With key midfielders Jordan Fankwe and Jonathan Wafula serving suspensions, Curtis Burrows started the game alongside new signing Charlie Knowles.

The Diamonds included former Nailers’ defender Sidik Atcha and arrived at the Raygar undefeated in the league so far this season.

They had also reached the First-Round Proper of the F A Cup with a tie against Burton Albion to look forward to.

The Nailers made a positive start with Tav Kuleya forcing Charlie Woods to beat away an angled shot after only 30 seconds.

The Nailers were good in possession early on but on 13 minutes they were knocked back when Jack Daldy was given space to shoot from sixteen yards, but it took a significant deflection to beat Kieron Preston.

Knowles, who had a decent first game for the Nailers sent a twenty yarder just over the bar in the 15th minute, but the Diamonds struck again in the 19th minute.

It was a perfect strike from the experienced Matty Warburton as his curling effort from the edge of the penalty area dipped sharply under the angle of the goal.

Knowles forced the Diamonds’ ‘keeper into an excellent save after the Belper midfielder’s half volley looked destined for the back of the net but Woods saved at full stretch.

There was plenty of pressure from Belper in the latter stages of the half and Jacob Gratton was only inches away from an equaliser when his low drive struck the outside of the upright just before the break.

Most of the football in the second half was played in the visitor’s half but things just didn’t go Belper’s way.

Gratton sent a free kick from a dangerous position straight to Woods, then a Jack Edwards cross didn’t fall right for Harry Draper whose effort was deflected over by the keeper.

Gratton was involved again in the 74th minute when a defensive misunderstanding saw him get control of the ball, but his shot designed to beat the ‘keeper who was well out of his six-yard area unfortunately it hit a defender.

Louis Keenan put a relatively easy heading opportunity wide in the 75th minute, then the Nailers reduced the arrears two minutes later when b]Gratton[/b]’s low drive from the edge of the area found its way through to rest in the back of the net.

A grandstand finish was anticipated but to the visitor’s credit they defended well to keep the Nailers at bay, although a last-minute goal mouth scramble nearly produced an equaliser, but it was not to be.

Belper Town: Preston, Mansell, Gordon (Rhodes 57), Burrows, Keenan, Evans, Kuleya, Knowles (Ayetine 75), Draper, Waite (Edwards 57), Gratton. Unused subs: Stevens, Hassett.

AFC Rushden and Diamonds: Woods, Prickett-Reed, Findlay, Nketia, Thomas, Atcha, Daldy (Adegbola 61), Warburton (Robinson 46), Clifton, Taylor (Maltby-Smith 83), O’Toole (Hartley 41). Unused subs: Sandy.

Referee: Corey Green.

Att: 524

Match Sponsor: fisher german

Sponsors’ Man of the Match: Josh Mansell.