Nailers rock Gladiators with big win to move on in FA Cup
MARGETTS HAT-TRICK SEES BELPER OVERTURN FORM
JONNY Margetts hit a hat-trick as Belper Town stunned Matlock Town with a 3-0 FA Cup first qualifying round win at the Proctor Cars Stadium.
The Gladiators, a division higher than the Nailers in the Northern Premier League, went into the tie on a five-game winning streak but barely laid a glove on Belper in front of a 1,052 crowd.
The Nailers simply showed more desire and were competent in all areas of the field, while the Gladiators did not seriously test visiting goalkeeper Myles Wright until the 92nd minute, when substitute Callum Chippendale saw a fierce strike beaten away. It was too late by then.
The match had not started well for Matlock when Ross Hannah, back after suspension, pulled up with a hamstring injury and had to be replaced by Jesurun Uchebgulam in only the eighth minute.
Belper then lost full-back Ben Rhodes to injury after 18 minutes, Harvey Kozluk coming on.
But they took the lead after 25 minutes.
Belper recycled a cleared corner, returned the ball into the box and Margetts reacted quickest to lift a close-range finish into the roof of the net.
The Nailers dominated midfield, with Brodie Litchfield at the heart of things, while Matlock did not look like finding a way to unlock a solid yellow back line.
Craig Nelthorpe, like Margetts, a former Gladiator, curled a shot wide as he cut in from the right in the 40th minute.
Matlock managed only a soft strike from Alex Wiles which dribbled through to Wright.
Mark Lees drove a shot into the sidenetting early in the second period and Alex Byrne shot tamely at Wright.
The introduction of Chippendale seemed to pep up Matlock for a while but Belper doubled their lead after 68 minutes.
Margetts broke clear and, inside the box, was pulled back by Jamie Sharman, who was sent off.
Margetts sent Rowley the wrong way from the spot.
Only 90 seconds later, it was 3-0 when Margetts found himself free again, sidestepping Rowley and rolling the ball in to complete his treble.
Chippendale’s shot was deflected wide and Lees drove harmlessly over the top but Matlock’s normally stable defence had been undermined, far too easily.
Josh Woodcock’s shot was caught by Rowley and Margetts might have had a fourth, capitalising on an error by Mark Lees in midfield before curling a shot against the bar.
A Byrne free kick flew off target and Chippendale’s late effort was the closest Matlock came on an afternoon for them to forget.
Belper and their fans will remember it for a long time as a day when they got almost everything right.
MICKLEOVER came through their first qualifying round tie away to Leek Town, winning 2-0 in a game played at Buxton’s Silverlands ground, Leek’s temporary home.
It was surprising that the game reached half-time goalless.
Stuart Beavon hit the post for Mickleover in the first minute and Leek twice hit the post, while keeper Callum Hawkins also pulled off a fine save.
However, it took only a minute of the second half for Mickleover to get ahead, with a well-taken goal from the prolific Andy Dales.
Leek continued to create chances in the second half but Dec Bacon settled the tie with a tap-in after 86 minutes.
LONG Eaton United are also through, winning 2-1 at home to Coleshill Town.
Danny Gordon had them in front in the fourth minute and Jamie Walker doubled the lead after 70 minutes. A Kieren Donnelly penalty for Coleshill with three minutes left came too late to change the course of the tie.
ILKESTON Town are out, losing 2-1 away to Halesowen Town.
Harry White scored twice in five minutes just after the half-hour to give the Robins an uphill task and Zac Goodson’s goal after 59 minutes was not enough.
ALFRETON Town were hit by a stoppage time goal to go down 3-2 away to Chester in Vanarama National North.
In a frantic 10 minutes in the first half, former Reds winger John Johnston forced keeper George Willis to save at his near post, then had a second effort which Adam Lund cleared off the line, while Josh Clackstone’s fierce shot at the other end spun off a defender and only just cleared the bar.
Chester went ahead after half an hour when James Hardy picked his spot, given too much time and space in the box.
The home side were down to 10 men after 72 minutes when Danny Livesey took out Bailey Hobson on the touchline and received a straight red card.
Alfreton equalised after 80 minutes when Matt Rhead lashed in a loose ball in a crowded box but they were only level for a minute.
Declan Weeks restored Chester’s lead before a scuffle in front of the dugouts resulted in a red card for Chester joint-manager Anthony Johnson.
Alfreton pressed again and a lopping header from Rhead, from Clackstone’s cross, saw them level again with three minutes of normal time left.
There was heartbreak to follow, though, when, six minutes into stoppage time, Dan Cowan headed in a corner to win it for Chester.