Multiple postponements at Dunston’s UTS Stadium forced the Northern Premier League to instruct the Gateshead based club to play all their matches away from home during March.

This late announcement meant that the Dunston officials had to find a ground suitable to stage the game and at the last minute the fixture was switched to the Heffernan Utilities Stadium, the home of Brighouse Town.

The ‘hosts’ would have thought that all the trouble was worth it as their team were comfortable victors, despite a valiant effort from the Nailers which failed to turn the tables once UTS had taken a two-goal lead.

With Kevin Bastos suspended for four games, the return of Karl Demidh was timely, but the Nailers missed the silky skills of their top scorer and suffered as a result.

Dunston started on the front foot and Dan Moore saw action early on as he saved brilliantly from JJ Chrisp’s shot that looked destined for the far corner on 4 minutes.

The Nailers fought back strongly and were unlucky when a great shot from Declan Dunn cannoned off the cross bar with Dan Staples well beaten.

Moore was needed again on 22 minutes when Dale Pearson’s angled drive was beaten away by the Nailers’ ‘keeper, then pressure from Belper saw James Cadman’s effort sail over the crossbar.

Dale Pearson’s shot in the 37th minute took a double deflection but went straight to Moore, however two minutes later Dunston went ahead when Jack Maskell scored the first of his triple when he steered the ball home following a corner kick.

It was the first goal the Nailers had conceded in five matches, but Maskell might have scored again but for another great stop from Moore, which preserved a single goal deficit at half time.

The second half began with Dunstan pressing and Chrisp shot wide on 55 minutes, and the second goal came on 61 minutes when Maskell struck a loose ball straight into the centre of the goal.

Sado Djala put his shot over the target on 68 minutes, then Demidh headed a good chance over the top at the far post. David Robinson was the next Dunston player to test Moore as his glancing header looked destined to creep inside the near post before Moore intervened.

The Nailers changed thing around on the field and brought substitutes on and certainly gave Dunston more to think about in their own penalty area, and when Demidh bundled the ball over the line on 82 minutes, the comeback looked to be a possibility.

However, the more the Nailers pressed forward for an equaliser, the more vulnerable they looked at the back, and Maskell missed a great chance to finish the game off on 89 minutes when he had all the goal to aim at, and struck his shot straight at Moore who diverted it over the bar,

Maskell wasn’t to be denied his hattrick though and with Belper hopelessly committed deep into added time, the ‘hosts’ broke swiftly and this time the Dunston striker didn’t miss.

Dunston looked the stronger team for much of the game, but the Nailers’ effort and commitment was never in doubt.

Dunston UTS F C: Staples, Baxter, McDonald, Turnbull, Pearson M, Walker, Djalo, Chrisp, Maskell, Robinson, Pearson D (Phillips 86). Unused subs: Carr, Lamb, Camarda, Swales.

Belper Town: Moore, Rhodes (Walker 64), Warren, Dunn (Watt 75), Atcha, Goodson, Burrows, Demidh, Cadman (Litchfield 66), Oliver. Unused subs: Austin, Gregory.

Referee: Liam Smith

Att: 77