Lee Attenborough went with Jerome Greaves and Tyrell Waite as twin strikers and with Jordan Fankwe starting, Curtis Burrows found himself on the bench.

Bedworth started the afternoon in fifth place have reaped a creditable sixteen points from nine games and were potentially a stiff test for the Nailers who desperately needed to improve their home form.

Two long throws in the first few minutes from Danny Gordon put pressure on the Greenback’s defence but there was little to choose between the two teams in the early stages.

The Nailers went ahead in the 20th minute when Tyrell Waite’s shot was turned into his own net by Jordan Heywood, but video evidence substantiated Waite’s claim for his first goal of his Nailers career.

Almost immediately Waite was presented with a chance to double Belper’s advantage, but Sam Lomax did enough to prevent Waite’s careful lob from dropping into the net.

Antonio Cristofari had Bedworth’s first shot on target in the 23rd minute with a swerving shot that Preston did well to punch away.

Unfortunately, Belper conceded an equaliser in the 33rd minute in a manner seen too often this season when Fankwe’s under hit back pass left Preston in two minds. George Dunkley took advantage and rolled the ball into the empty net.

Waite had another good chance on 35 minutes but failed to find the target with a shot that curled high and wide, and then he pulled an angled shot past the far post just before the break.

Early pressure from the visitors in the second half gave way to a decent spell for the Nailers and in the 50th minute Tav Kuleya had an effort that curled wide, then Jacob Gratton hit a volley on the turn that bent wide of the near post.

Belper’s second goal and eventual winner arrived in the 56th minute when Danny Gordon tried his luck from all of thirty-five yards and Lomax inexplicably let the ball go over him and to drop into the open net.

The Nailers were unfortunate not to go further ahead on 65 minutes when Gordon’s cross was knocked on by Burrows leaving Greaves attempted overhead kick to go wide.

The Greenbacks slowly put the pressure on the Nailers who had to defend steadfastly as the game entered the last twenty minutes.

Harry Craven came close with a nudge from a corner kick that went just wide, and Belper were grateful for a couple of timely offside decisions to preserve their lead.

Kuleya’s strong run in the 85th minute nearly paid dividends but his well struck effort was blocked, then a last-minute scare came when Charles Gordon headed a 92nd free kick just wide of the upright.

A hugely important win then for the Nailers who need to back this up with another three points against Grantham on Tuesday evening.

Belper Town: Preston, Mansell, Gordon (Rhodes 83), Fankwe, Keenan, Evans, Gratton (Burrows 83), Wafula, Waite (Rogers 85), Greaves (Edwards 69), Kuleya. Unused sub: Broadhead.

Bedworth United:Lomax, Anthony (Gordon C 86), Hayward, Parrott, Blakely, Craven, Dunkley (Downs 86), Lenton (McSkeane 86), Shipman (Meringi 66) (Kohyrelon 73), Rowe, Cristofari.

Referee: Joshua Thompson

Match Sponsors: Browns Builders Merchants

Sponsors’ Man of the Match – Danny Gordon