With skipper Danny South and ‘keeper Max Culverwell out through suspension, Tom Wilson took the captain’s arm band while Ross Durrant returned between the posts. A surprise inclusion was Luke Mangham who had made a quicker than expected recovery from an appendix operation a few weeks ago.

The Wire almost scored in the 6th minute when Isaac Buckley-Ricketts failed to connect with Luke Duffy’s cross into the box, and after some even play for the next 20 minutes or so, Buckley-Ricketts had another opportunity that bent away from its target.

Harry Middleton struck a free kick just over the cross bar from 25 yards in the 26th minute, then Duffy had the game’s first shot on target 3 minutes later that Durrant gathered easily. Within seconds, hard working Belper had been awarded a penalty kick after Luke Mangham was bundled over by Thomas Hannigan.

Mangham stepped up to take the spot kick himself and beat Anthony Thompson in the Warrington goal to put the Nailers ahead. Confidence flowed through the Belper players as they sought a second goal before the break, and Mangham came close to adding to his total when he struck a fine volley from a Brodie Litchfield cross on 40 minutes.

Thompson did well to spread himself and block Mangham’s effort and deny the Nailers’ striker his second, then Todd Jordan’s snap shot moments later went over the cross bar. With half time fast approaching, the visitors snatched an equaliser when Sean Williams volleyed in from close range.

Belper found Warrington in a more determined mood in the second period and the Nailers had to defend more than they would have wanted to, but despite the pressure applied by the Wire, the only save Durrant had to make was from a curling shot by Sean Williams on 66 minutes.
The game erupted on 76 minutes when Ben Middleton and Warrington substitute Jordan Buckley clashed well inside the Belper half, and after much deliberation by referee Tankard, both players were shown a red card. The Nailers have had a player sent off in three consecutive games.

Warrington had the ball in the Belper net on 83 minutes but the effort was ruled out for offside, and Bohan Dixon fired wide on 89 minutes. The Nailers were restricted to break away moves for much of the second half, although they were excellent defensively and well deserving of a point.

Belper Town: Durrant, Woodcock, Rhodes [(Lobley 14) Morris 53)], Wilson, Middleton B, Jordan, Robson, Middleton H, Mangham (Gibson 61), Litchfield, Dixon. Unused subs: Hewlett, Brown

Warrington Town: Thompson, Seary, White, Hannigan (McDonald 45), Gumbs, Harris, Buckley-Ricketts, Williams, Amis (Buckley 71), Dixon, Duffy (Howard 66). Unused subs: Mols, Putnam.

Referee: Anthony Tankard

Att: 448