There was no denying that the Nailers played some exciting football in spells and all that was required was a little extra quality in and around the six yard area and their margin of victory would surely have been greater.

Rainworth have to be credited with their contribution in keeping the score to a minimum and for a team that will play their football at level 6 this season, they look set for a good season on this display.

The Nailers made a good start to the game and pressured the hosts from the off and the impressive Brodie Litchfield forced a good save from Warren Squires after 6 minutes.

Litchfield was prominent again soon afterwards and looked odds on to round the ‘keeper and score, but Squires hooked his arm around the Belper striker and took the ball off his toe,

Danny South, playing as a striker, headed just wide on 14 minutes and as the Nailers streamed forward, Derry Robson struck a fine volley off a Craig Nelthorpe cross 2 minutes later.

Belper nearly presented the lead to Rainworth when Leigh Overton’s clearance fell to Connor Mason, and he was only a whisker away from the upright with low drive from the edge of the penalty area.

At this stage the hosts began to enjoy more possession and there was an obvious threat to the Belper rearguard that was ably dealt with.

Litchfield was involved again on 27 minutes when he crossed for Danny South to head just wide, and for the remainder of the half, Belper retained the initiative without having anything to show for it when the teams left the field at half time.

Personnel changes after the break reaped instant rewards when Cory Gregory hit a fine shot from the edge of the 18 yard area after the ball was dragged back from the bye line on 47 minutes.

The game was made virtually safe for the Nailers with a cool finish from Brodie Litchfield after Craig Mitchell had won the ball in the air to give Litchfield the opportunity.

Litchfield nearly scored his second goal on 60 minutes with a terrific drive from 20 yards that took the slightest of deflections and caused the ball to strike the cross bar rather than fly into the net.

While more Belper goals looked likely, Rainworth knuckled down and made life difficult for Belper whilst causing some problems of their own in the Nailers half.

Much of what Rainworth did was managed well enough by the visiting defenders although they nearly conceded a goal in the 86th minute when Chad Woolley headed against the cross bar and gave Belper their only serious uncomfortable moment of the game.

Charlie Dawes created a great opportunity for Craig Mitchell 2 minutes from time but the experienced striker didn’t connect properly and then had his follow up shot blocked as well.

It was another good workout for the Nailers who have looked impressive in recent games but more sterner tests are up next with a trip to Pontefract this coming Saturday followed by home games against Trafford (5th Sept) and a Chesterfield XI on 8th September.

Rainworth MW: Squires, Herbert, Radford, Weaver, Hempshall K, Fisher, Mason, Hempshall Kane, Naylor, Jones, Woolley; Subs: Harris, Derby, Brooks, Bamford, Coupe, Gilbert.

Belper Town: Overton, Woodcock, Nelthorpe, Gregory, Robinson, Rhodes, Curtis, Wright, South, Robson, Litchfield. Subs: Dolan, Dawes, Ridley, Spence, Mitchell, Deacey.