Jon Froggatt scored his 100th and 101st goal for Belper Town after scoring two penalties to ensure the Nailers won their first opening day game since 2009.

As expected, both sets of players were running on nervous energy and the game began in a quite frantic manor with neither team settling in the opening period.

The Nailers played the better football of the two teams and looked more comfortable in the centre of the field, with a fine display by Glyn Cotton.

It took 22 minutes for the first major decision for the referee to make and he correctly awarded Belper Town a penalty after a push in the area.

Jamie Jackson was causing Castle’s defence problems throughout the match and his mazy run down the right took him past his marker into the area to provide a perfectly weighted cross for Chris Adam.

Adam rose to head the ball and was pushed in the back by Matt Lowe who got away with just a booking. As ever, the Nailers number 9 Jon Froggatt stepped up to neatly tuck his penalty away to the’ keepers’ right who was sent the wrong way.

The goal proved to be the settling factor for both teams who began playing good football and at last produced some entertainment for the fans.

Two minutes after scoring, Jon Froggatt pounced on a ball that was headed down by Jackson to hit a half volley first time on his left foot twenty yards from goal, which just shaded over the bar and had goalkeeper Dave Parton panicking.

The Nailers then had two further chances before half time as Froggatt and Jackson were both played through but failed to find the back of the net from tight angles.

The second half produced the best football of the game and both teams were looking to play in a positive manner.

Newcastle’s best chance of the game came in the 62nd minute when the ball was worked nicely down the left and Kyle Diskin flashed a ball across the six yard box, but Tom France failed to get any contact on the ball as he stretched out to reach it.

The chance then lifted the tempo for Castle and Belper began sitting five yards further back as they tried to soak up the pressure.

However, any sign of nerves for the Nailers were cast away in sublime style.

Glyn Cotton latched onto a loose ball and began hitting Newcastle on the break. After a 30 yard run, his pass to Froggatt left a huge gap down the centre of Newcastle’s defence and Simon Harrison was played through on goal but was cynically tripped by Matt Lowe whose day went from bad to worse.

A second penalty was awarded and a red card saw Lowe sent to the stands.

Jon Froggatt again stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way as he opted to strike to the goalkeepers’ left hand side and score his second goal of the day with 5 minutes remaining.

The game was then taken away from Newcastle as the Nailers calmly played the ball around to ensure a victory and a clean sheet for Nailers debutant Scott Low.

Belper Town: Low, Thompson, Rushbury, Cotton, Adams, White, Harrison (Rowley 87), Marrison, Froggatt, Jackson (Tuton 78), Adam (Warne 72). Other Subs: Ward, Roulston

Newcastle Town: Parton, Lowe, Hardman, Millar, Carter, Ruddock, Diskin, Nicholls, France (Sutton 83), Hill (Bridge 59), Sanders (Ashman 74). Other Sub: Cole

Referee: Michael Scriven (Leicester)

Att: 163