The Blues included Wayne White in goal for his first appearance of the season and new signing James Carder was on the bench.

In the first minute the home side had a let off when a Mat McCall corner came back off the outside of the post and then Steadman unleashed a fierce volley which went narrowly wide. On 16 minutes a shot from Scott Downie from a tight angle just shaved the post with Whalin beaten and then Whalin did well to push a header from Marc Stryzewski over the bar from a Mat McCall corner.

It had been nonstop pressure from the Blues with the home side hardly breaking out of their own half. South Normanton’s first shot on goal was from a Chris Murdoch free kick , awarded after ex Blues player Ian Buick had been stopped in his tracks but White saved easily. Just before the break Whalin saved well from a Scott Downie header to keep his side on level terms

The second half saw a more spirited performance from South Normanton but the better chances still fell to the Blues, but Whalin did well to turn a Mat McCall shot round the post and then several good crosses into the box by Adam Holmes and the lively Graham Fowkes weren’t put away or were doggedly cleared by the resolute home defense.

In the closing stages South Normanton had two good chances to take the points when first Ryan Parkes found himself in the clear but blazed his shot over and then Tom Baker shot wide from the edge of the box. A disappointing result for the Blues after their early pressure but credit to the home defense who did their job well against the Blues attack

Below are some pictures from the game, not many due to the poor light.