Manager Jimmy Albans believes his current Belper side are good enough to compete at the top end of the division, as three of the last four draws have come against teams in the top six.

“I see today’s result as a positive one.

“We’ve dominated the game for long periods, their goalkeeper has made three or four fantastic saves, and we should have won the game of football but at the end of the day we haven’t.

“Even after conceding the late goal we’ve rallied and created more chances.

“Paul Lister has had a chance cleared off the line, Paul Grimes has had a good chance to score and we’ve shown a lot of resilience.

“We knew it would be a tough task but the board and the football club are 100 per cent behind where we want to be and if the inevitable does happen then we want to be in a position where the team remains the same and we can build for next season.”

Albans vented his frustration at the referee for not awarding a penalty kick after initially pointing to the spot when Rob Stevenson was fouled by the United goalkeeper, claiming that big decisions have cost Belper all three points.

“It was the wrong decision.

“Everyone will say that we make our own luck to win games, but its big decisions like this that the referee has to get right and today he has got it wrong and we’ve been denied a certain penalty kick.

“Not only has he only awarded a free-kick, but he has also only booked the goalkeeper, which is criminal.”

Albans was full of praise for his players and believes the addition of Laurie Wilson (pictured) can be vital for his side.

“Laurie is a great player. He holds the midfield well and his range of passing is very good and he’ll put a foot in for us which is something we’ve been lacking.

“We’ve got some very good passers of the ball, but Laurie will give us that edge in the tackle as well.

“I thought today however Kern Miller was head and shoulders above the rest, and easily the best player on the pitch.”