down on Scott Whittingham in the home goal. A free kick at the other end, 22 yards out, was despatched with some venom and speed by 'skipper Martin Smyth and Rathbone done wonderfully well to turn the ball around. A smart save indeed.

The shackles came off both sides as they sought to gain the advantage but in a tight encounter one goal was always going to be enough. After Mr Gray had turned down 2 decent half shouts for a home penalty the break through goal. Jack Tyson took advantage of a defensive error to beat Rathbone and the game was won.

Eastwood had a flurry of half chances but Belper were content to soak up the pressure and go on to record their 7th win of the campaign to sit in second spot in the table.

A bad evening at the office for the Red Badgers and nothing appeared to go right throughout the game. In truth they never posed a serious threat to the home defence and Whittingham was hardly troubled all night.

Quite how Eastwood are unable to reproduce the home form on the road continues to be a matter of debate.

ATTENDANCE ~ 139
REFEREE ~ Wayne Gray
ASSISTANTS ~ David Henfrey and Gary Lacey

BELPER UTD ~ Scott Whittingham, Robert Mulonga, John Guy,
Dominic Allen, Marc Strzyzewski, Dylan Garnett (Ben Rushby 81’)
Oliver Simpson, Martin Smyth, Richard Hanslow (Scott Williamson 90’) Jack Tyson,
Josh Wright (James Osmen 67’)
SUBS NOT USED ~ Ben Robinson and Jake Dodds.
CAUTIONS ~ Osmen (90’ foul)

EASTWOOD CFC ~ Mark Rathbone, David Boafo, Callum McGarry,
David Leak, Jack Andrews, Blair Anderson (Carl Westcarr 75’) Jermain Hollis,
Joe Harrison (Jermaine Palmer 48’) Kieran Knight (C), Sam Moore, Jordan Turner.
SUBS NOT USED ~ James Jepson and Jack Anderson.
CAUTIONS ~ Leak (26’ foul) Palmer (76’ foul)