Match Preview

This Sunday #ThePride make the short journey up the A6 to play Belper Town, the second time this month the teams have met.

The game played at Moorways at the beginning of this month was an entertaining match that swung both ways before a late penalty sealed a 3-2 win for the visitors.

That game was typical of the encounters between the teams, with high scoring, dramatic games the norm. Belper were Pride Park’s first opponents at open age in September 2014, when the DGLL Div 2 game finished with a win for #ThePride after overcoming a two goal deficit - although Belper won the two other meetings of the sides that season.

It was three seasons before the sides met again, the highlight a thrilling League Cup quarter-final which saw another comeback by Pride Park, 2-0 and 3-1 down before four second half goals in fifteen minutes clinched a 5-4 victory.

The late conclusion to last season saw the teams meet in a double header in June at Moorways, which underlined the fine margins between the sides, with Belper the victors in the first “half” (2-0) and Pride Park sealing a 4-2 win in the second “leg”.

Overall, the teams have met 14 times, with six wins apiece and two draws. At an average of over 5 goals per game, serial comebacks, and extremely close fought contests, just like the meeting less than a month ago, the only prediction possible is that it’s unpredictable!

The game at Alton Manor kicks off at 1.30pm