Saturday 1st October 2011
The Baris Northern Counties East League Division One
Shirebrook Town 2 – 1 Handsworth


Danny Naylor produced a goal worthy of winning any match to give Shirebrook their first win in six games. Man of the match Alex Haughton had given the home side the lead in the first half, this lasted just 2 minutes as Tom Roebuck pulled Handsworth level.

Manage Micky Taylor had Jones, Ludlow and Jackson back in the team and new signing Grant Hackett made his debut. The formation was a 3-5-2 combination with Captain Jones marshalling the midfield.

Handsworth lie second in the league and must have thought it would be an easy 3 points against a side that before today were leaking goals like a sieve.

The home side could have been in front after just five minutes; Julian Topliss sent clear by Danny Naylor saw his effort hoked off the line by Grant Allott after keeper Rob Poulter could only parry his goal-bound drive.

Both teams fought hard to dominate and the tackles went in thick and fast. The impressive Haughton was upended in the box after 33 minutes and Poulter superbly saved the resulting spot kick. Fully stretched he turned Topliss’s low drive around the post.

Haughton had to wait five minutes for his next chance to beat Poulter, sent clear by a Naylor pass he calmly guided the ball past the advancing keeper to put the home side in front.

The lead lasted just 2 minutes, despite having four defenders round him Tom Roebuck was allowed to turn and fire a low drive that nestled into the corner of the net.

Scott bates saw his glancing header hooked off the line by Lewis Jackson on 51 minutes as Handsworth put pressure on the Shirebrook goal.

Topliss saw his effort easily saved by Poulter on 61 minutes and after 70 minutes he thought he had put the home side in front when he fired past Poulter only for the linesman’s flag to deny him.

Both sides were creating chances, Naylor fired his 25 yard effort wide and at the other end Roebuck saw his 20 yard drive miss the target as well.

The winning goal came on 77 minutes; Naylor released Haughton down the left flank. The striker advanced into the box, with four defenders blocking his route to goal he rolled the ball back to Naylor 25 yards out. Naylor’s shot flew like an exocet missile into the corner of the net with the fully stretched Poulter completely beaten.

Naylor tried an audacious effort on 80 minutes; a full 65 yards from goal he had Poulter back peddling to deny what would have been goal of the season.

A minute later, with Handsworth’s back four all over the place, Haughton saw his edge of the box drive turned around the post for a corner.

Jason White produced a point blank save when Dave Cockerill had turned neatly in the box on 82 minutes.

The final chance of the game fell to Alex Haughton, Andy Jones won the ball on the right flank and then fed Haughton, and his looped effort was turned over the bar by Poulter.

Shirebrook Town: White, McLane (Bowring 75), Jackson L, Ludlow, Hackett, McGurk, Jones, Meehan, Haughton, Topliss (Jackson G 87), Naylor (Davey 85). Subs not used: Thomas & Lyall.

Handsworth: Poulter, Johnson, Hill, Roebuck, Kippax, Allott, Ward (Crapper 72), Patterson, Bates, Cockerill, Hill (Smith 25). Subs not used: Torr, Snee & Tootle

Referee: Mr Adam Smith (Derbyshire)

Assistants: Mr Andy Bills (Nottinghamshire) & Mr Charles Cresswell-Hibbert (Nottinghamshire).

Littlewoods Pools Man of the Match: Alex Haughton

Attendance: 108