The Nailers had Micah Edwards in the starting line up with James Tague and Keaton August former ‘old boys’ who have returned to the fold after previous spells at the Raygar Stadium. Kingsley Adu-Gyamfi and Tavonga Kuleya were unavailable.

Coronation Park has undergone a transformation since the Nailers last visited over 10 years ago and a new 3G surface together with levelling out of the sloping pitch has made it a stadium worth visiting.

There was perhaps a little more at stake for these two sides as at one time both played on the Raygar pitch with the Nailers hosting United for a number of seasons.

The game was played at a frantic pace from the referee’s whistle and Louis Keenan was the Nailers’ early threat with shots in the 5th and 11th minute, both of which went narrowly wide.

Kieran Preston saved well in the 12th minute when a United striker ran clear, however the Belper Town stopper blocked the shot with his body.

While possession was evenly distributed in the first half the Nailers looked slightly more dangerous with Keaton August looking effective on the left, and on 31 minutes he nearly squeezed the ball in at an angle but the United ‘keeper saved at the foot of the post.

James Tague had a shot from just inside the penalty area soon afterwards, but the pace was taken out of it with a defender getting in the way, however Tague stunned the hosts with a tremendous shot from almost 40 yards that went in the top corner of the net with the ‘keeper at full stretch.

Tague could have made it two moments later but with a clear shot on goal his effort was well blocked by the ‘keeper, and just on the stroke of half time Keenan fired in another low drive that went just past the far post.

The Nailers had fewer moments in the host’s penalty area in the second period and the game was slogged out in the middle of the pitch and became rather scrappy at times.

Tague tested the ‘keeper with a near post flick on 54 minutes but there was little goal mouth action at either end until the game entered the final ten minutes.

United had more of the ball in attacking areas and following a couple of corners they had a shot saved at point blank range by Preston.

The Nailers were unable to stand the pressure and on 84 minutes the equaliser came with a low shot from close in, and overall, few would argue that a draw was just about the right outcome.

The Nailers are next in action at Barwell on Friday 11th July k.o. 7.30pm

Belper Town: Preston, Rhodes, Keenan (Triallist 3 45), Edwards (Burrows 45), Broadhead (Triallist 1 45), Evans, Bastos, Austin, Tague, Munns, August (Tsolakis 45).