Kevin Bastos’s enforced absence left the Nailers struggling for numbers as the Nailers took on inform Loughborough Students.

Needing just five points to ensure a play off spot Belper were hoping to get most of the job done in the impressive Loughborough University Stadium.

It was a very tight game with both teams working very hard to nullify the other, but the Nailers lacked a cutting edge resulting in a lack of goals that has been their undoing in the second half of the campaign.

Belper made a positive start with Jacob Gratton being prominent in most of the early moves. However, it was the hosts who looked most likely to open the scoring with Marcus Gilpin testing Kieran Preston with a 16th minute free kick.

Gilpin’s speculative effort flew high and wide a minute later, and although the Nailers were moving the ball about well themselves, they failed to test Steven Bessant in the Students’ goal.

The Nailers had to deal with Ioan Evans’s injury in the 25th minute by bringing Ben Rhodes on in his place, and before the new defensive line up could settle, they were caught out by a clever move on 29 minutes and Tobenna Ikegwuonu finished smartly with a shot just inside the post.

Danny South headed on a 37th minute free kick but there was no one to take advantage, then Preston prevented the Nailers going two down when he stuck a leg out to divert Gafar Abari’s shot wide.

South almost managed to scramble the ball in on the stroke of half time, but the ball went the wrong side of the post.

The Nailers worked hard to keep themselves in the game in the second half and were rewarded for their resilience on 58 minutes when Gratton squared the ball to Jonathan Wafula who struck the ball low and hard to score the equaliser.

Then disaster struck in the 71st minute when Ikegwuono pounced to fire home from a free kick to retake the lead and dent Belper hopes.

Unfortunately, the Nailers couldn’t mount a serious assault on the Students’ defence as they were usually too strong in the air and on the ground to allow any further opportunities.

A 74th minute header over the bar from Wafula was the best that Belper had to offer in the last quarter of the game, and now the Nailers look to next week’s derby clash at Mickleover to try and put more points on the board.

Loughborough Students: Bessant, Spiteri, Pricket-Reed, Bouch, Earley, Salsby, Roddy, Gilpin, Scutt (Albert 90), Ikegwuonu (Keene 76), Abari. Unused subs: Dean, Issa, Royall.

Belper Town: Preston, Fankwe, Keenan, Wafula, Broadhead, Evans [Rhodes 25 (Austin 71)], Moran, Burrows, South, Gratton, Shaw. Unused subs: Hassett, Bowman.

Referee: Robert Pealing

Att: 189