It was only thanks to some great goalkeeping by Dan Moore and some indifferent finishing that let the Nailers of the hook, but some credit should go to Belper who survived nearly 55 minutes with only ten men.

The late withdrawal of Karl Demidh set the afternoon on poor note but in stepped Brodie Litchfield who played his part until he was substituted at half time. The Steels line up included former Nailer Charlie Reaney who was named as a substitute.

It was the first goalless draw in nearly four years, and coincidentally it was Steels who were the opposition on that occasion.

Belper’s infamous slow starts had all but been irradicated in recent weeks, but in the first few minutes the visitors ran the Nailers ragged.

Luke Rawson should have scored in just the 2nd minute but put his header straight at Dan Moore. The Steels striker had the ball in the net soon afterwards, however the assistant’s flag went up to save Belper blushes.

A scramble in the Nailers’ six-yard area in the 7th minute emphasised their shaky start to the game, then in their first meaningful attack moments later Litchfield was unlucky to flick a Mason Warren free kick against the cross bar.

The industrious Zak Goodson let the ball run too far ahead of him after a nice passing movement in the 16th minute, then the Nailers were indebted to Moore when he saved a shot from Tomas Poole seconds later.

Declan Dunn had a shot straight at Ben Townsend, but the Nailers were finding it difficult to settle and were fortunate to survive again in the 25th minute when a Belper defender frantically kicked the ball off the line. Steels looked to have had a good penalty shout ignored by the referee and at this stage the Nailers were fortunate to be still on level terms.

However, Belper could have taken the lead on 28 minutes when Litchfield struck a fine half volley that Townsend saved brilliantly by getting a touch that sent the ball against the cross bar for the second time in the game.

Belper’s task became more difficult when Kevin Bastos lashed out at Jack Tinkler after the Steels defender had pulled the Belper striker’s hair, and while Bastos could have no complaints, the referee didn’t take any action against the Stocksbridge man.

A bizarre moment in the 43rd minute showed that lady luck was on Belper’s side when Rawson got a touch to a cross from the right, and the ball bounced up off the inside of the post straight into the arms of Moore.

With ten men, expectation was greatly reduced from a Belper perspective, but the situation did bring the best out of the Belper defence. Sidik Atcha is proving to be a stellar signing and with Mason Warren and the ever-dependable Danny South in great form, the visitors slowly ran out of ideas going forward.

Goodson had a cheeky lob go just wide on 48 minutes, but Tinkler and Goodwin had good opportunities, first blocked and the second well saved by Moore.

A 61st minute break was one of Belper’s most promising moments when Goodson set up James Cadman, but Townsend did his part by saving at full length.

Kurtis Turner should have done better with his chance on 73 minutes but fired his shot straight at Moore, however as the hosts seemed to tire on the heavy pitch, the Nailers had more of the ball in the closing stages and fans dared to hope that they could sneak a winner.

In a promising move on 87 minutes Goodson seemed set to strike the ball goal bound but had it taken off his toe at the last moment.

The Nailers won’t look back on the game with any satisfaction, but on the plus side it was Belper’s fourth clean sheet in a row and another point towards their goal of reaching the play offs this season.

Belper Town: Moore, Burrows, Warren, Dunn, South, Atcha, Goodson (Austin 90), Cadman, Litchfield (Rhodes 45), Oliver (Gregory 78), Bastos. Unused subs: Watt, Gbehe.

Stocksbridge Park Steels: Townsend, Charlesworth, Tinkler (Marshall 85), Hogg (Reaney 75), Oglesby, Lemon, Turner, Goodwin, Rawson, Poole, Watson (Dolman 85). Unused subs: Garman, Ring.

Referee: Scott Mason

Att: 591