This match had originally been scheduled for early December but a frozen pitch put things on hold and the Nailers made sure to take this opportunity of consolidating their league position in what was the only Division One fixture played on Sunday.

Belper had put seven past their opponents at the Raygar Stadium in October and once again they started like they meant business, with great play between Sarah Roberts and Macie White creating a shooting opportunity for Alice Faulding in the 3rd minute. The effort from top scorer Faulding clipped the crossbar and went over.

Within three minutes the Nailers nearly found themselves ahead again, this time Faulding helping White create a chance for Jess Needham, her shot went just wide.

On nine minutes came the first real opening for Stanton when a lovely backheel from Tash Craze found Danae Matthew but Hannah Whysall was out quickly to block.

Belper took the lead on 18 minutes when a pinpoint through ball from Alex Holland found Jess Needham and she finished coolly past the onrushing Jamie Hague-Swailes.

It was nearly one each in the 29th minute when Craze got her head to a corner but the ball flashed just wide of the post.

Just a minute later Craze's free kick from range was well watched and gathered by Whysall and virtually from her goal kick, India Amans turned her defender and tried her luck from 25 yards but it curled just past the left post.

A couple of minutes in to the second half, a Jazz Buxton corner went through everyone and at the back post captain Emma Pickard couldn't quite connect.

Belper's good start to the second half continued when a Hague-Swailes goal kick was intercepted by White but the goalkeeper made amends with a good save.

On 50 minutes once again Stanton failed to clear the ball and Faulding had a shot from range which went narrowly over the bar.

The Nailers doubled their lead on 56 minutes when White's excellent through ball found Faulding and in typical style she turned her defender inside out before shooting; the first effort was blocked but when the ball came back to her, she unleashed an unstoppable effort in to the top corner.

A couple of minutes later Faulding returned the favour for White, providing a pass to her fellow forward from which the shot was deflected out for a corner. Hollie Thompson took the corner and found the head of Jazz Buxton who flashed a header wide.

The game was effectively sewn up on the hour mark when Mia Carnelley completed a set of great Belper goals. Winning possession in the Stanton half, she had a shot from 25 yards which flew past Hague Swailes to make it 0-3.

In the 67th minute Belper narrowly missed out on an even better goal when Faulding's cross from the right found Anna Macluskey, her shot on the volley was just over otherwise the goal of the season competition ended there!

On 73 minutes a free kick from Bella Herring tested Whysall but the Belper 'keeper, who didn't put a foot wrong all afternoon was equal to it.

Belper finished strongly, with long range efforts from Faulding on 80 minutes and Needham on 89 minutes over the bar and saved respectively.

The final action of the match, four minutes in to stoppage time saw Herring receive a straight red card for lashing out at Leighanne Powles following a scramble for the ball.

Belper move up two places to 5th in the Derbyshire Girls and Ladies League Division One, with five matches remaining. The first of those is at the Raygar Stadium next Sunday (18th February) when Borrowash Victoria are the visitors in a 1:30pm kick off (free entry).

The Vics are one place below Belper but have seven games in hand!

Belper Town: Whysall, Pickard (C), Roberts, Jackson, Powles, Layton, Needham, Holland, White, Thompson, Faulding
Subs: Buxton, Dutton, Macluskey, Amans, Carnelley

Stanton llkeston (squad): Hague-Swailes, Askew, Caines, Craze, Cross, Henshaw, Herring, Matthew, Moss, Murden, Oakes, Pritchard, M. Richards, O. Richards, Stevenson

Referee: Bryan Massey