Shirebrook beaten by strong Stapleford

And as the game got underway Stapleford came flying out the box as Harrison Kissane was called into action early on to keep out Max Taylor effort while Jack Messom and David Olatamide both saw shots blocked.

Stapleford came even closer to breaking the deadlock in the 8th minute when a well worked corner routine saw Charlie Jackson smash the ball against the post.

Shirebrook managed to weather that early spell of pressure from Stapleford and started to grow into the game and chances started to follow with Joe Godfrey twice going close while Kian Tansley also fired a shot over the bar.

On the stroke of half time Josh Tate also went close as his shot from the edge of the box was well saved by Danny Brown in the Stapleford goal however neither side managed to make the breakthrough and the sides went in level at the break.

As the second half got underway Stapleford again started fast with Max Taylor and George Harrison going close while Oskar Kruk smashed a shot against the bar.

In the 65th minute the deadlock was broken when Max Taylor found himself in space on the right hand side and he lofted a cross into the box that flew over Harrison Kissane and landed in the goal.

Shirebrook set about trying to get back into the game and had a big shout for a penalty when Joe Godfrey was brought down in the box but the referee waved away the shouts.

Stapleford almost put the game to bed in the 78th minute when they hit the woodwork for the 3rd time in the game, this time George Harrison was the man who was frustrated.

As the game went into the final 10 minutes Shirebrook were throwing everything at Stapleford to try and get a goal back and they almost did in the 86th minute when Joe Shaw put in a cross from the right that was inches away from finding Joe Godfrey.

But, despite a nervy final few minute, Stapleford managed to see out the game and claim all three points.