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OLIVER HAS DEBUT TO REMEMBER 24/11/2008
Dean Oliver won’t forget his Belper Town debut in a hurry after hitting two superbly taken goals in less than 2 minutes to rescue a point against Stamford, and maintain the Nailers` unbeaten home record in the UniBond League Division One South.
The first, a rising shot into the top of the net from 16 yards was followed by a clinical finish into the far corner almost before the cheering had died down from his first strike.
A last-minute signing from UniBond Premier Division neighbours Eastwood Town, Oliver (pictured) had been on loan at Buxton and was recommended to the management team at Belper and, after coming on at half time, he took just 11 minutes to show the Belper supporters what he was capable of.
If he can take just a handful of the wasted opportunities that the Nailers have missed this season then he may just be the final piece in the jigsaw.
Joint-manager Danny Hudson was delighted with Oliver’s debut, saying: “He took his goals fantastically well but that wasn’t all - he showed good movement and held up play really well – it was just what we needed after a poor first half display.”
Oliver was signed almost by accident after Eastwood offered him to Belper when deals for other Badgers’ players didn’t work out.
“He was recommended to us as a good prospect after scoring lots of goals for their reserve team and we were happy to give him a try,” said Hudson.
“He lacks some match fitness but that will come with games but we couldn’t have asked for more from his first appearance in a Belper shirt.”
While the Nailers played well in the second half and thoroughly deserved a point in the end, it was difficult to explain why they looked so disjointed in the first 20 minutes.
They started the game as if they had never played together before and a sharp competent Stamford side had the Nailers chasing shadows.
They were at sixes and sevens when the first goal went in, but no blame could be attached to Paul Pettinger who had saved brilliantly to keep the initial shot out. However, Stamford reacted much quicker to the situation and had the ball in the back of the net very quickly.
The long ball game just didn’t work for Belper and the second goal came from one of the many times that they lost possession in midfield, and Stamford made the most of it and caught the Nailers cold once again.
“It was definitely a game of two halves,” said Hudson, "we thought they would play 4-4-2 but they threw us with a 3-5-2 formation and we just couldn’t re-adjust quickly enough.
“They were a well drilled outfit and possibly the best side we have met in the league this season, but I thought we matched them in the second half and it ended up an entertaining game for the supporters.”
Belper improved slowly up until half time but it took a change of personnel to really kick start things after the break.
Off went Richard Tracey who isn’t having a happy time on the field at the moment and Andy Rushbury who had been ineffective in the first half.
The introduction of Oliver and Ryan Hindley added some zest to the side, but there was a general improvement in attitude and approach that helped to fire up the crowd and create some atmosphere.
Oliver’s goals certainly helped to make it a more entertaining afternoon for the 200-plus supporters and there was no doubt that the new man earned his man of the match accolade.
The visitors wobbled a bit when the second goal went in but they recovered well and the last half hour was end to end and quite frankly either team looked capable of finding a winner.
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