Hopes were high that this might have been a good time to face the runaway league leaders, and for the first forty-five minutes it looked like that might have been the case.

The game survived a morning pitch inspection much to most people’s surprise, however the pitch was very heavy and cut up really badly in certain areas.

The conditions made for a midfield slog and down the flanks too and it was a battle that the Nailers subsequently lost.

The Nailers made a positive start to the game and generally held the upper hand in the first half, and Shaw had the afternoon’s first attempt on goal in the 8th minute following good approach play down the right side.

With Manneh in the Millers line up they must have one of the quickest and skilful players in the league and he went close on 17 minutes with a shot across the face of goal then two minutes later he forced Preston into a good save.

The Nailers went ahead with an excellent counterattack in the 19th minute when Gratton sent Bastos away and the resulting cross was hit home at the second attempt by de Girolamo, his fourth goal since arriving at the Raygar Stadium.

Carlton broke away in the 24th minute and the impressive Manneh struck a fierce shot across the face of goal and fortunately out of play.

The Nailers concluded a satisfactory first half display with a Burrows free kick that hit the foot of the post and went out of play.

The Millers wasted no time in setting about Belper after the break and a tremendous run from Watson needed a fantastic block from Preston to prevent an early equaliser.

The hosts equalised on 57 minutes with a goal from Hylton whose curling left foot shot was unstoppable and was an effort to grace any stage.

It was a blow the Nailers never recovered from, and it was just a hard slog against a team that are used to winning and find ways to do it even when things have gone against them.

Rhodes’ nasty foot injury left Belper vulnerable on the right side and Manneh took full advantage.

His 67th minute effort went just wide, and his lightening pace made life very difficult for the Nailers’ defence.

The introduction of Moran injected pace and enthusiasm into the Nailers and his 72nd minute cross was well picked out by Annan and gave hope that the Nailers might still run out winners.

However, disaster struck on 77 minutes when a mix up in the Belper defence saw Bowman head the ball back to Preston without realising that the Nailers' 'keeper had come out too far and the ball dropped kindly to Manneh who put the ball into the empty net.

To Belper’s credit they did try to fight back in the latter stages and began to win the battle of the sludge in midfield, but once again they shot themselves in the foot when a chance to send a free kick into the opposition penalty area fell short.

Carlton quickly moved the ball out to Manneh who sped like the wind leaving everyone in his wake before drilling the ball past Preston.

Not for the first time this season the Nailers were left wondering what might have been had they handled things differently.

Carlton Town: Annan, Brown (Durow 45), Thompson-Harris (Davie 85), Freeman, Robson, Howes, Manneh, Watson, Chambers (Law 87), Clark (Sargent 45), Hylton (Dymock-Fox 79).

Belper Town: Preston, Rhodes (Bowman 45), Keenan, Wafula, Broadhead, Evans, Bastos, Burrows (Austin 87), De Girolamo (Moran 69), Gratton, Shaw. Unused sub: Hassett.

Referee: Tom Durno

Att: 416