For the second Saturday running the Nailers faced a club at the bottom of the table and whereas they struggled to get a point out of Grimsby Borough, it was a much easier task against Saturday’s opponents.

Josh Ashman had been recalled by his parent club Guiseley at short notice, so Curtis Burrows was pressed into service at right back.

The move coincided with Declan Dunn’s return to fitness, so he took Burrow’s place in midfield. Ben Rhodes was making his 101st appearance for the Nailers.

Danny South played as a centre forward again after doing so well at Sheffield on Boxing Day, and weighed in with two goals that more than justified his selection.

The Gingerbreads’ team included Sam Muggleton who was part of the Nailers’ promotion winning side 18 months ago, while Ali Elkossi, another former ‘Nailer’ was named on their bench.

Poor starts have been an unwanted feature of some of Belper’s games this season, but the tables were turned when Brodie Litchfield stabbed home a cross from Kevin Bastos after 66 seconds to put the hosts ahead.

The Nailers never looked back after this although the visitors did give them a few anxious moments on the break but without a finisher, Dan Moore was rarely troubled.

The Nailers were a whisker away from adding a second on 24 minutes when Sidik Atcha glanced a header from a corner kick just wide of the far post.

Moore made a rare save when he got to Harry Olivant’s weak shot from a good position on 33 minutes, however the Nailers virtually made sure of the points by scoring two more goals before the break.

Danny South scored his first goal of the season when he nodded in a Mason Warren corner kick on 40 minutes, then Zak Goodson was on target for the first time when he nipped in to score from close range just before the whistle.

The Nailers forged a wider gap in the scoreline on 49 minutes when good work from Goodson ended with Danny South bundling the ball over the line at the near post.

Substitute Cedric Nguedon brought South down with a rugby type tackle in the 70th minute, but unfortunately Mason Warren, on penalty taking duty after Kevin Bastos’ miss at Sheffield, then saw his spot kick saved by Curtis Hall.

Three minutes later and the ball was back on the penalty spot again when Bastos was brought down inside the six-yard area, and this time, Warren blasted the ball in for number five.

Olivant nearly pulled one back for the Gingerbreads on 76 minutes, but after a penetrating run through the Nailers’ defence his shot trickled straight to Moore.

Belper were on top until the final whistle and could have scored more, however there was a definite feel-good factor around the ground as the team left the field to much cheering.

Belper Town: Moore, Burrows, Rhodes (Cadman 66), Atcha, South (Gregory 75), Watt, Litchfield, Dunn (Austin 78), Goodson, Warren, Bastos. Unused subs: Walker, Gbehe.

Grantham Town: Hall, Goncalves, Johnson (Cox 72), Soloman, Muggleton, Doyle, Zaluzinskis (Ngueden 56), Munns, Morrison, Olivan, Nassunculo (Horne 65). Unused subs: Elkossi, Gadomski.

Referee: Peter Dingle

Att: 515