Shaun Tuton has his legs swept from under him by Chasetown's Chirs Slater and the Nailers went ahead through the resulting penalty (Photo: Tim Harrison)

The Nailers had to dig deep at times as a lively Chasetown side tested their resolve particularly in the second half, but Peter Duffield’s men were resilient when it mattered most.

With Shaun Roulston away on holiday Dan White made a welcome return to the Nailers’ defence although he was to last less than 30 minutes with a reoccurrence of injury, before being replaced by debutant Joe Conkleton.

Chris Jones returned at right back in place of the injured Aaron Pride and Scott Lowe was in goal after being ineligible for the previous Saturday’s FA Cup win over his parent club, Ilkeston.

Three points was the priority for Belper who had fallen behind the pacesetters after drawing their last two league fixtures, however this wasn’t going to be a glittering display from the Nailers who only played in fits and starts against a well organised Chasetown side.

The Nailers were denied an early goal in the sixth minute after Chris Jones powered his way into the Chasetown penalty area, and when the ball fell to Jon Froggatt, he was given marginally offside a split second before blasting the ball into the back of the net.

Scholars’ danger man Nick Wellecombe showed his prowess with a thunderous effort that thumped against the cross bar in the 14thminute, but Belper responded with good passing movement in the 18thminute when Glyn Cotton and Shaun Tuton combined to give Sam Duncum a sight of goal but he couldn’t get his shot away.

There was a better opportunity for Chris Jones 2 minutes later after Jon Froggatt hooked on a Duncum pass into the path of the full back and with a clear shot on goal and hit a low shot just past the far post, when he should really have hit the target.

The hard working Shaun Tuton grafted all afternoon without much reward and his pace was a constant threat to the Scholars defence, and in the 22nd minute he appeared to be unfairly impeded when he was on his way through but nothing was given.

Both teams struggled to find continuity in their passing and many promising situations at both ends were squandered for the want of a quality final pass.

It was end to end though up until the half time break but the goal less score line was a fair reflection.

An under hit Glyn Cotton free kick nearly gave Chasetown the chance to take the lead in the 50th minute but the Scholars contrived to mess up the opportunity, and soon afterwards they broke away again and this time the lightening Lee Butler found Nick Wellecombe unmarked at the far post, and it took a fine save from Scott Lowe to deny the striker.

Wellecombe squandered another presentable opportunity in the 55th minute when he put an unchallenged header just over the cross bar, and at this stage the Nailers were having to defend a little more than they would have liked.

However in the 62nd minute Sam Duncum put over a great centre for Colin Marrison and he was unlucky to see his header hit the cross bar and go to safety.

For the next 10 minutes or so it was Chasetown who dominated and it seemed only a matter of time before they broke the deadlock, however it was another Shaun Tuton weaving run that led to the decisive goal.

Scholars’ skipper Chris Slater took Tuton’s legs from under him as he was about to shoot, and the referee immediately awarded a penalty kick for the Nailers, and Slater saw red.

Jon Froggatt had to keep his concentration while the referee handled the Scholars’ protests and the sending off, but he despatched the spot kick beyond Ryan Price with unerring accuracy.

The home team’s response was predictable and they threw men forward leaving space for the recently introduced Jamie Jackson, and he came close to sealing it in the 86th minute with one of his darting runs, and Chasetown defender Alex Forde was fortunate to only receive a yellow card after hauling him down on the edge of the penalty area.

The Nailers finished the game strongly and kept possession well to deny the Scholars any further opportunities, and seconds before the referee brought the game to an end, Glyn Cotton hit the outside of the post with a stunning effort from 20 yards.

Chasetown: Price, Farmer (Forde 52), Keenan, Slater, Robinson, Beckett, Brown, Bragoli, Wellecombe (Downing 85), Stephens, Butler (Jephcott 78). Unused subs: Westwood, Smith.

Belper Town: Lowe, Jones, Thompson, Cotton, White (Conkleton 29), Adams, Harrison, Warne, Froggatt (Jackson 80), Tuton, Duncum (Ward 78). Unused subs: Ratcliffe, Harrison.

Referee: Gareth Hubbard (Halesowen)

Att: 206