The Nailers’ recent poor form with three consecutive losses had threatened to undermine their hold on the play off positions, however three points completely changed the mood of everyone connected with the club.

With three players on the bench not fully fit manager Lee Attenborough selected Moran in an attacking position and moved Fankwe to right back to cover for the injured Rhodes who was on the bench.

Long Eaton had former Nailers’ Cotterill, Garnett and Davidson-Miller in their squad as they set out to inflict a fourth straight league defeat on their Derbyshire neighbours.

Thankfully, that didn’t happen as the Nailers played with more fluidity than of late and Bastos set the tone after just 3 minutes when he sent a fiercely driven shot just beyond the far post.

The Blues probably had their best spell of the first half in the first 20 minutes though and Garnett nearly capitalised in the 7th minute with a volley that Preston held easily.

Cocks had a 40-yard effort go sky high on 14 minutes, then the visitors took the lead in fine style when full back Betts sent an excellent volley just inside Preston’s post from the edge of the area.

The Nailers worked hard to get on level terms and pegged Long Eaton back in their own half for long periods. Crosses, corner kicks, and the odd free kick failed to prize open the visiting defence, and Moran’s curling shot in the 29th minute was all the end product that was on view.

However, the all important and long-awaited goal came on 37 minutes when Moran bundled the ball in at the far post to draw the Nailers level.

Belper pushed hard after the break and Wafula’s shot on 51 minutes was high over the bar, however moments later Gratton’s run into the box was curtailed by a dubious challenge, and the referee frustratingly waived away genuine claims for a spot kick.

Wafula hit a shot straight at King in the Blues’ goal, then Preston did well to deny Garnett as the visitors broke quickly down the left.

The ground erupted with relief and delight in the 63rd when South making his one hundred and seventy ninth appearance for Belper nodded a cross to the far post beyond King and into the net.

There was still work to do as Long Eaton still had plenty to offer and Cotterill nearly got one over his former club when an angled header went just wide on 65 minutes.

Lady luck smiled on Fankwe in the 67th minute when his bizarre clearance struck the foot of the Belper post and the ball was sent spinning past the other post and out of play.

Bastos had been getting in dangerous position on the right wing and on a couple of occasions was past his defender without actually getting the ball into the danger area.

One particular effort on 84 minutes nearly brought him a goal but a last-ditch block sent his shot away for a corner kick, and from it Wafula was unlucky to see his header go narrowly over the bar.

The last few minutes saw some unpleasant incidents and the referee showed leniency until deep into added time he sent Walters off after he was shown a second yellow.

Can the Nailers hold their nerve and pick up the points required to finish in the play offs?

Belper Town; Preston, Fankwe, Keenan, Wafula, Broadhead, Evans, Bastos, Burrows, South, Gratton, Moran. Unused subs: Shaw, Austin, Rhodes, Bowman, Hassett.

Long Eaton United: King, Betts, Bonser (Pace 76), Cocks, Cotterill, Bucci, Walters, Hanson (Atwal 67), Garnett, Thompson-Matthews, Taylor. Unused subs: Davidson-Miller, Cole, Munn.

Referee: Mehul Karia

Attendance: 607

Match Sponsors: Future In Mind Education

Sponsors’ Man of the Match: Danny South