Five star show is history, warns Duffield

Belper Town manager Peter Duffield is hailing the five star show his Nailers put on for fans on Saturday during the 5-0 win over Market Drayton but warning against complacency, writes Nigel Oldrini.

The win saw the Nailers climb into fourth spot in Evo-Stik NPL First Division South above King's Lynn Town but Duffield knows that there’s a long way to go before anything is decided with his side facing a trip to Carlton on Saturday before welcoming league leaders Coalville Town to Christchurch Meadow next Tuesday.

Duffield, pictured, said: "There will be many changes in league placings before the end of the season and we have three important games coming up starting with Carlton on Saturday and Coalville on Tuesday. We then face Gresley in the next game and although these games won't decide anything it's an important week for us."

Karl Colley's unavailability and Darryl Thomas's groin strain meant that the weekend's Nailers virtually picked themselves. According to Duffield, the balance of the side looked to be just about right with competition for places strong.

"We've got a strong squad now so I know whoever I select will do a job for us and we are able to handle pressure much better than we did earlier in the season," he said. "Players know that if they don't perform they can be replaced by squad members who equally good and that's a good position for the club to be in."

Duffield said he was surprised to have won as easily as Satuirday's scoreline suggests and insisted: "I predicted a close game so I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome and we could actually have scored more than we did.

"I was impressed by the way they kept going right until the end even though they had effectively lost the game by half time, but it shows how we have progressed in the last few weeks that we scored five goals without reply and won so comprehensively."

Two goals in a minute helped to set the pattern of the game and Duffield was impressed with all the goals scored.

He said: "Addo [Richard Adams] scored a striker's goal to get us off the mark and Simon Harrison’s effort immediately afterwards was the sort of strike we have come to expect from him.

"Glyn Cotton's goal came about because of a error between the keeper and a defender but was fully deserved as he ran from the edge of our penalty area and never gave up on the cause."

Next up for the Nailers is a a Tuesday night trip to Chesterfield to play at the Spireites impressive Proact Stadium in the Derbyshire Senior Cup. Duffield is looking forward to the opportunity to take a break from league action if the return of wintry weather doesn't see the game postponed.

He added: "We are looking forward to Tuesday's game at Chesterfield because it's a diversion from what we are used to and it's a great opportunity to play on a professional ground. I haven't been to the stadium so it's something I'm looking forward to and I know the players are too."

* Belper's reserves are at home to Rainworth Miners Welfare at Christchurch Meadow on Saturday.