Ben Haseley scored the game’s only goal midway through the first-half, Nailers ‘keeper Danny Haystead could only parry Levi Rowley’s header and Haseley was on hand to stab the ball home from close range.

Haystead, who was making his 50th appearance in goal for the Nailers, went someway to redeeming himself on the stroke of half-time, brilliantly keeping out Christian Dacres’ strike from the edge of the box.

The Nailers ‘keeper was also celebrating his 30th birthday but it was not the end to the game he would have wished for, Rangers forward Ryan Wynter collided with Haystead in the final moments which led to him being replaced by back-up stopper Charlie Mansfield.

Deep into stoppage time Stafford substitute Jake Jones went down from what looked an innocuous challenge, he was subsequently taken on off on a stretcher as he returned to action after a four month lay-off.

Both sides defended valiantly, especially the visitors in the second-half as Belper threw bodies forward to try and find the elusive equaliser.

The Nailers best chance of the game fell to centre-half Phil Watt, Ross Parker flicked on Louis Keenan’s long ball and Watt found himself in acres of space but he could only head over from eight yards out.

Despite the uncomfortable end to the game there was a lighter moment five minutes into the second-half, referee Sean Richardson bounced off Stafford’s Stuart McNaught and blew his whistle to halt the game as he caught his breath on the muddy Marston’s Stadium pitch.

Belper Town: Haystead (GK) (Mansfield 90’), Allen, Keenan, Parker, Palmer, Watt, Stevenson (Bryant 19’), Graves (Capt.), Watkis, Williams, Steadman.

Unused subs: Leggitt, Armstrong, Constable.

Stafford Rangers: Whitehouse, Melbourne, Wood, Miles, Daniel, McNaught, Rowley (Reid 76’), Dacres (Capt.), Wynter, Haseley (Rooney 89’), Till (Jones 32’).

Unused subs: Cater, Johnson.

Attendance: 421

Referee: Sean Richardson

Assistant referee: Jordan Bancroft (Gamston) & Paul Buck (Long Eaton)