Belper Town v Chorley

Another trip down the A6 - maybe the Chorley team coach should have gone the same way (!) - after all Chorley IS on the A6 as well. As the Smiffymobile was pulling into Belper I (driver) spotted Darren and Nellie, i.e. "One Man and his Dog", who had walked it from Chorley over a four day stretch. I pulled baby camera out of pocket and passed to Mrs Smiffy (passenger)...here's Darren and Nellie less than 300 yards "from the finish" (together with bits of Vauxhall Astra - and the car behind !!).





I believe they've raised well over £1,000 for the club - if anyone out there would like to donate, you should be able to get in touch via ....


http://www.magpiesinspace.co.uk

I leapt out of the car in Belper (it was going to Derby to pick up daughter, and a first stab at moving some of her "Stuff" back from university) - a quick beer in the George and Dragon before arriving at the Meadow. When I arrived there was a large bag of balloons on the pitch - then I noticed the officials having a wander round as well - oh the juxtaposition !!! If you're unsure the match officials are in the top right hand corner - the balloons are red....

As you've gathered from the first sentence, the Chorley team bus was stuck in traffic, which led to the kick-off being put back 30 minutes - so you're guaranteed that phrase "they were still getting off the bus when Belper took the lead" as Chorley's 345th goalkeeper of the season Threlfall fumbled a shot, and Stevenson finished it off.

1-0 to Belper ..... Lee Stevenson "wheels away" ...

Ten minutes later however Chorley equalised - yes they'd "got off the bus" - a very dodgy goal this one, with offside players everywhere - still if Belper 'keeper Ogden had connected with his original clearance.....anyway 1-1 it was.

Chorley's equaliser was a "Tale of Two Adam's" - Roscoe & Ogden.

Belper regained the lead just before half-time when Paulo Piliero got on the end of a corner - the second half - it could have gone either way, as there was next to nowt between the two teams - however with about twenty minutes to go, a ball into the Chorley box was "not dealt with", and in the ensuing melee, Danny Hudson was fouled - Rushbury converting the resultant penalty.

Bodies everywhere - penalty the only outcome ...

Chorley might well be in one of the automatic relegation places as the moment - but we still have the close-season and the "Unibond re-orgainisation" - anything could happen.

There are some other (bigger) pix to be found at....

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/BelperChorley2/

Last word however goes to "Nellie" - after a 90 mile walk - this looks like a good option !!