The Nailers haven’t produced a bad performance so far this season and this second home loss left manager Lee Attenborough scratching his head as he tried to work out what went wrong.

Clinical finishing from the Royals was the main difference but the Nailers had chances and the majority of possession without being able to make it count.

Belper should have taken the lead as early as the 3rd minute when a loose ball was collected by Curtis Burrows who immediately put Harry Draper in possession. Unfortunately, Draper’s effort went too close to James Wren in the Royals’ goal.

The Nailers found themselves behind two minutes later when a lightning attack by the visitors saw full back Remie Birch overlap and tuck the ball inside the far post at the narrowest of angles.

Belper responded with a superbly constructed goal of their own in the 9th minute. Tav Kuleya’s excellent reverse pass sent Tom Eccleshall racing away down the left and his equally excellent cross was tucked away by Draper.

Sadly, the Nailers went adrift again in the 13th minute with Reece Gibson providing a clinical finish as he ran on to a lofted pass to leave the Nailers once again looking for an equaliser.

Ayo Lukuti stunned everyone on 24 minutes with a stunning dipping shot that flew past Kieron Preston before he could raise his arms and the Royals had established a lead that would be very difficult for the Nailers to pull back.

Despite this set back Belper kept up the pressure on the Royals goal and at an early stage in the game the visitors seemed happy to soak up the pressure, confident with their two-goal margin.

A Draper half volley flew straight at Wren on 42 minutes, but the Royals could easily have put the game to bed on the stroke of half time when James O’Grady’s shot was pushed wide by Preston.

It was almost constant pressure from Belper after the break with crosses from both flanks and plenty of corner kicks failing to drop kindly for the Nailers’ strikers.

Draper’s shot on the turn went just wide then Kuleya’s volley also missed the target. As the intensity increased a great cross from Jack Edwards was met with a firm header from Draper but the ‘keeper saved well.

Gibson and O’Grady were a constant threat on the break for the visitors, and they combined on 77 minutes, and Gibson’s effort just went wide.

Belper were caught on the break in the 80th minute when O’Grady sped past his marker and provided another quality finish to clinch the win for the visitors.

To their credit the Nailers continued to bombard the Royals defence to the last and did at least reduce the arrears when Jack Rogers’ shot at the far post found its way over the line via a deflection.

Belper Town: Preston, Rhodes (Austin 82), Eccleshall, Fankwe, Keenan, Evans, Edwards (Rogers 82), Wafula, Graper, Burrows (Burrows 69), Kuleya. Unused subs: Broadhead, Mansell.

Sutton Coldfield Town: Wren, Hurley, Birch, Beresford, McGinnell, Cameron, Lukuti (Burke 47), McQuilkin (Basher-Mousa 87)), Gibson (Gibson 81), McGrady, Campbell (Taylor 72). Unused sub: Bisseker.

Referee: Alexander Cotterill

Att: 604

Match Sponsor: Alley Barbers

Sponsors’ Man of the Match: Louis Keenan