Burrows and Shaw came into the starting line up while Wafula and Rhodes were named as substitutes, and a familiar name was in the Mikes’ ranks as Tague was in their starting eleven.

A strong down field wind was evident as the teams kicked off on the 4G pitch and it wasn’t long before the Nailers were in trouble.

In just the first minute Cook rampaged down the left side and side a shot flashing across goal just missing Preston’s far post.

A wind assisted pass caused problems in the 3rd minute and before the Belper defenders could sort themselves out, Ealing snapped up the opportunity that befell him.

A was a tough opening for the Nailers and it got worse in the 7th minute when Tague’s run to the by line culminated in a cross to Omatola who stroked the ball home unchallenged.

With the game barely ten minutes old the Nailers had succumbed to two quick fire goals, but they did have the best part of eighty minutes to put things right.

Gratton had a decent opportunity in the 23rd minute but Brown beat his shot away, then he had another effort from the edge of the area that didn’t find its target.

Bastos weighed in with a 30-yard volley on 33 minutes that went over the cross bar and despite having a more than equal share of possession, the hosts defended well enough to snuff out the Belper threat.

Tague might have added to the Mikes’ total on the stroke of half time when he forced an opening on the left and his low drive fizzed past the far post.

Playing with the wind in the second half should have helped the Nailers but again having lots of possession didn’t seem to be leading to anything.

In fact, Tague hit the side netting after a breakaway in the 50th minute, then the Nailers created a half chance for South after Bowman sent an accurate cross over from the right.

Tague was there again on 57 minutes with a volley that Preston collected comfortably, then the Nailers showed promise in the 62nd minute when a good move ended with a cross from Keenan that just eluded everyone at the far post.

Bastos weighed in with another shot on the turn a minute later but just as Belper looked to be getting closer to a goal, the Mikes’ almost grabbed a third when O’Callaghan powered a header goal bound and Preston had to make the save.

Tague tormented the Nailers again in the 70th minute with an angled shot that beat Preston and struck the near post and went to safety.

As the Nailers pressed, Moran managed to get to the by line and his cross to the near post was deflected for a corner kick with Burrows getting the initial touch.

Belper continued to have the majority of the play but couldn’t create an opening even for a consolation goal, and it could have been worse as Byrne got in behind and forced Preston into a one handed save right at the death.

The tide has to turn soon and Easter Monday’s clash with Long Eaton assumes greater importance than ever.

Boldmere St Michaels: Brown, Bilton, Lima, O’Callaghan, Christophorou (Gough 73), Armstrong, Burgess, Ealing (Lund 75), Omatola (Burnside 90+), Tague (Manners 86), Crook (Byrne 83).

Belper Town: Preston, Bowman (Rhodes 80), Keenan, Fankwe (Austin 66), Broadhead, Evans, Bastos, Burrows, South (Moran 55), Gratton, Shaw (Wafula 66). Unused sub: Hassett.

Referee: Stuart Lathan

Attendance: 162