Evan Garnett’s 58th minute goal was enough to give the Nailers the victory in a feisty encounter in which no less that 11 players were cautioned by referee Richard Watson who also dismissed Grant Ryan just after the interval.

Belper ‘keeper Danny Haystead potentially set the tone for the match in the second minute as he raced out of his area and fouled Ravens’ forward Nathan Watson who had attempted to round him.

The resulting free kick was wasted, which set the tone for some equally wayward finishing by the visitors throughout the 90 minutes.

The first half was punctuated by a succession of free kicks and cautions as both sides tried to gain the upper hand, as referee Watson tried manfully to keep a grip on proceedings.

A Connor Johnson header at the far post which flew wide of the upright was as close as Belper got to a goal in that opening 45 minutes and visiting ‘keeper Sean Bowles was rarely troubled throughout the half.

But, if fractiousness had been kept reasonably in check by the half way stage, it exploded into conflict 10 minutes into the restart when Ryan was given his marching orders for what looked to be a head-butt on a Ravens defender after the ball had gone.

10-man Belper found themselves in front after 58 minutes when Evan Garnett scrambled the ball home from close range after it had fallen to him after Michael Towey’s initial shot had been charged down.

Coalville piled on the pressure in the latter stages but failed to break a resilient Belper defence, which covered acres of ground as they made up for their deficiency in numbers.

Although Coalville were bombarding the Belper backline, the Nailers looked dangerous on the counter through pacy substitutes, Ben Fairclough and Rob Stevenson.

Jonathan Williams won a penalty for Belper with five minutes to go when Stevenson broke down the right and cut the ball back for Williams on the edge of the box. He cleverly evaded a sliding defender but was felled by his trailing leg.

Nailers skipper Laurie Wilson failed to convert the spot-kick, smashing the ball to Sean Bowles’ right who pulled off a great save to prevent Belper from doubling their lead.

Fairclough then squandered the chance to play in Scott Matthews seconds before the final whistle after he had broken away following a Coalville corner but by then the points had been secured.

Belper Town: Haystead, Purcicoe, Matthews, Lister, Watt, Williams, Wilson, Towey, Garnett Stevenson 74), Ryan, Johnson (Fairclough 74). Other Subs: Divver, Taylor, Cooksey

Coalville Town: Bowles, Smithson, Freeman Morrell 76), Jenno, McAteer, Holmes, Graves, Troke (Hooton 60), Woolley, Watson, Dean (Torr 63). Other Subs: Raven, Heister

Referee: Richard Watson (Cannock)

Attendance: 213