The Nailers had two players making their home debuts with ‘keeper Tom Turner keeping his place despite the Nailers’ exit from the FA Cup the previous Saturday, and Alex Konstantinou made his first appearance after joining from Northampton Town in midweek.

With transfer speculation surrounding Deon Meikle, and Ruben Wiggins-Thomas already having left for Carlton Town, Richard Adams (pictured) came in for his 100th appearance and Ben Spargo made his first start of the season.

The Gingerbreads arrived at Christchurch Meadow in 18th place having made a slow start to the new campaign which was surprising considering they were beaten play off finalists last season.

Rhys Lewis gave the Nailers scare in the first minute when he stooped to head against the upright after Tom Turner failed to deal with a Tristram Whitman cross.

Phil Watt saw his header blocked on the line from a corner kick moments later, then Aaron Pride’s hanging free kick landed on top of the Grantham net in the 5th minute.

Ben Spargo had the ball in the Gingerbreads net two minutes later but the referee had spotted an infringement on the ‘keeper, then the game settled down to a steadier pace with both teams struggling to string more than two or three passes together.

Tristram Whitman put a shot in on the turn that went well wide on 20 minutes and a quickly taken free kick put Alex Konstantinou in possession but he was muscled out of it, however in the 24th minute Grantham took the lead.

Jamie McGhee’s cross wasn’t cleared and Gio Carchedi applied the finishing touch with Richard Adams seemingly unable to prevent the ball going in off the foot of the post.

The game continued to be a struggle for the Nailers as they found themselves having to contain the visitors and then in the 38th minute the Gingerbreads went further ahead after Damien Magee accidentally tripped Grantham’s Jamie McGhee, leaving Lee Potts to convert the spot kick with comparative ease.

The Nailers were indebted to Tom Turner for a fine save from Gio Carchedi who had been released by Jamie McGhee in the 41st minute, and Belper were looking to their forwards and midfield players to take some of the pressure off.

But Belper were caught out again right on the stroke of half time when Gio Carchedi found Lee Potts running in the blind side of Richard Adams and he nodded the ball in at the near post.

The Nailers made two changes at half time with Andy Rushbury and Alan O’Hare being introduced, and Belper needed a goal quickly if they were to harbour hopes of a comeback.

The Nailers began to look more fluent with Rushbury available on the left but the breaks weren’t coming, and as the minutes ticked away their task looked unsurmountable.

Grantham had a two minute spell of pressure around the hour mark when they peppered the Belper goal with shots that with a mixture of good blocks, not to mention good fortune, they managed to survive.

Belper’s afternoon worsened when Jamie Smith had to leave the field barely two minutes after coming on as a substitute leaving the Nailers with only ten men.

It was fast becoming a lost cause for the home team who had been unable to make any impression with eleven players on the field, let alone with just ten.

In fact Grantham nearly struck a fourth goal in the 83rd minute when Ben Saunders got in a header at the far post that hit the cross bar before being cleared by a Belper defender.

Rob Norris fired in a shot from 22 yards that was easily seen over the cross bar by Tom Turner, and if any positives could be taken from the game then Belper’s defensive display had been much better of the second 45.

In the final analysis this was a very disappointing first home defeat for Belper Town whose fans were surely expecting something better than this for this season.

Belper Town: Turner, Adams (Smith 61), Magee, Camm, Plant, Hannigan (O’Hare 45), Pride, Spargo, Froggatt, Morris, Konstantinou (Rushbury 45). Unused subs: Ortuno, Richmond.

Grantham Town: Murray, Purcicoe, Potts, Brindley, Saunders, Watt, Lewis, Ball, Whitman (Norris 72), McGhee (Saunders 72), Carchedi (Grimes 72). Unused subs: Asher, Maddison.

Referee: David Benton (Sheffield).

Att: 208

Match Sponsor: Alan Benfield Limited, Belper.