Mark Lamb prepares to strike at a penalty corner. (right) Sam McCambridge the Australian centre forward.
Belper 6 - Guildford 2
Captain Lamb inspires Nailers victory
Scorers: M Lamb (2), Ben Walton, Sam McCambridge, James Hewitt, Mark Borsuk
Skipper, Mark Lamb, scored two goals to inspire the young Nailers side to victory against Guildford over the weekend. The Nailers hit 6 goals past Guildford, the team that sent them crashing out of the Premier Division on the last day of the season, but were helpless as the Nailers finally showed their real potential. Coach Ben Lamb added "It was a fantastic performance although I was disappointed to have conceded first". "We have been threatening to do that in the past 3 games and I'm just delighted for the lads that we came good today". "I think we showed our supporters that we can play some great hockey" added Lamb.
The game, delayed 5 minutes due to surface water on the pitch, started at a high tempo with both teams trading blows in midfield. The Nailers without Steve Tee, shuffled the pack with Jack Wells reverting to right back and Martin Beckford stepping into midfield, took the opening minutes of the game to get used to the change in personnel. This unsettled the Nailers and led to a lapse in concentration as the men from Guildford opened the scoring with a well crafted goal. A quick free hit was fired into the circle and a deflection saw the ball enter the goal in off the far post.
As is customary the Nailers fought back and equalised through Mark Lamb from open play as he was allowed to pick up the ball and enter the circle unopposed to crash the ball home. Lamb's goal seemed to give the Belper boys confidence and then it was one way traffic. The Nailers continued to press the Guildford defence, resulting in a couple of penalty corners. The Nailers were unable to convert these into goals as Lamb's hitting was surprisingly off target. However, after another penalty corner harmlessly rolled wide a Guildford defender in desperation to set a counter attack up with Belper committed forward, presented the ball to Sam McCambridge who's instinctive pass found Lamb on the top of the circle to sweep the ball high into the net to give the Nailers a 2-1 lead at half time.
The second half started cautiously for the Nailers as Guildford looked for a quick response. Guildford throw everything at the Nailers, but Slane and Lamb marshalled the defence well. Chances started to come for the Nailers as Guildford pushed men forward. In their desperation the men from Guildford were reduced to 9 men after 2 yellow cards, the first particularly harsh. With a 2 man advantage Belper capatilised from a penatly corner, converted by James Hewitt who flicked the ball low to the keepers right. Further good play down the right then saw the lead grow, as an excellent advantage played by the umpire, saw the ball bounce up in front of goal for Ben Walton to smash home for his 1st goal in his second spell back at the club. Sam McCambridge then made it 5 as he chased a lofted ball from Mark Lamb, beat the defender and keeper to slot home. Guildford then grabbed a consolation goal at the other end before Mark Borsuk, making his National League debut, added the 6th with his first touch.
It was an excellent display from the Nailers and shows real signs of promise for the future. The Nailers continue on their league campaign away at Sheffield University Bankers and then away again the following weekend against Brooklands MU.