As performances go it also ranked as one of the best, bearing mind that the Zebras had made a positive start to the new campaign, losing only once from seven games.

Belper gave away an awful goal against the run of play after around half an hour and then struggled to get the goal that would have least earned them a share of the points which was the minimum they deserved.

Belper manager Andy Carney was at a loss to explain the reason why his side had failed to find the net for the third home game running.

“I can’t believe that we lost that game,” he said, “we dominated for 80 minutes, created a hatful of half chances and three or four genuine opportunities, and yet again we are on the end of a 1-0 defeat.”

It’s a worrying statistic, and one that is costing the Nailers dear, but they have only scored three times in the last five games in all competitions and they have drawn a blank in their last three home games.

Belper supporters must be wondering when they will next cheer a goal at Christchurch Meadow!

Sadly despite the energy and promise against Brigg Town it is hard to recall a shot on target.

There was plenty of good approach play, down both flanks and straight through the middle but very little end product and Zebras’ ‘keeper Andrew Pettinger barely had a shot to save.

He saw plenty fizz past him in all directions around him and was grateful for the cross bar on one occasion, so where is it going wrong?

Daryll Thomas will not need reminding that after four games he is still to register his first goal for the Nailers and Jon Froggatt hasn’t found the net since scoring a brace at Rushall a month ago.

The team have created chances or at least promising situations that should or could have led to a goal, but while the approach play has been good, visiting defences, particularly at Christchurch Meadow have coped with everything that has been thrown at them.

It is highly debatable whether the Nailers deserved to lose any of the last three 1-0 home defeats, as gradually their general outfield play has improved game by game.

Goal scoring by its nature is an instinctive quality and here again lies a mystery when you analyse the calibre of players Belper have at their disposal.

Darryl Thomas and Jon Froggatt have an impressive pedigree when it comes to putting the ball into the back of the net, and with Ruben Wiggins-Thomas and Luke Fedorenko providing the ammunition from both flanks it is very frustrating for onlookers to work out what is wrong.

Lee Thompson (pictured) also has an eye for goal and is likely to strike one from anywhere, so on paper at least the Nailers appear to have a rich vein of talent running through the team.

Andy Carney has a team that could do very well in this division but somehow he has to get his strikers to considerably increase their strike rate particularly in front of their own supporters.

“We have the players to do well in this division,” added Carney, “and I’m looking to strengthen again this week if I can.

“All I ask from the players is to do what they have proved themselves to be good at in the past and while everyone is playing well our goal scoring ratio per game must improve.”

Perhaps it will come good when the Nailers face second bottom Shepshed Dynamo this coming Saturday as the Leicestershire side have made a poor start to the season having failed to win any of their opening eleven league fixtures.

Belper start their defence of the Presidents Cup on Tuesday evening when Quorn travel to Christchurch Meadow for a 1st Round tie and then four days later the Nailers face them again, this time in the league at the Farley Way Stadium.

Nigel Oldrini