Steve Kittrick gave a debut to left back Paulo Aguas who joined the Nailers on a month’s loan from Sheffield Wednesday, with Jay Glover, also from Wednesday named as a substitute. Ben Middleton was unavailable through suspension.

United came into the game on the back of a 3 game losing streak while the Nailers had taken 4 points from their last two games. So hopes were high that Steve Kittrick’s men might have some success at Broadhurst Park.

United, eager to overturn their recent poor form set off at a high tempo, and one that they kept up for the majority of the game. This made for a difficult afternoon for the Nailers who had to soak up pressure from an energetic United team.

Dontai Gabidon was tormentor in chief and he ensured that Aguas in his first game for the Nailers had a challenging debut, although for the most part he did well to minimise Gabidon’s effectiveness,

Charlie Ennis struck an 8th minute shot from 18 yards that Be[per ‘keeper Harrison Dawson-Hale saved well then a cross from Gabidon took a couple of deflections before ending up in the arms of the Nailers custodian.

Regan Linney looked to have benefited from a deflection but dragged his 13th minute shot wide, then as the Nailers began to settle into the game Jacob Gratton had their first shot on target which went straight to Dan Lavercombe.

United had the ball in the net on 26 minutes but the referee’s assistant quickly put her flag up to indicate offside, but the Nailers enjoyed a better spell just before the break and forced a couple of corners and Harry Middleton had a good effort that swerved away from the target.

Five minutes into the second period, the Nailers created the best chance of the game so far when great work on the right from Shaun Tuton led to a near post cross that somehow Luke Mangham managed to put the wrong side of the post.

United were relived to see the ball go wide and responded with a goal of their on in the 58th minute when Fin Armstrong’s shot was too hot for Davison-Hale to handle and he could only help the ball into the net.

Mangham then had another great opportunity as the Nailers fought back when a long ball over the United defence dropped kindly for the Belper strike,r, and although he struck the ball well, Lavercombe managed to stop the shot as it went under his body.

Tom Wilson nudged the ball the wrong side of the post on 69 minutes then Middleton’s shot was deflected for a corner kick. Gratton might have controlled his shot better in the 90th minute and even at this late stage of the game, the Nailers had hopes of an equaliser.

Unfortunately the hosts put paid to Belper hopes when Linney ran clear to fire the ball past Davison-Hale to secure all the points for the Manchester team.

FC United of Manchester: Lavercombe, Degruchy (Wollerton 75), Armstrong, Griffiths, Halls, Jones, Donohue (Rodwell-Grant 88), Potts (Stanley 75), Linney, Ennis, Gabidon. Unused subs: Palinkas, Willan.

Belper Town: Davison-Hale, Rhodes, Aguas, Middleton H, Wilson, Jordan, Tuton, Cartwright (Reaney 70), Mangham (Glover 70), Gratton, Litchfield . Unused subs; Tempest, Peel-Evans, Moore.

Referee: Ashley Royston

Attendance: 1,670