New signing Danny Gordon went straight into the side following his transfer from Basford United while Tom Eccleshall was dropped to the bench.

Jonathan Wafula was handed the main striker’s role following the departure of Harry Draper and Jordon Fankwe was restored after missing the last two games.

Long Eaton, who are still rooted to the bottom of the table despite taking a point off the Nailers, had only taken one point from their opening six league games and Belper hoped to capitalise.

In truth the Nailers had Kieron Preston to thank for not conceding more goals as he made two or three excellent saves during the course of the second half in particular

On the other hand, Belper wasted opportunities when still a goal to the good, but in the end, they were hanging on and grateful for a point.

Belper quickly imposed themselves on the Blues in the first half helped by a following wind, and in the 9th minute Tav Kuleya turned inside his defender and scored with a shot past the ‘keeper who made contact with the ball as it flew past him.

Wafula’s clever work on 12 minutes earned him a shot on goal but the host defenders quickly closed him down, then Long Eaton had their first effort on goal when James Hanson’s shot went straight to Preston.

Louis Keenan sent a piledriver from thirty yards that Lewis King managed to tip over the bar, then another enterprising run from Kuleya resulted in a disappointing overhit cross.

There was an anxious moment just before the break when Preston spilled James Taylor’s shot but Josh Mansell was there to clear the ball away.

Kuleya was involved early in the second half when he found Jacob Gratton with a squared pass, but Gratton’s effort went beyond the far post, then on 53 minutes Kuleya was unlucky to see his shot deflected off a defender and hit the upright.

Preston saved brilliantly from Adam McLachlan on 55 minutes then Danny Gordon despatched a huge throw into the Blues’ penalty area in the 64th minute but the ball sailed over everyone and out for a goal kick.

There was a clear warning for the Nailers when a quick move ended with former Nailer Jahvan Daividson -Miller forcing the ball over the line on 66 minutes, but the referee’s assistant’s flag ruled the effort out.

Preston was in action again when he pushed over a Taylor angled drive in the 70th minute and as the half wore on the hosts looked increasingly dangerous.

Gratton cleverly edged past his marker on 84 minutes and with a clear shot on goal, hit a screamer just over the cross bar, then Preston was on hand again to prevent a shot in a melee of players moments later.

Nailers' substitute Jude Ayetine had a golden chance to extend Belper’s lead on 86 minutes when he was through on goal, and with other options open to him shot tamely and the ball was intercepted by a defender.

It was a miss that the Nailers paid dearly for because two minutes later Taylor snatched an equaliser with a close-range effort, and to be honest Belper were lucky to hang on for a point after that

It could have been three points, but the Nailers once again failed in the most important moments of the game, and after nine league outings they still haven’t been able to reproduce the momentum of last season.

Long Eaton United: King, Atwal (Stubbs 72), Eden, Cocks (McKenzie 90+1), Cotterill, Bucci, Davidson-Miller, Hanson (McLachlan 46), Pace, Durose (Francis 73), Taylor. Unused sub: Munn.

Belper Town: Preston, Mansell, Gordon (Eccleshall 71), Fankwe, Broadhead, Keenan, Edwards (Rogers 62), Burrows, Wafula, Gratton, Kuleya (Ayetine 78). Unused subs: Austin, Evans.

Referee: Mehul Karia

Att: 276