Halesowen had won their previous four games in all competitions so far this season and were top of the Midlands Division, and therefore it wasn’t surprising that that the Nailers faced a side brimming with confidence.

Alex Peterson came in for his first start of the season replacing skipper Danny South who moved to his more accustomed defensive slot, while Nathan Curtis was the man to make way. Curtis was to come on as a 62nd minute substitute to make his 100th appearance for the Nailers.

Belper’s tactics centred on a defensive back five and then hoping to catch the hosts out on the break.

The Yeltz’s Kyle Finn had the game’s first attempt on goal with a shot just wide inside the first 2 minutes, but the Nailers could have taken an early lead a minute later whet Jonathan Margetts nipped in between two defenders and hit a snap shot that struck the angle of the post and bar.

Halesowen might have scored the opener themselves in the 9th minute when the Belper defenders lost track of Robert Evans who ran on to a through pass and blasted the ball just over the bar.

Belper fans were encouraged by a swift break by Josh Woodcock 2 minutes later and he found Craig Nelthorpe in space but he took too long to get his shot away and then sent in a tame cross easily collected by Daniel Platt in the Yeltz’s goal.

Nelthorpe’s cross into the box soon afterwards caused problems in the hosts’ defence but they managed to clear their lines’ however when Halesowen had the ball going forward they played impressive man to man football, although the Nailers’ back line held them at bay.

Craig Nelthorpe hit a 27th minute free kick disappointingly over the bar, and while the Nailers’ defenders had been coping well until this point, they were undone in the 31st minute when James Molyneux raced through unchallenged to blast the ball into the far top corner of the net.

Belper should have equalise before half time when a Jonathan Margetts flick let Alex Peterson in with a one on one opportunity against Daniel Platt, but the Belper striker’s attempted lob was easily grabbed by the ‘keeper.

Margetts squeezed himself between two Yeltz defenders early in the second half, and with just the ‘keeper to beat, prodded the ball against his legs, and while not the easiest of opportunities, it should have been the equaliser.

Halesowen still looked the more dangerous of the two sides and Christopher Lait had an effort just wide in the 54th minute, then another opportunity came Belper’s way 5 minutes later after Peterson was fouled on the edge of the box, however once again the free kick was disappointing as Nelthorpe’s set piece hit the defensive wall.

Halesowen grip on the game tightened in the 61st minute when the Nailers were again caught on the break and Jac Redhead sped through and fired past Myles Wright into the far corner of the net.

Margetts tried his luck with another close range free kick on 68 minutes but met with little success as the ball didn’t breach the defensive line, however Margetts had better luck from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute when he confidently converted after he had been fouled in the first place.

The goal proved to be no more than a consolation despite Belper’s efforts in the remaining minutes and as a result the Nailers languish in 17th place, albeit after only three games played.

Halesowen Town: Platt, Evans, Lloyd, Hawker, McCone, Flanagan, Holmes (Palmer 77), Redhead (Scott 65), Molyneux (White 71), Finn, Lait. Unused subs: Wright, Mussell.

Belper Town: Wright M, Woodcock, Nelthorpe, Bertram (Curtis 62), South, Wilson, Wright S, Gregory (Jordan 53), Peterson, Margetts, Litchfield (Reeves 86). Unused subs: Rhodes, Hawkes.

Referee: Ryan Williams

Att: 732