With Curtis Burrows and Brodie Litchfield unavailable the Nailers went with twin strikers, Harry Draper, and Luke Rawson, while Nathan Whitehead dropped to the bench alongside the still not fully fit Keaton August.

Former Belper favourite Nathan Curtis was in the Pewits starting line-up.

The first twenty minutes were surprisingly easy for the Nailers who completely dominated Emley, and they could, and perhaps should have been at least three goals to the good.

Nathaniel Crofts was presented with the first opportunity in the 4th minute as he was sent through on goal with just the ‘keeper in front of him, and he could only shoot straight at Declan Lambton.

An excellent Belper move on 7 minutes involving first Mason Warren and then an accurate cross from Paulo Aguas, left Crofts with time to place his shot but he could only curl his effort wide of the post.

Another swift break on the right side presented Crofts with yet another opportunity on 14 minutes, but although the angle was tight, he could only find the side netting.
After three good chances had gone begging Crofts put Belper ahead with a clever hook shot on the edge of the six-yard area and beat Lambton all ends up.

At this point, the hosts hadn’t had a sniff of a chance and Belper looked capable of getting a sizeable lead, however the game turned dramatically in the 36th minute.

Dan Moore, who has been consistently excellent since he returned as ‘keeper last season made an ill-judged dash out of his goal to try and reach the ball before Luke Parkin. Parkin got there first and struck the ball into the unguarded net from just outside the penalty area.

Emley were now a different team and within five minutes a routine cross from the left was spilled by Moore and Donae Lawrence had the easy task of tapping the ball home. A disastrous five-minute spell had completely reversed Belper fortunes and had changed the game permanently as it turned out.

The second half can only be described as a struggle for Belper. For 30 minutes Emley were hardly ever out of the Belper half, and the Nailers had to do some serious defending to avoid conceding more goals.

Moore redeemed himself to an extent by saving brilliantly from a shot on 60 minutes, but the Nailers couldn’t keep possession, gave the ball away and generally played into the hands of the hosts.

Rawson and Draper battled away as best the could, but the product of their efforts was a shot on the turn from Draper on 72 minutes, despite Belper getting more joy down the flanks, especially after the introduction of Keaton August.

There was worse to come, however for Belper on 90 minutes after Parkin latched on to a loose ball in midfield, and spotting Moore off his line hit a 50-yard strike over the Belper ‘keepers’ head and into the goal.

It was a disappointing result against the Northern Counties East League Champions, but at this stage of the season it is nothing but a minor setback.

Emley AFC: Lambton, Sheppard, Baldwin, Metcalfe, Cowgill, Barks, Parkin, Haigh, Curtis, Lawrence (Walshaw 78), Berchill. Unused subs: Roxburgh, Keits, Dawson, Pashley.

Belper Town: Moore, Rhodes, Aguas, Austin, Broadhead, Evans, Gratton, Warren, Draper, Rawson, Crofts (August 70). Unused subs: Whitehead, Gregory, Tsolakis, Adams.

Referee: Daniel Sykes

Att: 405