Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

BELPER TOWN 1 – 2 DROYLSDEN

FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round (Replay) - Tuesday 28 October 2008

Report by Gary Owen

A much-improved performance from The Bloods saw them comfortably through this tricky replay to secure a trip to Coca-Cola League Two high flyers Darlington in the first round on Saturday week.

Droylsden stormed into a two-goal lead in the first-half, and always looked in control throughout the 90 minutes, despite the inevitable pressure from the home side in the closing stages.

It was the Nailers who had the first chance, though, through Lee Stevenson, but his snap shot flew yards wide.

However, Droylsden then took control and gave a sign of things to come when Liam Brownhill broke forward to shoot wide.

A brace of goals in a five minute spell ultimately proved the undoing of Belper and gave Droylsden the platform and confidence to progress. The first came after Kevin Townson had forced a save from Paul Pettinger, and Brownhill's follow-up from the rebound was blocked for a corner. From the resultant flag kick, Jamie McGuire volleyed into the far corner from the edge of the box.

A minute later, Brownhill again got a strike on goal, but it was too high, after Matthew Tipton's free kick had been blocked by the Belper wall.

The second goal arrived on 20 minutes, and what a cracker it was! Townson collected a pass from Steve Beck on the right flank, and cut inside two defenders to measure a drive past Pettinger's left hand post from just inside the box.

Droylsden rode out the rest of the half, but always looked capable of adding to their tally, but the two-goal cushion remained at the break.

Anthony Wilson headed over for Belper shortly after the re-start, but Tipton almost immediately forced another good save from Pettinger at the other end.

Tipton again almost added to Droylsden's tally, but he hooked over when at full stretch at the far post.

A crucial moment arrived on 65 minutes when a Belper corner fell invitingly for Eric Graves unmarked at the far port. As he brought the ball down to shoot, but Craig Mawson appeared from nowhere to throw his body in the way and block the shot when a goal seemed certain.

Carl Lamb then won a tussle on the wing with Mark Barnard and crossed low for Townson at the near post, but his steered his first-time effort just wide.

Beck also saw an effort go wide, and Pettinger was alert to Sean Newton's free kick as Droylsden looked to make the tie safe.

In the final minute, Belper did pull a goal back, when Wilson headed home from a corner kick, but Droylsden showed good composure during the added four minutes by keeping possession and securing a potentially lucrative trip to the north-east.

In the meantime, a victory over Blyth Spartans at home will also see them keep in touch with the league leaders, which can be capitalised upon with the games in hand that The Bloods now have at their disposal.

TEAMS:

Belper Town

Pettinger, Colliver, Barnard, Smith (Graves, 56'), Harcourt (Hobson, 73'), Haig, Hudson, Stevenson, Walker (Tracey, 45'), Wilson, Rushbury.

Unused Subs: Ghaichem, Pride, Carney.

Droylsden

Mawson, Brownhill, Newton, Byron, Cryan, Sorvel, Beck, McGuire, Lamb, Tipton, Townson (Brown, 81').

Unused Subs: Dugdale, Roche, Prince, Rouse, Clancy

Referee: Mr. Nick Hobbis (Birmingham, West Midlands)

ATTENDANCE: 568