This was always going to be a difficult task against a confident Curzon Ashton team that had yet to taste defeat in the league and had made their soulless Tameside Stadium into something of a fortress this season.

The Nailers included Alan O’Hare in the centre of defence, replacing the cup-tied Michael Simpkins whilst there was a welcome return for Jamie Smith on the substitutes bench in place of Ryan Hindley

Belper enjoyed most of the early possession without seriously troubling Joshua Ollerenshaw although Lee Whittington’s speculative effort from 35 yards went wide of the target with the Curzon’ keeper stranded off his line.

Alan O’Hare produced a fine interception to keep out a fierce cross shot for the dangerous Matt Purcell, the first of a string of fine crosses produced by the Curzon winger throughout the afternoon.

Andy Richmond (pictured)then kept the Nailers on level terms with a fine point blank save from Curzon’s leading scorers, Chris McDonagh as the home side began to apply increasing pressure on the Belper back line.

Matthew Kay then wasted a free kick from the edge of the box as he wastefully blasted the ball over the bar and Richmond again had to be at his best to block another McDonagh effort at the near post following yet another searching cross from the lively Purcell.

Purcell then went even closer after 24 minutes when he cut inside and unleashed a 35-yard shot that cannoned back off the crossbar.

The game was becoming a little fractious at this point and referee Meeson had to produce three yellow cards in quick succession as tackles began to fly in from all quarters.

On 36 minutes, Sam Walker got the goal that Curzon had threatened when he struck left footed from 30 yards through a crowded box , the ball taking the faintest of deflections to take it just out of the reach of Andy Richmond’s despairing dive.

The Nailers needed to start the second half in positive fashion and they duly obliged with an encouraging opening spell that had Curzon on the back foot.

Colin Marrison’s 20-yard drive required Ollerenshaw to save low down just inside his left hand upright and Ben Leonard’s effort from similar distance wasn’t too far wide of the target.

Curzon then launched a counter attack which McDonagh held up well and then released Purcell down the right but his cross came to nothing as Michael Fish failed to control the ball in a great position.

Curzon then had to make a change on 58 minutes when they lost their influential captain Graham Kay after a clash of heads saw him with a nasty cut above his right eye.

But minutes later, Curzon could have been two up when Jordan Goodeve brought a superb one-handed save out of Andy Richmond to keep Belper in the game.

After absorbing significant pressure from the hosts, the Nailers finally created two good chances of their own.

A good break down their right looked promising but the final ball into the box was too close to Ollerenshaw and then substitute, Lee Morris thought he had broken through and was about to round the ‘keeper only for the assistant to raise his flag for an offside offence.

Michael Fish was then unlucky not to put Curzon two goals ahead when he struck from just inside the Belper box but Richmond was equal to the task and saved well.

With 5 minutes to go Belper put in a last surge, Colin Marrison shot from outside the box was turned away for a corner by Ollerenshaw, from which Jon Froggatt rose to glance the ball just inside the far post

But just two minutes later it was heartbreak for Belper.

The Nailers struggled to clear their lines from a right wing corner. Damian Magee cleared one effort off the goal line, Alan O’Hare then bravely blocked another goal-bound effort but McDonagh, at the third time of asking, blasted the ball high into the roof of the net.

This was a crushing blow for Belper who had fought bravely to get back on level terms although Curzon could have made it 3-1 in the dying seconds of the game when Fish broke into the box and shot past Richmond only to see his effort come back off the post.

Curzon Ashton: Ollerenshaw, Woodford, Hampson, Kay (Edghill 61), Watson, Goodeve (Blackshaw 83), Kay (Heald 83), Walker, McDonagh, Fish, Purcell. Unused subs: Settle, Weston.

Belper Town: Richmond, Chambers (Turner J 78), Magee, Meikle (Pride 67), Adams, O'Hare, Marrison, Leonard, Froggatt, Whittington (Morris 61), Rushbury. Unused subs: Smith, Turner T

Referee: Daniel Meeson (Newcastle under Lyme)

Attendance: 137