Belper manager had kept his squad in the changing rooms for over 45 minutes after their disappointing showing against the Ravens on Tuesday evening, but there were smiles all round as the Zebras fell to a much more impressive display.

Andy Rushbury was left on the bench as Chris Jones came in for his first game at right back and Lee Thompson switched to the left flank.

With Simon Harrison not in the squad, Sam Duncum injured, and Jamie Jackson ill, Chris Adam and Shaun Tuton were in the starting line-up as the Nailers looked to restore confidence after suffering their first defeat of the new season.

Chris Adam began an impressive performance from him with a sweetly struck half volley then flew straight at Robert Zand in the first minute, but the hosts quickly got into their stride and had the better of the first 15 minutes or so.

Adam had a chance in the 15th minute but chose to pull the ball back to the edge of the penalty area when he would have been justified in taking a shot himself, and then an impressive Belper move ended with Adam shooting just wide from 15 yards.

Brigg’s Paul Ashton forced Scott Low into a good save in the 22nd minute and Jordan Thewlis should have done better with the follow up shot that flew beyond the far post.

The Nailers began to warm to the task after half an hour and Colin Marrison hit a low shot narrowly wide in the 28th minute, and although the Zebras went straight up field where Scott Matthews fired an angle shot just wide when better control might have resulted in a goal.

The Nailers created an opener out of nothing in the 29th minute when Chris Jones floated over a superb cross that just cleared the last defender leaving Chris Adam to nod the ball down, and then over the despairing ‘keeper for the ball to rest in the corner of the net.

Belper doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute when Colin Marrison turned well to send a precise shot wide of the ‘keeper just inside the far post, and Belper had engineered themselves into a commanding position without having looked particularly dominant.

Richard Adams gave the Zebras a way back into the game when he conceded a penalty in the last minute of the half and Zebras’ skipper Paul Grimes tucked the ball away from the penalty spot.

Scott Hellewell could easily have levelled the scores just before the half time whistle with a header that went past the far post, and the Nailers went in for the break slightly fortunate to hold an interval lead.

The second period saw Belper looking much more organised and as the half wore on they began to dominate the play.

Shaun Tuton’s industry created the goal that restored Belper’s two-goal advantage and effectively secured the points for the Nailers in the 64th minute.

After a strong run down the right side he picked out Chris Adam completely unmarked on the edge of the penalty area and Adam struck the ball cleanly first time, and hit the ball so hard it bounced against the advertising at the back of the goal and into play again, leaving the referee looking unsure as to whether to award a goal or not.

Confidence began to ebb away from the young Zebras team and before long Belper struck again when Jon Froggatt pounced to tap the ball home on 73 minutes after Robert Zand could only parry Chris Jones’ shot into his path.

Jon Froggatt turned the screw on Brigg 5 minutes later when he skipped past Zand to tuck away his 5th goal of the season.

Although Jordan Thewlis reduced the arrears with a fierce shot on 85 minutes, the Nailers rounded off a fine win with a well taken Shaun Tuton volley following some good work by Anthony Rowley.

Even though the Nailers started this game tentatively they improved steadily throughout and finished the afternoon in total control and will hope to take their second half form into the Bank Holiday fixture at home to Mickleover Sports.

Brigg Town: Zand, Fisher (Benson 70), Barrett (Freeman 61), Bowsley, Hellewell, Jacklin, Ashton, Peers, Grimes, Thewliss, Matthews. Unused subs: Cross, Trice, Waring.

Belper Town: Low, Jones, Thompson, Cotton, Adams, White (Roulston 78), Marrison, Warne, Froggatt (Ward 80), Tuton, Adam (Rowley 76). Unused subs: Rushbury, Ratcliffe.

Referee: S Richardson (Nottingham)

Att: 116