The Nailers have shown consistently in their last four home friendlies that they are more than capable of tackling teams from a higher league and this game underpinned that assessment as they always had the edge over their visitors. Mickleover included former fans’ favourites Phil Watt and George Milner in their match day squad.
Mickleover’s strengths lay with their tricky ball players such as Mason Warren, and they potentially had the creativity to cause the Nailers some anxious moments.
Belper went ahead on 7 minutes after some great work by Josh Woodcock who over lapped on the right to whip in a low cross that came to Brodie Lichfield who placed the ball just inside the near post.
The visitors almost immediately had a chance to level the scores when Andy Dales broke clear and Belper ‘keeper Myles Wright came out quickly to block his shot.
The equaliser did arrive in the 12th minute however, when Stuart Beavan met a cross from the right and placed the ball well wide of the Belper ‘keeper to score.
The Nailers continued to look the most dangerous and in a 12 minute spell Jonathan Margetts, Danny South and Todd Jordan had efforts that went close.
Belper regained the lead on 26 minutes when Riece Bertram nodded a cross to the far post back across goal where Jonathan Margetts was on hand to apply the finishing touch.
The Nailers pressed home their advantage with a third goal in the 32 minutes, when Craig Nelthorpe hit a viciously swerving shot from the edge of the area to beat Calumn Hawkins all ends up.
Mickleover reduced the arrears from the penalty spot 5 minutes into the second period after Margetts was adjudged to have committed a foul close to the bye line and Declan Bacon made no mistake from the spot.
Margetts thought he had scored with a close range header on 65 minutes but he was flagged offside, then Danny South tried to thread a low shot across the face of goal but just missed the far post.
Danny South put the finishing touch to the afternoon with a close range goal in the 75th minute, leaving Nailers’ supporters with a feel good factor for when the season starts in earnest next Saturday.

Belper Town: Wright M, Woodcock, Jordan (Sandhu 58), Wright S, Wilson, Bertram, Curtis (Johnson 80), Lichfield, South (Reeves 85), Margetts, Nelthorpe. Unused subs: Kozluk, William.

Mickleover F.C. Hawkins, Bennett, Morris, Lee, Bateman, Watt, Warren, Butler, Dales, Beavon, Bacon. Subs all used: Batterson, Webb, Gowing, Milner.

Referee: Will Murray

Att: 250 est