Nailers pick up the points in battling performance

First-half goals from Jonathan Williams and Bradley Wells put Belper in the driving seat, Romulus piled on the pressure but could not find a way past goalkeeper Charlie Mansfield.

Williams opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark, a cross from the left was headed out to the goalscorer who sent a wicked left-footed half volley high into the goal.

Bradley Wells got his second goal for the Nailers in only his second start for the club, Alex Steadman expertly brought down a long ball, squared the ball for Wells who tapped into the unguarded net.

Five minutes after the restart Mansfield dropped what looked to be routine catch but Charisma Agbonlahor could not take advantage smashing the ball over from close range.

Agbonlahor, who is the brother of Aston Villa’s Gabby, had another golden opportunity to pull a goal back just moments later but he scuffed wide after Chad Degville-Cross had slipped him through one-v-one.

Romulus created chances throughout the entire game but just missed a cutting edge, Hedilberto Vilela-Santos headed against the post just after the hosts took the lead.

Minutes later the Rom’s missed another glorious chance, Cameron Lee’s glancing header from Mark Branch’s free-kick wasn’t enough to trouble Mansfield as he found himself free in the box.

Agbonlahor had one final chance to get his name on the scoresheet, Mansfield thwarted him though by pouncing on the ball right underneath his own crossbar twenty minutes from time.

Sam Dockwray came off the bench to make his Belper Town debut, replacing Alex Steadman in the dying moments of the game.

The Nailers are back in action on Saturday again at The Marston’s Stadium, they host struggling Carlton Town.

Belper Town: Mansfield (GK), Bryant, Keenan, Allen, Palmer, O’Brien, Constable (Armstrong 61’), Graves, Wells (Leggitt 78’), Williams, Steadman (Dockwray 87’).

Unused subs: Butcher, Rathbone (GK)

Romulus: Bills (GK), Evans, Branch (Capt.), Lee, Ezewele, Vilela-Santos, Degville-Cross (Walters 85’), Donnelly (Welsh 69’), Agbonlahor, Farquharson, Fitzharris.

Unused subs: Masidi, Tibbins.

Attendance: 156

Referee: Hristo Karaivanov (Sutton-in-Ashfield)

Assistant referees: Paul Buck (Long Eaton) & Mark Curwood (Beeston).