Nailers are set back by home defeat
BELPER Town’s long unbeaten run in the BetVictor South East Division was ended by a 2-1 defeat at home to Worksop Town.
The Nailers came into the game fourth in the table and that is where they stayed, as Stocksbridge Park Steels, who could have overtaken them, lost 3-0 away to second-placed Stamford.
The first 10 minutes were quiet before a low James Carvell cross was met by George Milner, who forced a good save from Worksop keeper David Reay.
Phil Watt then directed a low header which was tipped away by Reay.
Belper had a scare when a soft pass back from Watt meant keeper Ryan Musselwhite had to hook the ball out for a corner.
The Tigers took the lead after 40 minutes when a pass from deep found Matthew Sykes, who chipped Musselwhite and the ball went on off the underside of the bar.
Belper were unlucky not to get an equaliser early in the second half, when a corner developed into a goalmouth scramble that saw numerous close-range shots kept out by a sea of Worksop bodies.
The Nailers were denied again by Reay, who pushed a Danny South header away.
After a flat period in the game, Worksop grabbed their second after 71 minutes.
Steve McDonnell led a counter-attack that was finished off a Freddy Tracey.
With just under 10 minutes left, Belper substitute Charlie Dawes, just inside the box, curled a shot into the corner to give the Nailers hope but they could not find an equaliser as they lost for the first time since December.