Jack Broadhead and Curtis Burrows didn’t make the starting line up and had to make do with a place on the bench, and the Nailers' squad looked as strong as it ever has done in recent seasons.

A rock-hard pitch and a physical Shepshed team meant for a tough afternoon for the Nailers who gave as good as they received with the net result being a poor game devoid of much entertainment.

Both teams pressed effectively leaving the long ball the go to tactic for much of the game. The tactic favoured the hosts early on and a 9th minute goal mouth scramble in the Nailers’ penalty area saw Belper relieved to get the ball away.

On 13 minutes Jonathon Wafula’s cross forced the ‘keeper to concede a corner kick, then Tav Kuleya’s run and cross on 20 minutes was collected by Dan Wallis in the Dynamo goal.

Reece Moseley’s shot just before the hydration break sailed over Kieron Preston, then soon afterwards Wafula headed across goal from a corner kick, and when the ball fell to Harry Draper his well hit shot was blocked.

Kuleya cut inside impressively in the 41st minute but his left foot shot went high and wide, then Cain Noble missed a sitter for the hosts when the ball came to him eight yards out, but he could only prod it straight to Preston.

Belper’s best effort came seconds later when Kuleya’s right foot thunderbolt cannoned off the upright, then just before the break Kuleya crossed again but Draper couldn’t sort his feet out and the opportunity went begging.

The second half could only be described as a hard slog for both teams and scoring opportunities were almost non-existent.

John McHugh fired over from an angle moments after the start of the second period, and we had to wait until the 82nd minute for another attempt on goal and this time it was Draper whose shot on the turn went well over the cross bar.

Jack Broadhead’s cameo in the last minutes of the game came close to being a success when he clashed with Wallis in the Dynamo goal after Jack Rogers put over the cross.

The ball went over the cross bar, the ‘keeper was injured and had to go off and when the dust had settled, the referee’s assistant had flagged for offside anyway.

All things considered, a bone hard pitch, a temperature in the high twenties and a determination from both teams not to lose the opening game of the season, the score less outcome was probably as good as it could get.

Shepshed Dynamo: Wallis (Harrison 90+4), Timson, Fombad, Baynham, Peart, Burniston, McHugh, Massey (Halliday 62), Wyse (Butterfill 78), Noble, Medrano (Dixon 88).

Belper Town: Preston, Rhodes, Eccleshall, Fankwe, Keenan, Evans, Edwards (Burrows 70), Wafula (Broadhead 88), Draper, Gratton (Thompson-Matthews 70), Kuleya (Rogers 85). Unused sub: Austin

Referee: Julia King

Att: 334