Josh Woodcock and Prince Mancinelli were back in the starting line up with Riece Bertram and Karl Demidh making way, while Sam Wright was also on the bench but didn’t play a part in this game.

Lewis Gwilliams made his league debut in between the sticks after his transfer from Sutton Coldfield Town earlier in the month.

For the second game running the Nailers had to adapt to an artificial surface and despite losing the game they played some attractive football against a side that played to their strengths on a surface they were much more familiar with.

Gwilliams was soon called upon to make a good save from James McGrady in only the 6th minute as they started at a frantic pace, and Brodie Litchfield was close to fooling Arnold in the Sporting goal with a free kick into the side netting in the 19th minute.

Derry Robson created his own shooting opportunity on 17th minutes by cutting inside and firing a good effort just over the cross bar, then Alex Peterson headed straight at the ‘keeper after excellent work by Jonathon Margetts who provided a cross into the six yard area.

Despite the half chances created by Belper in the first period it was generally even possession without either team creating anything clear cut.

The second half produced more excitement for spectators although it was slow to materialise as the game struggled to provide much excitement.

Luke Yates struck a fierce shot from just inside the penalty area on 51 minutes but a deflection sent the ball spinning comfortably into the hands of Gwilliams, then as Belper started to stretch the Sporting back line, Litchfield broke clear and brought a diving save from Arnold who was grateful that the ball bounced out to one of his own defenders.

Ben Rhodes was instrumental in Belper’s next foray when he took the ball upfield before crossing to Margetts who couldn’t get the touch that might have given the Nailers the lead.

Litchfield was the source of Belper’s next breakaway with his cross taken off the head of the waiting Nathan Curtis, probably by Tesfa Robinson who was at the heart of the Sporting defence, and with his ‘keeper, was the main reason for Belper’s frustration going forward.

Then in the 77th minute the hosts stunned Belper when Josh McKenzie struck the ball from the corner of the penalty area across the face of goal to nestle in the far corner.

It was a blow to the Nailers but they could have found themselves further adrift when Sean Williams ran past Rhodes and hit the ball just wide of the near post.

The Nailers won a free kick two yards outside the penalty area in the 86th minute which Margetts stepped up to take, but his effort was brilliantly saved by Arnold, and moments later Arnold denied the Belper striker again when his shot from 16 yards looked destined to go in.

Sporting should have wrapped things up in the 90th minute after Rhodes was dismissed for handling the ball on the goal line, but Gwilliams guessed right to save Gurjit Singh’s spot kick to keep the Nailers in the game.

However Arnold had the final say when he blocked Karl Demidh’s shot from just inside the penalty area to confirm victory for the hosts.

Sporting Khalsa: Arnold, Franco, Okogie, Fulloway, Robinson, Williams, Whittaker, Armstrong, McKenzie, Yates (Singh 90), McGrady. Unused subs: Okafor, Meggoe, Perks, Hawkins.

Belper Town: Gwilliams, Woodcock, Rhodes, Mancinelli, South, Jordan, Litchfield , Robson (Curtis 69), Peterson (Demidh 77), Margetts, Waldram (Nelthorpe 77). Unused subs: Bertram, Wright.

Referee: Ben Robinson

Attendance: 165