The Nailers were short on personnel and could only name one substitute, while there were three trialists in the squad.

The early stages were evenly contested with the first meaningful effort coming from Chasetown’s Joe Dunne in the 7th minute.

Ty Webster went close for the Scholars in the 19th minute with an angled shot to the near post, but the ball was cleared for a corner kick.

Trialist 2’s free kick for the Nailers had Curtis Pond sprawling to his right to ensure that the ball didn’t lodge in the far corner of the net, however two minutes later the hosts took the lead when Joe Thompson turned inside the box on 29 minutes to send a low drive into the far corner.

The Nailers were level just two minutes later when Trialist 2 lifted the ball beyond Pond and into the top corner to restore parity.

Kevin Bastos was always a threat on the left side and he almost put Belper back in the lead after cutting inside and sent a shot just past the far post.

The Nailers were moments away from reaching half time when Ty Webster got on the end of a flowing Scholars move and regained the lead for the hosts.

Chasetown held the initiative for much of the second half although the Nailers had their moments in the hosts’ penalty area, and in the 54th minute they broke away with Kingsley Abu- Gyamfi who fed Trialist 1, and he shot just wide.

Bastos went close on 57 minutes with an effort that went wide, however as the game progressed the Nailers had more defending to do.

With only a few minutes left, and within reach of a respectable score line, the Nailers conceded two goals in quick succession.

Matt Funge’s close range shot appeared to take a deflection which wrong footed Kieran Preston, and then Mitchell Clarke floated the ball over everyone to rest in the back of the net.

It was a better performance against Step 4 opposition and a team who were in the NPL West play offs last season.

There is now just the Congleton friendly to come and hopefully all the absentees will be available to strengthen the side with just a week away from the first league game at St Neots.

Chasetown: Pond, Hayward (Taylor 71), Dunne, Griffiths, Clarke, Ferrier, Cook, Thompson (Fenton 70), Funge, Bradley (Langston 63), Webster (Findlay 74). Sub not used: Clarkson

Belper Town: Preston, Tsolakis, Keenan, Burrows, Broadhead, Evans, Bastos, Tague, Trialist 1, Trialist 2, Adu-Gyamfi (Trialist 3 58)

Referee: Jamie Cooke

Att: 275