With Ioan Evans unavailable Josh Mansell moved to centre back with Ben Rhodes starting in his usual slot at right back. Tom Eccleshall, Curtis Burrows, Jonathon Wafula and Jude Ayetine were also unavailable.

With Gresley kicking off down the slope the Nailers defence were immediately under pressure as the Moatmen forced the early pace.

However, after the first 10 minutes or so the Nailers came into the game and were largely dominant from then on.

Harry Draper, searching for his first pre-season goal, came close in the 12th minute with a shot that landed on top of the net from about 20 yards distant.

Jay Alexander came out decisively to deny Haydn Brown in the 16th minute after he had run through on goal leaving the Belper ‘keeper to make the save.

Draper was involved again on 24 minutes when he headed the ball down to Trialist and his half volley just went wide of the post.

Ben Rhodes put over a great cross on the half hour mark, but it was too high for Draper to make proper contact.

Trialist had another attempt on goal moments later that won a corner kick after a deflection then Josh Mansell hit a rasping drive from almost 30 yards that fizzed just past the far post.

Some clever play on the edge of the area gave Trialist the opportunity for another effort, and this time the ‘keeper saved at the near post.

The Nailers managed to score the goal that their first half performance had warranted when Trialist was quickest to react to a corner kick and prodded the ball over the line.

Belper piled on the pressure in the early stages of the second half and Jack Edwards' 52nd minute shot was just wide, and then Lewis Austin couldn’t convert a great chance as Franklin denied him with a good save.

Draper came close in the 69th minute but as he was about to pull the trigger a Gresley defender took the ball off his toe.

Trialist capped an impressive performance in the 84th minute with a wonderful individual goal. He had weaved his way into the penalty area before shooting across goal and just inside the far post.

Within a minute the Moatmen had reduced the arrears when Sam Grouse beat the offside trap to strike the ball beyond Alexander.

The game finished on a sour note when a bad challenge on Louis Keenan sparked off a bout of pushing and shoving leading to red cards for Harry Draper and Gresley’s Sam Grouse.

Gresley Rovers (starting): Franklin, Conkay, Martin, Lansdowne, Watson, Mansfield, King, Garner, Brown, Large, McNulty. Subs: Phillips, Jarvis, Ryder, Grouse, Whetton, Everett-Wilcox

Belper Town: Alexander, Rhodes (Austin 45), Keenan, Fankwe, Broadhead, Mansell, Edwards (Rogers 69), Thompson-Matthews, Draper, Gratton, Trialist. Unused subs: Baker, Hassett.

Referee: Bradley Taylor

Att: 216