The game got off to a dramatic start with Staveley opening the scoring in the opening minute. A left wing corner found former Nailer Ashley Foyle completely unmarked 8 yards out and his powerful header found the top corner of the net with Dave Ratcliffe motionless.

The Nailers were clearly rattled by this and struggled to get to grips with Staveley’s high tempo start.

Slowly the Nailers battled their way back into the game and started to create chances of their own with first Jon Froggatt striking the post after a lovely pass from Mark Ward and then Colin Marrison forcing a full stretch save from another former Belper ‘keeper, Danny Tollerfield following a shot from the edge of the area.

Staveley were proving to be a constant threat and Lewis Jackson went close following Rocky White’s run and pass.

But the hosts could easily have been reduced to ten men when Corey Nix was only given a yellow card rather than the red that would have been shown if it were a competitive game after he brought down Sam Duncum when he was clean through on goal.

Twice, Jon Froggatt came close to levelling the scores when he shot wide when well placed and then he failed to convert Chris Adam’s cross.

Referee Wilson then showed great sense in defusing a potential flashpoint after Lee Antony inexplicably grabbed Chris Adam around the neck and the pair ended up wrestling on the ground.

The final chance of the first half saw Staveley’s skipper and ex-Nailer, Jamie Smith clear off the goal line from a Colin Marrison header.

The second half began in the same vain as the first with this time Belper scoring within 60 seconds of the restart.

A free kick wide on the right was floated over by Simon Harrison and it seemed to be sailing over the bar but it dipped at the last moment cannoning onto the far post and then via the unfortunate Tollerfield’s back it dribbled into the net giving the Nailers an equaliser.

Five minutes later, the Nailers took the lead when Mark Ward’s ball across the box was swept in from 10 yards by Duncum.

Despite wholesale substitutions, Belper added to their lead on 65 minutes when the impressive Duncum beat two defenders and his pinpoint cross was finished by Froggatt for his customary goal.

By this stage Belper were in total control with Staveley reduced to long range efforts which failed to trouble David Ratcliffe whilst they created a number of chances themselves with substitutes Ashley Longstaff and Shaun Tuton both going close before the final whistle.

The game proved to be a good workout against a decent Staveley side and, as the season draws closer, the strength of the squad will certainly cause manager Peter Duffield a few selection headaches.

Belper Town now move onto three home fixtures starting with the visit of Ilkeston on Saturday (3.00) followed by games against a Sheffield United XI on Tuesday, 6th August (7.30) before Stocksbridge Park Steels visit Christchurch Meadow on 10th August (3.00).

Admission is £5 Adults and £3 concessions to all these games.

Belper Town: Ratcliffe, Dale-Brown, Adam, Marrison, Adams, White, Harrison, Warne, Froggatt, Ward, Duncum. Subs: Smyth, Rushbury, Colley, Rowley, Cotton, Tuton, Longstaff.

Staveley MW (Starting): Tollerfield, Nix, Trench, Antony, Foyle, Beatson, Finlaw, Smith, White, Whitehead, Jackson.

Referee: Kalvin Wilson.

Ian Featherby