Manager Grant Black paid tribute to his team’s battling qualities after the game, however with Carlton Town winning at Cambridge, there is now just a 2 point margin with games at Loughborough and at home to Corby on the final day.

Win both and Belper are certain be in the play offs regardless of the efforts of the Millers.

Injuries are proving to be Black’s main concern with Jakub Niemczyk sidelined with a broken leg, and loan ‘keeper Daniel Moore also out for the rest of the season

If this wasn’t bad enough striker Alex Peterson looks as though he will miss the final games with a hip injury and Prince Mancinelli has also been ruled out after stepping on a nail and is needing crutches to aid his mobility.

Riece Bertram found himself as a stand in striker, Sam Wright made the starting eleven while Lewis Gwilliams returned as goalkeeper.

The Nailers started the game at their usual high tempo pace and were the better team in the first half.

Early pressure brought its rewards when Belper’s brightest spark Brodie Litchfield fell under a challenge just inside the penalty area and the Nailers were awarded a penalty kick.

Kyle Dixon stepped up to take it but Daniel Platt guessed rightly and pushed the ball way and Yeltz skipper Paul McCone could manage to turn the ball over the line to give the Nailers an early advantage.

The Nailers kept up the tempo and were rewarded yet again in the 21st minute when Kieran Morris curtailed Litchfield’s run into the box. This time Dixon made no mistake from the spot and the Nailers held an impressive 2 goal lead.

Little had been seen of the Yeltz’s attacking effort in the first half but that was always going to change after the break.

Belper’s lead was soon halved when Richard Gregory deceived the Belper defensive wall and Lewis Gwilliams with a clever free kick from just outside the penalty area that nestled just inside the post.

Despite some stout defending by the Nailers Halesowen were on level terms in the 68th minute.

Robbie Bunn’s marauding run from the half way line was left unchecked and his shot across the face of goal rolled just inside the far post.

With 20 minutes left, the Nailers were up against it and the visitors could have snatched a third in the 76th minute when Simeone Cobourne slipped through only to be denied by Gwilliams who rushed to smother the shot.

The last stages of the game passed by without serious incident but Belper substitute Reon Benjamin-Potts nearly snatched a winner when his curling shot slipped wide of the post.

The Nailers still have plenty of hard work to do but if they carry their first half form into the final two games of the regular season, then a play off spot is still there for the taking.

Belper Town: Gwilliams, Woodcock, Rhodes (Muggleton 70), Wilson, South, Jordan, Robson, Wright (Curtis 58), Bertram (Benjamin-Potts 81), Litchfield, Dixon. Unused subs: Brown.

Halesowen Town: Platt, Evans (Jack Holmes 45), Kelly, Ali (Finn 45), McCone, Morris, Manning, Bunn, Cobourne, Gregory (Taylor 78), Hawker. Unused subs: Ezewele, Lait.

Attendance: 562

Referee: Matthew Bacon