KEEPER SCORES TO SET UP WIN

BELPER UTD 2 DEEPING RANGERS 0

UCL PREMIER NORTH AT CORONATION PARK

4 NOVEMBER 2023 --- 3PM

KEEPER ALFIE ROBERTS RECEIVES THE PLAUDITS FOR HIS GOAL IN BELPER UTD VERSUS DEEPING RANGERS

Belper Utd goalkeeper Alfie Roberts set up this determined victory with a goal via a long range clearance before a wonderful solo goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time from Jacob Edge Lucas sealed the win against a Deeping Rangers side who won the possession stakes but not the finishing part of the game.

A WET WINTRY CORONATION PARK

Another week of the wet stuff saw a reach out for 3g already as early as November and with rain from just after 9am that would remain all day and into Sunday morning there really was no point risking a grass game as they were postponed at regular intervals around the east midlands.

Belper Utd again find themselves out of their home town and in need of a ground they now reside over the border in Nottinghamshire around ten miles away at Eastwood Community FC's ground with the added feature of a guaranteed game barring some heavy snow thanks to the playing surface.

Although this is far from ideal and mostly attendances in two figures the club have been performing well and must have a hardy band of benefactors who have an aim to move the side back to their home in Derbyshire as soon as viable.

ASSISTANT MANAGER AARON HAYER HE WANTS BELPER AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE

After a strong start the club have just gone through the appointment of a new management team in Alex Steadman and Aaron Hayer and with players leaving they have had an immediate development job on their hands with the side having a very young look about it today.

The changes here at Eastwood since my last visit which is probably around five years ago see the main stand losing its white elephant status with the moving of the dugouts meaning vision is returned to most of the stand whereas before only the back couple of rows offered a view of the action.  The small stand opposite has now been overhauled to become the home and away dugouts or should that be stand the only down side being the inability now to walk around the ground.  This though is probably of only a little detriment with the five foot fall away making most of the town end terracing not the most attractive option for spectating. 

OLD STAND NEW MEGA DUGOUTS

Arrival by the usual Comet and R1 options saw the rain still falling as it did for all of the game in a sharp drizzle and mist creating atmosphere that made photographs difficult and then impossible when it was necessary to turn on the floodlights for the second half.  

The obligatory visit to The Coop which has moved in where Sainsbury's was near the ground brought the usual pasty and supplementary cake item before entering Coronation park which proudly boasts of Eastwood Community Fc's partnership with Benfica, although I'm never sure what that brings to either party.

DEEPING EARLY FIRST HALF PRESSURE

There was a warm welcome from the gateman and time for a walk around to take in the changes before trying to get in situ with brolly and camera shielding from the wet stuff.

Sometimes you are at games that produce memorable moments and this afternoon those in attendance were along with the Belper United keeper Alfie Roberts who probably did something he may not do in the rest of his career.  With three minutes coming up on the clock Roberts launched a clearance down field 75 yards away from the Deeping goal as the ball started to find its landing point in front of visiting keeper Thoedore Bromley he took two steps backwards where upon on the second one he lost his footing and while flat on his back could only watch the ball roll into the back of his unprotected goal.

You're not going to see goals like that very often and although there was joy for Roberts you had to feel for Bromley.

REFEREE YAT HIN CRYSTAL LAM HIGHLIGHTS HIS NEW WHISTLE

The misfortune seemed to spur on the visitors who to be fair held the upper hand in the game but could not find the final chance due to the determination of the Belper side.  Indeed two minutes before the break Belper nearly increased their lead when Dylan Garnett saw his effort saved by Bromley.

The second period once again saw the visitors having the upper hand in the possession count but this Belper side was working so hard to keep them out and protect that unique goal lead.  On 72 minutes Roberts turned into stopper when he pulled off a sharp save to deny Tom Waumsley close in.  It would be Waumsley who would miss an absolute sitter in front of goal in the closing stages of the ninety when it seemed easier to score.  At this stage it looked like that may signal the end of the Deeping goal scoring options and it had to be noted that two absolute beautiful crosses off the right from Spencer Tinkler went unconverted in the middle too.

DEEPING KEEPER BROMLEY COMES TO CLAIM

The game entered the seventh minute of stoppage time and it looked like Roberts would steal all the headlines but that was not to count for the skill of Edge-Lucas who stormed forward and with Sam Smith screaming for the ball to his left he ignored him, drove on and fired into the back of the net from the edge of the penalty box for a wonderful solo goal.

A game of contrasts Deeping will wonder how they lost this game but on the other hand although they had to resolutely defend for long periods of the game the effort and work rate put in by this Belper side was equally deserving of reward.

Return journey was in reverse to the outward one and by a rare public transport success story a quick change in Alfreton saw an arrival back at base just fifty minutes after leaving Eastwood.

BELPER UNITED FIRST HALF ATTACK