A First Win

A huge sigh of relief went up at the Meadow at the sound of the final whistle yesterday as Belper recorded their first win of the season. Leaders Rainworth were in town but to be honest their two opening wins looked more like fortunate results than a team that is genuinely going to be challenging for promotion come April. Having said that we'd rather have been in their position than the 18th place we held at kick off. A cracking strike from 'veteran' Andy Rushbury (a 2nd half sub playing his 296th game for Belper Town) was the difference between the teams and that didn't arrive until the 86th minute. Photos can be seen here:

Belper v Rainworth

Joe Carter was in the Rainworth line up and had a superb game, keeping Ruben Wiggins-Thomas and Lee Morris quiet, although a foul on Lee went unpunished in the second half that really should have been a penalty. We think the ref chickened out of the penalty as he would have had to send Carts off as last man and that would have been very harsh.

Team Photo 2011/12

Jon Froggatt

Before the game the annual team photos were taken (see yesterdays post for more details). The players behaved themselves for a change and it all went off well. First I did the individual headshots for the programme and the papers and then I did the team picture.  Reviewing the photos afterwards I think there was just one player missing from today, Alan O'Hare, I'll have to catch up with him at a game in the future although he has missed his chance to be on the team photo for this season.

Also I took along my netbook as Tommy Taylor had asked for music to be played as the players came out and after each goal. As it turned out Nigel was doing the team line ups as they came out so no music there and no-one to play the music when the goal went in so all in all not a good day. Also there were endless moans from the fans about the music being too loud but what they didn't know was that Tommy T had asked for it to be loud as he thinks the ground is like a morgue ! I think I'll leave it at home next time. Having said that the next two games are away, Lincoln United on Tuesday night and Romulus on Saturday - will be missing that one as we're away for a few days over the bank holiday. Back in time for the game on Monday against local rivals Ilkeston though. Back to work and cycling between now and then all being well.