Club Captain Phil Watt was serving his second game of his suspension while Zak Goodson made his home debut and ‘keeper Daniel Moore was making his first home appearance since re-signing for the Nailers.

Declan Dunn was named as a substitute while another new arrival, David Gbehe started his Belper Town career on the bench. Rev James and Adam Bessadi had both moved on in midweek in search of regular game time.

Borough arrived at the Raygar Stadium for their first ever visit having gained just one point in their last six games, and the expectation of a Belper win was understandably exceptionally high.

The game proved to be a big disappointment for a healthy pre-Christmas crowd, and with seconds left of this scrappy game, the Nailers were facing the indignity of defeat.

Defensive chaos presented the visitors with the opening goal in less than two minutes from the kick off and Edwin Essel gratefully accepted the chance that opened up for him so early in the game.

No-one expected that this early goal would preserve Borough’s lead for as long as it did, but a combination of poor use of the ball and some excellent goal keeping kept the anxiety level buoyant for Nailers’ supporters who had come expecting a dominant winning display.

Danny South’s header on 13 minutes was fisted away by Liam Higton but as the Nailers got into their stride Luis Adlard squandered a more than reasonable chance to get a second goal for the visitors.

Curtis Burrow’s well struck free kick was brilliantly pushed over the bar by the Borough custodian, then the Nailers appeared to be denied a certain spot kick when Zak Goodson looked set to score, but the Belper striker received a yellow card for simulation.

The Nailers led a charmed existence in a ten second spell in the 47th minute in which Adam Drury hit the upright and Edwin Essel struck the cross bar.

Brodie Litchfield struck a fine effort from 22 yards on 59 minutes that Higton did well to react to, then Goodson’s cross from the left was perfect for Kevin Bastos but Belper’s leading goal getter side footed the ball wide of the target.

Debutant David Gbehe had the ball in the net on 67 minutes, but the referee ruled the effort out for an earlier offside, then as the Nailers desperation became increasingly apparent, Mason Warren appeared to go down from a blatant shove, however the referee once more remained unmoved.

Then as the game entered added time the referee did award Belper a penalty after South went down in the penalty area, but the ground went silent as Bastos sent his spot kick too close to Higton who gleefully saved it.

Ben Rhodes proved to be Belper’s saviour as the game went over the allotted 5 minutes added time, and when he powerfully headed home a corner kick in the dying seconds, he was mobbed by his teammates who knew that he had saved them from an embarrassing defeat.

Belper Town: Moore, Ashman, Rhodes, Warren, South, Atcha, Goodson, Burrows, Bastos, Cadman (Gbehe 45), Litchfield. Unused subs: Dunn, Walker, Gregory, Austin.

Grimsby Borough: Higton, Hipwell, Adlard, Richardson, Goundry, Sawyer, Drury (Robinson 84), Collins, Essel, Topliss, Tomlinson, (Radford 71) Unused subs: Barlow, Edwards, Munday.

Referee: Charles King

Att: 519