Manager Lee Attenborough made it back from his annual break in time to take charge of the Nailers for their last friendly.

Belper had a full complement of substitutes although named among the starting eleven and bench were five ‘Trialists’.

Congleton reached their play off final last season after beating Belper’s last opponents, Chasetown in the semifinal. However, they lost their final against Hednesford and so they provided quality opposition for the Nailers.

A bright start for Belper yielded an early goal for Belper with Kevin Bastos providing the assist and Jonathan Wafula stroking the ball home in the 4th minute.

Jack Broadhead hit the crossbar with an acute header on 15 minutes, and the Nailers were generally on top in the first half

It was their main man, Bastos who cleverly sidestepped the defender in the 38th minute and the Bears’ ‘keeper clutched the ball under the bar.

The second half ebbed and flowed and made for an entertaining spectacle for the supporters, the majority of whom were bathed in warm summer sunshine.

Trialist 2’s snapshot fizzed just past the post on 53 minutes and substitute Keaton August snatched at a first-time volley and sent the ball skywards 2 minutes later.

The Nailers were caught out on 56 minutes, and the visitors equalised with a cross shot inside the far post in the 56th minute.

James Tague on as a substitute for the last twenty-five minutes and he exchanged passes with Bastos and the Belper striker’s shot sped beyond the far post.

Tague had a go himself on 78 minutes and saw his near post effort saved by the ‘keeper, then with full time looming Andrew Tsolakis played August in with an excellent pass, and he drilled the ball under the keeper for the eventual winner.

Bastos spoiled what otherwise was another good performance by him by getting a second yellow card and subsequently a red, although it shouldn’t affect his eligibility for the early season games.

Belper Town: Preston, Rhodes (Trialist 4 79), Keenan, Trialist 3 (Trialist 5 55), Broadhead (Tsolakis 41), Evans, Bastos, Burrows (Edwards 79), Wafula (Tague 65), Trialist 2 (Trialist 65), Abu-Gyamfi (August 55)

Referee: David Constable

Att: 343