Belper had marginally the better of things early on, firstly in the fifth minute great passing play between Sammy Bennett and Leah Longdon nearly put in Freya Wilson, making her return to the Nailers after a short spell away but the covering defender came across and blocked well.

On 13 minutes Mia Carnelley cut inside and found Hollie Thompson but her shot was over the bar.

After that Arnold came into things much more and the 20th minute saw Hannah Turnbull-Tilley try her luck from the right side of the penalty area but it was wide.

On the half hour mark a rebound fell nicely to Hannah Daniel but her shot from range cleared Emma Varnam's crossbar.

The Eagles took the lead in the 37th minute when Belper were unable to clear a cross and Amy Gauvrit was on hand to slot home.

Two minutes before half time a long ball from the back found Yasmine Uppal who laid it off for Kitty Ward but Varnam was able to make a comfortable save.

Belper started the second half with the same intent as they had the first and on 48 minutes Dion Cowen's ball to Carnelley who unleashed one of her trademark shots from distance and it was only marginally over the bar.

There was a lengthy stoppage while Uppal received treatment, she was unable to continue and we wish her a speedy recovery.

On 63 minutes Wilson cut in from the left and fired off a shot which swerved in the air and required a good save from Ciara Button.

Three minutes later Bennett's through ball picked out Carnelley but from a tight angle she was forced into an early shot which Button saved.

In the 70th minute a Wilson cross from the left found Anna Macluskey but her shot along the ground was gathered by Button.

Three minutes later another cross from the left landed at Carnelley's feet but her shot cleared the bar.

Within a minute Belper were on the attack again and Wilson's close range shot was heading for goal before it was deflected wide.

Arnold secured the points with seven minutes remaining when once again a cross caused confusion in the Belper penalty area and Ward was on hand to hammer the ball into the back of the net.

Elsewhere in the division, Gainsborough suffered their first defeat of the season at Dronfield but are still seven points clear at the top of the table, while Grimsby Town Academy defeated Grimsby Borough 5-3 in the derby.

Notts County were defeated in their Plate fixture but Chesterfield advanced with a win away to Sleaford.

Belper are now ninth in the table with six matches remaining but hold an eight point advantage over Buxton as well as a game in hand.

The Reserves defeated Bakewell Town 4-1 at Alton Manor with goals from Jess Burke, Olivia Froggatt (2) and Emma Gotheridge.

Belper Town: Varnam, Layton, Cowen, Pickard (C), Claxton, Carnelley, Bennett, Wilson, Longdon, White, Thompson.
Subs: Powles, Jeffrey, Macluskey, Buxton, Frostick.

Arnold Eagles: Button, Romaniuk, Gibson (C), Stocks, Cousins, Gauvrit, Hughes, Daniel, Turnbull-Tilley, Uppal, Ward.

Referee: James Wright