Manager Peter Duffield was able to call on Dan White after recovering from an eye injury, meaning Chris Jones moved into his more familiar position at right fullback whilst there was a debut for defender Mark Dudley following his move from Rainworth Miners Welfare.

Jon Froggatt and Evan Garnett partnered each other upfront for the second game in a row.

The game began with a moment of excitement by the Nailers stand-out player Rob Stevenson, who picked the ball up in a central position in space and began running at the Grantham backline.

However, Stevenson dragged his shot wide from Just inside the area and failing to trouble ‘keeper Jake Turner.

From there, both sides found it difficult to get into a rhythm with passes going astray and Referee Martin Dexter reluctant to allow to the game to flow.

The next opportunity came after 20 minutes when a corner from the left hand side by Ian Ross was attacked at the near post by Dan White, finding its way to Regan Edridge at the far post who just failed to get the required contact to steer the ball goal bound.

Two minutes from another Nailers corner, Ian Ross delivered the ball and Jon Froggatt rose unmarked at the back post to loop his header a yard over the bar.

The home side earned their first chance of the game after 28 minutes when a corner from the right was cut out by Ian Ross at the near post but the ball fell kindly for Ben Fairclough two yards out but although Fairclough got a toe end to ball, James Martin flung himself to his right and push the ball away to safety.

Grantham scored the only goal of the game after 37 minutes, against the general run of play.

The Nailers had a spell of possession in the final third with the ball breaking down on the edge of the box to be cleared away by the defender.

The ball fell to Alex Simmons on the right, who produced one of the games few moments of quality with a diagonal through ball into the path of Michael Towey who drove past Regan Edridge into the box and opened his body up to curl the ball round Martin, despite the ‘keeper getting a fingertip to the ball.

Both sides failed to pick up any momentum following the goal, and only half chances came for either team for the remainder of the game.

Jon Froggatt failed to finish off a decent move for the Nailers down the right after Aaron Cole’s cross was flicked on by Evan Garnett for Froggatt, whose chip proved too weak, leading to a comfortable take for Turner.

Further chances came for Stevenson who wasn’t able to take advantage of good positions, and an opportunity for Steve Warne came on the edge of the box following a half cleared corner, only for the Nailers skipper to hit his half volley a yard over the bar.

The Nailers best chance came on the 79th minute for Jon Froggatt inside the box to the left hand side.

A free kick by Ross from deep found its way to Froggatt who took a neat touch and attempted to place his shot into the far corner with his weaker right foot, however the ball fell inches wide of the far post.

The Gingerbread created a number of later opportunities as the Nailers threw men forward in search of an equaliser.

Greg Smith had the clearest of these chances for Grantham to kill the game, but as he found himself clear through on goal down the middle he could only drag his shot wide of the left hand post.

Grantham Town: Jake Turner, Liam Dickens, Scott Matthews, Deon Meikle, Phil Watt, Laurie Wilson, Jack McGovern, Michael Towey, Alex Simmons (Jordan Hempenstall 73), Greg Simmons, Greg Smith, Ben Fairclough (Connor Johnson 85). Subs: Tom Batchelor, Rhys Lewis, Dan Haystead.

Belper Town: James Martin, Chris Jones (Kieran Wells 77), Mark Dudley, Ian Ross, Regan Edridge, Dan White, Aaron Cole (Colin Marrison 66), Steve Warne (Simon Harrison 82), John Froggatt, Evan Garnett, Rob Stevenson. Subs: Lee Thompson, Scot Low.

Referee: Mr Martin Dexter (Glenfield)

Attendance: 244