Nailers run ended by Champions at the Raygar

The visitors started brightly, winning back to back corners in the 5th minute but Belper managed to clear both and keep it goalless.

Two minutes later came the first of two injuries for the Nailers, with Frida Backstrom unable to continue - she was replaced by India Amans.

Despite most of the first 15 minutes being played in Belper's defensive third, the backline remained resolute, marshalled by captain Emma Pickard.

On 17 minutes came a first opportunity for the home side, with Alice Faulding breaking down the right hand side. Her cross was inches from reaching Sammy Bennett who was arriving at the back post and Wirksworth cleared.

Within six minutes the Colts were ahead when a corner from the left went past everyone in the six-yard box except for Poppy Lloyd who tapped in from close range.

On the half hour mark a Belper counter-attack found the ball arriving at the feet of Faulding, her shot from distance was blocked and when the ball returned to her she laid it off for Amans who saw her effort saved.

Nine minutes before the break Faulding dispossessed the Wirksworth defence, running on and shooting from 22 yards just wide of the post.

Just seconds before ref Adam Hitchcock blew the half-time whistle, another injury befell the hosts with Shannon Worrall this time the unfortunate player.

The last action of the half in injury time saw Emily Jones feed in Jo Lamb for Wirksworth with a great ball, however she couldn't quite find the finish and the score at half-time was 0-1 with the Nailers well in the game against last season's double winners.

A minute in to the second half, a good run down the left by Romy Sheppard was followed by a shot from a tight angle which produced a good save from Emma Varnam in the Belper goal and the subsequent corner was cleared.

Shortly after, Jess Needham's cross towards Amans was intercepted by goalkeeper Lorraine Taylor as Belper sought an equaliser.

However it wasn't to be and on 51 minutes Wirksworth doubled their lead, when Sheppard was played through and finished calmly.

Nailers heads didn't drop however and within five minutes the deficit was nearly halved when Faulding found Hannah Dutton, her shot produced a good save and nothing came of the corner.

In the 63rd minute Faulding was involved again, this time playing in Chip McCluskey who forced a good save from the feet of Taylor.

The points were wrapped up fourteen minutes from time when substitute Maddie Clifford got her head on a corner to make it 3-0.

Belper continued to attack and on 80 minutes good play by Jazz Buxton on the left nearly opened up the Colts defence. Within a minute Buxton saw her header saved after a great cross by Amans, as Belper finished with a flourish.

Six minutes from time Emily Jones found herself through on goal however her chip over Varnam went wide.

In injury time, Bennett found Amans with a great ball, she turned the defender inside out but her shot was saved.

The final action saw Sheppard through one on one and the Wirksworth striker should have put the icing on the cake, however the shot went wide and the final whistle a moment later meant that Belper had suffered their joint heaviest defeat of the season against an impressive Colts outfit.

Belper Town: Varnam, Jackson, Powles, Pickard (C), Layton, Worrall, Needham, Backstrom, Buxton, Faulding, Bennett.

Subs: McCluskey, Dutton, Amans, Mott, Frostick.

Ref: Adam Hitchcock