It was especially pleasing for manager Lee Attenborough who has had to endure some narrow defeats since he took the reigns at the Raygar Stadium. He was certainly a much happier man in his post match interview and he rightly praised his hard working team.

While it is more likely than not that the Nailers will drop back into Division One next season, there is now an opportunity for Belper to surpass their 32 point total achieved in their last season in the Premier Division 8 years previously.

With Todd Jordan still injured, Ben Middleton slotted in alongside the ever present Tom Wilson and James Oliver was given his first start due to the continued absence of Jerome Greaves.

The Nailers saved their best play until the final third of the game and their survival to this point hinged on a number of key factors. The brilliance of Tom Jackson was one, the woodwork was another and a couple of other moments that went Belper’s way.

The Nailers started well and Ben Rhodes had an early chance after 5 minutes after great work from Oliver gave Rhodes a great shooting opportunity but he lifted his shot over the bar,

Brodie Litchfield latched on to a good through ball on 8 minutes but the angle was too acute for him to get his shot on target, then Guiseley quickly got into their stride and the Nailers found themselves having to defend.

Jake Cassidy was denied twice in 2 minutes. Initially his first time effort from a 11th minute corner was blocked by Jackson, then the Belper ‘keeper pulled off an even better save when Cassidy’s low drive looked destined for the back of the net.

Belper then rode their luck when Kallan Murphy’s tremendous drive from 30 yards on 23 minutes bounced back off the foot of the post, then Benni Smales-Braithwaite’s 39th minute free kick also thundered back off the upright.

James Tague closed the half with a shot well saved on 45 minutes following a good Belper move that gave hope for the second half.

The second period could have easily started badly, but somehow Smales-Braithwaite missed a golden opportunity to put his side in front on 47 minutes. Joe Nyahwema went on a mazy run and saw his shot deflected for a corner, and this seemed to spark the Nailers to play at a higher level.

The key moment arrived in the 65th minute when from a corner kick, Tom Wilson brought the ball under control beautifully, and struck a low left foot drive through a number of defenders before the ball rested in the far corner of the net.

The Nailers took control from this moment and looked likely to add to their total whereas Guiseley diminished as an attacking force. Smales-Braithwaite did have an effort fizz just wide on 69 minutes, but the Nailers looked far more dangerous in the latter stages and could have had more goals.

Rhodes saw a shot blocked on 82 minutes and then Litchfield’s run inside produced a great effort just wide of the far post. There were many more examples of impressive approach play that could have yielded a more convincing result, but at the full time whistle there was understandable joy from players and supporters who haven’t had a lot to shout about this season.

Guiseley AFC: Bacon, Lees, Kachosa, Chippendale, Assenso (Boateng 37), Whelan (Woods 78), Smales-Braithwaite, Nejman, Cassidy, Murphy, Meppen-Walters ©. Unused subs: Gardner, Grzelak, Machado.

Belper Town: Jackson, Rhodes, Algar, Middleton H, Wilson, Middleton Ben ©, Nyahwema; Burrows, Tague (Molyneaux 84), Litchfield (Reaney 90), Oliver. Unused subs: Avery, Cotterill, Smith-Eccles

Referee: Givi Todua

Attendance: 651