Belper were eager to make a positive start to the new campaign and begin to banish the memories of their struggles in the Premier Division last season which led ultimately to relegation.

Lee Attenborough has put together a vibrant and talented squad with some of last year’s players and a raft of new ones that he hopes will propel the Nailers to the upper reaches of the First Division East by the end of next April.

The Nailers had to start their season without club captain Phil Watt who was unavailable over the weekend, but his absence was barely noticed as Luke Martin deputised very well alongside Danny South.

Belper threatened to blow their hosts away in the first 20 minutes and in only the 2nd minute Rio Molyneaux beat his marker for pace and pulled the ball back for Danny South to shoot straight at the ‘keeper.

Declan Dunn’s crisply struck half volley from the edge of the penalty area fizzed just past the upright minutes later, however the Nailers went ahead with a superbly created and taken goal on 11 minutes.

Kevin Bastos, who will terrorise most defences this season went on a mazy, twisting and turning run before giving the ball to James Cadman. His curling finish from the edge of the box was sumptuous.

Bastos had a fierce shot kicked off the line in the 15th minute, then showed everyone his shooting ability in the 22nd minute with a pile driver of a shot that billowed the net leaving the Borough ‘keeper motionless.

More good work from Bastos led to a Ben Algar cross that sped across the 6 yard area and just begged for someone to tap the ball home.

The first moment of danger came on 33rd minutes when Borough’s Winfarrah thought he’d beaten the offside trap but the referee’s assistant raised his flag to Belper’s relief.

The Nailers created another great chance in the 41st minute when Cameron Johnson wrestled the ball off a Borough defender and set off towards goal with only the ‘keeper between him and a third goal. Unfortunately, his powerfully struck shot was beaten away.

Winfarrah should have reduced the arrears for Grimsby deep into added time but prodded the ball wide of the target, and Cadman saw an effort blocked at the other end as the Nailers went into the half time break.

Before the hosts could mount a second half charge on the Nailers defence, Bastos took the wind out of their sails with an excellent strike across the face of goal and into the far corner to give Belper an unassailable lead after 49 minutes.

A jubilant contingent of Nailers supporters expected more goals from the Nailers, but after some Borough substitutions and a habit of losing the ball in dangerous areas, Grimsby were the dominant team for much of the rest of the half.

Despite more possession Grimsby had little joy in front of goal and only a shot from Tyler Edwards on 63 minutes came anywhere near troubling Jonathan Hedge in the Nailers’ goal.

Borough’s challenge diminished after the dismissal of Reece York on 69 minutes, after a hefty tackle on Bastos, and while the play after that could be best described as scrappy it suited the Nailers to be so.

Alex Troke’s appearance with 20 minutes to go helped take some pressure off, and his flashing cross on 76 minutes could have resulted in a fourth goal, and he had a shot saved by Liam Hughes deep into added time.

A very satisfying opening day then for Lee Attenborough’s men and now we move on to a home fixture against Winterton Rangers on Tuesday evening.

Grimsby Borough: Higton, Topliss, Adlard, Davey (Collins 54), Lovett, Sawyer, Drury, Richardson (Barlow 54), Edwards (Robinson 86), York, Winfarrah. Unused subs: Hipwell, Moore.

Belper Town: Hedge, Rhodes, Algar, Dunn, South, Martin, Molyneaux (Troke 70), Burrows, Bastos, Johnson (Bassadi) 87, Cadman (Warren 64). Unused subs: Austin, Gregory.

Referee: Daniel Tracey

Att: 165