Derbyshire Senior Cup Off To Dramatic Start After 3 Year Absence.

After a Covid inspired absence of 3 years the Derbyshire Senior Cup kicked off with 4 first round ties drawn out. Unfortunately, Clay Cross Town have withdrawn from the competition so opponents New Mills go through to Round 2, leaving 3 ties to be played.

South Normanton defend.

Joining New Mills are Belper United of the United Counties League Premier Division (Step 5) 2-1 winners over a resilient South Normanton Athletic of the Central Midlands League South (Step 7).

When Covid originally interrupted football South Normanton Athletic were looking forward to a final against Belper Town having beaten Matlock Town in the Derbyshire Senior Cup Semi-Final. By co-incidence their next game in the competition is at the home of Belper Town but against tenants Belper United.

Belper get a shot at goal.

The Game

A full moon helped set the mood on a chilly evening at the Raygar Stadium, though most of us long standing local football fans will always know it as Christchurch Meadow. As expected Belper won through in a game they dominated possession but that doesn’t tell the whole story of this enthralling cup tie. South Normanton, with a good following amongst the 100ish crowd, took the lead when Connor Mogford fired an angled shot past United keeper Curtis Hall on 26 minutes. Belper had been pressing from the start, using the wings well and trying to play through the well organised Athletic defence. This was the pattern of play pretty much throughout the tie and with Belper chipping away at the Normo back line trying to find a way through and South Normanton hoping to get something from a break away.

 

South Normanton repel another attack.

The week before I’d watched Chesterfield have similar problems with a Dagenham & Redbridge side who defended exactly the same, 2 lines of 4 close together making it difficult for their opponents to play through. The difference here being that Dagenham’s attack were more lethal, or was it Chesterfield’s defence being less organised, anyway, Daggers had a 3-0 half time lead in that game, here South Normanton had just the 1 goal advantage.

The second half continued in the same vein and just after Normanton’s Ryan Fowler had to leave after a crunching challenge Belper were level after Alex Steadman converted a 50^th minute penalty awarded for a foul in the area.

 

Belper on the attack.

As the evening got colder, big coat and woolly hat weather for some of us, the linesman confirmed it was straight to penalties if the game was drawn. A South Normanton defender decided to bring that forward and on 88 minutes a 2^nd penalty was awarded to the home side, it was needed as there didn’t seem any way they were going to break through this defence. With Alex Steadman being subbed for Luke Crosby on 65 minutes the penalty kick duty fell to Martin Smyth, who duly smacked the ball against the bar, to cheers from the South Normanton fans and groans from the rest of us who wanted to warm up.

 

Martin Smyth's penalty heads towards the bar.

That 65^th minute sub, Luke Crosby, had caught the eye since coming on as he danced by the Normanton defenders to set up chances for his teammates. It was in the 4^th minute over the 90 that he jinked past a defender and put the ball into the penalty area where Richard Hanslow flicked it between Normanton’s Adam Vardy & Dylan Storer into the back of Will Sherwood’s net to put the home side into round 2.

Luke Crosby about to "assist".

 

Richard Hanslow flicks Belper United in to Round 2.

Despair for South Normanton in the 94th minute.

Harsh for South Normanton as their heroic defensive efforts deserved a chance of a penalty shoot-out but Belper United persevered to eventually break through.

 

Belper United celebrate Hanslow's goal and victory.

Going out of the ground I felt slightly overdressed as a guy was still in shorts on what was a cold night, well, for some of us.

Belper United 2 South Normanton Athletic 1

1. Curtis Hall                                                       1. Will Sherwood
2. Dominic Allen                                                  2. Lee Carter
3. John Guy                                                        3. Leo Marshall
4. Jack Tyson                                                      4. Ross Hardy
5. Marc Strzyzewsk                                             5. Elliott Bland
6. Thomas Mason                                                6. Ryan Fowler
7. Henry Adams                                                  7. Luke Smithson
8. Martin Smyth                                                  8. Adam Vardy
9. Richard Hanslow                                              9. Sam Kellam
10. Kieran O’Connell                                           10. Connor Mogford
11. Alex Steadman                                              11. Matt Fowler
Subs
12. Harley Kozluk 68 for Allan)                            12. Jack Evans
14. Jake Dodds                                                  14. Matt Hill (86 for Smithson)
16. Joshua Gregory                                            15. Michael Gawlik (50 for R. Fowler)
17. Ben Ollett (46 for Adams)                              18. Dylan Storer (63 for Hardy)
20. Luke Crosby (65 for Steadman)

Scorers; Belper United; Steadman (50, pen), Hanslow (90+4). South Normanton Athletic; Mogford (26)
Bookings; South Normanton Athletic; Hardy (25), Storer (75).
Attendance; @100

The Ground.

Belper United’s stay at Christchurch Meadow is coming to an end as NPL Premier Belper Town don’t want to renew the agreement. It’s due to the facilities here that they can stage step 5 football and The Nailers have got a great ground that’s been developed over the last 25 years.

The tea bar at Belper Town and a handy shelf.

The ground is next door to Christ Church and a narrow road leads from the A6, it’s also the access road for next door neighbours Belper Hockey Club. You can see the turnstile block as you come to the end of the approach though for tonight the double gates were open and the system of payment was to the bloke at the table. No programmes tonight, dissapointingly, something that is becoming a regular feature. Belper do usually produce but I guess there’s no requirement for the Senior Cup.

Once inside the ground I noticed two major developments since my last visit pre-Covid. Behind the far goal, the River Derwent end, is a 4g pitch, fenced of and used by teams to warm up pre-match and for hire by Belper Town. This used to be a patch of grass used as now for training etc but also for kids to have a kickabout during the game, now the club have a well used facility. There is a strip of hard standing for spectators of the game at this end.

 

Belper Town's 4g pitch behind the far goal.

Behind the near goal, the Church end the club have built a new entrance building for officials to be processed through. Just past this is a fantastic new covered terrace which looks quite impressive as it straddles either side of the goal with a small section of uncovered terrace just beyond this. These are the newest structures at the ground and have no doubt ticked some ground grading boxes as well as providing excellent cover for supporters.

 

The new, impressive, covered terrace at Belper Town.

Before the new covered terrace was built (2007)

On the side next to the Hockey Club is a 500 seat main stand which was built in 2003, just 4 years after the new clubhouse and changing room complex was constructed, which is behind this stand..

 

The main stand in 2007.

On the opposite side, which is where you enter the ground, is mostly flat hard standing with the expanse behind this used for car parking. The dug outs are on this side and to the right as you look from the pitch is the Reg Walker covered terrace near the previously mentioned turnstile block.

 

The Reg Walker covered terrace in 2019.

Fantastic facilities but for Belper United it will mean playing outside of Belper again next season if they are to continue at step 5 of the pyramid. Previously they’ve used Borrowash Victoria’s Asterdale Bowl, what the Chairman has in mind now, we will have to wait and see.

Borrowash Victoria, former landlords of United.

Belper United have got a Council owned facility that they use, Alton Manor on Nailers Way, but this is for their reserve and youth teams and certainly not suitable for the level the club have worked to achieve. It’s unlikely this facility will be redeveloped even though there is plenty of land around as well as an housing estate.

Cover at Alton Manor in 2012

Making a mark at Alton Manor (2012)

Ultimately, the club need their own ground and starting from scratch that is a big task.

Eight clubs were due to play in the 1^st Round of the Derbyshire Senior Cup, I’ve mentioned the walkover for New Mills and you know Belper United progressed but did you know that on the same night Belper and South Normanton were playing out this cracking game Sandiacre Town were winning 2-1 at Stapenhill. The following evening Staveley Miners Welfare hosted Heanor Town and it was Heanor who went through with a 4-0 win.

The 2^nd Round draw is due out on Thursday 20^th October and the venue for this season’s final has still now been decided, look out for it and get yourself down to a game.