The Nailers looked bright in the opening twenty minutes, creating a number of promising openings but which failed to materialise into clear cut scoring opportunities.

The first chance of the game came for winger Rob Stevenson on the 7th minute.

Neat play from Evan Garnett played Stevenson in on the left hand side who took a first touch to control the ball and fired in a low shot on goal which was saved by Shane Bland.

A minute later Stevenson was at the heart of the attack again. This time, a strong run down the left produced a good cross to Colin Marrison, who chested the ball down and struck a fine half volley which was saved well by ‘keeper Bland, tipping the ball over the bar.

The visitors had their first chance of the game on 10 minutes. Matt Brown found space on the right hand side and picked out Steven Snaith with a good pass inside the box. Snaith then took the ball to the by-line and cut a pass back to the unmarked Craig Farrell who placed a first time shot inches wide of the far right post.

Steve Warne had a good effort from the edge of the area tipped wide of the left hand post after the ball fell to the Nailers skipper, following a good move down the left flank.

The lively Colin Marrison produced another decent effort on goal for the home side, cutting in from the right hand side, 25 yards from goal, and curling a good left footed strike which rose inches over the bar.

Whitby’s Dale Hopson had a point blank effort saved well by James Martin, which sent out a clear message of the visitors intentions for the remainder of the game.

Evan Garnett had a goal disallowed three minutes before the break after a wonderful one-two between Garnett and Froggatt saw Garnett smashing a shot off the underside of the bar only for the linesman to rule the effort out for offside.

A minute later, the Seasiders took the lead. Good work down the left hand side saw Liam Sheppard bring the ball inside the box for striker Craig Farrell who aimed for the far corner with a curling effort, but his shot took a deflection off the unlucky Dan White to steer agonisingly into the back of the net.

The second half proved much quieter from both sides, however Whitby gradually took control of affairs as Belper huffed and puffed against their well-organised opponents..

The Nailers were forced to clear the ball off the line after 51 minutes, when a strong header by Kevin Burgess from six yards towards the far post was blocked well by the Nailers defender.

But, soon afterwards, the visitors doubled their lead. A free kick from deep on the left was floated in and goalkeeper James Martin came out to collect.

However, coming through a crowd of bodies, the Nailers ‘keeper couldn’t hold on to the ball and a fortuitous deflection fell for Richard Pell who walked the ball into the back of the net and deflating the home side.

One final chance did come for Belper to perhaps herald a late recovery. A chipped ball by Steve Warne to far post allowed Colin Marrison to head it back into the middle where Jon Froggatt stabbed in a close-range effort, only for the impressive Bland to keep his clean sheet with a good save down low.

Belper Town: James Martin, Lee Thompson (Chris Jones 57), Mark Dudley, Ian Ross, Regan Edridge, Dan White (Matt Varley 75), Colin Marrison, Steve Warne, Jon Froggatt, Evan Garnett (Kieran Wells 57), Rob Stevenson. Subs: Simon Harrison, Matt Varley, Scott Low.

Whitby Town: Shane Bland, Ibrahim Hassan, Mark Robinson, Kevin Burgess, Richard Pell, David McTiernan, Matt Brown (Ross Gardiner 80), Dale Hopson (Lee Mason 73), Craig Farrell (Matthew Waters 63), Steven Snaith, Liam Sheppard. Subs: Lee Mason, Ross Gardiner, Anthony Callaghan, Sam Calvert.

Referee: Marc Perry (Sutton Coldfield)

Attendance: 373

Joe Malone