In the absence of Katy Claxton, captain Emma Pickard moved to the centre of defence to partner Dion Cowen and Hannah Layton started at right back while Leah Longdon at left back remains the only Nailer to have started every match this season.

Belper suffered the worst possible start when, two minutes in Lucia Booth-Roberts cut in from the right and fired off a shot to which Emma Varnam got a hand but couldn't keep from rolling over the line.

Varnam produced a great save on six minutes after a good pass from Lauren Crellin found Grace Jones who tried her luck from the left hand side of the box.

Gainsborough doubled their lead in the 10th minute when Crellin picked up a loose ball and fired in arguably the goal of the match as the ball flew past Varnam.

It was three a couple of minutes later when a free kick from the left by Katy Thornley crept under Varnam.

On 16 minutes Jones went close again but her shot flashed across goal and went just wide.

The 18th minute saw the fourth goal after Izzy Anderson chipped the ball through for Jones who rounded Varnam and scored.

Belper pulled a goal back within seconds of the restart when Alice Faulding's great through ball found Freya Wilson and she produced a precise finish past the onrushing Laura Parsons to reduce the deficit.

However that deficit was soon back to four when, in the 25th minute a Crellin corner produced a bullet header from Thornley.

In the 32nd minute a long ball by Emelia Baird found Jones who took a touch but fired over the bar.

On 36 minutes Varnam produced another fantastic save when she came out to meet Jones who was running on to a pass from Anderson.

The 37th minute saw Trinity score their sixth goal, only seconds after Wilson had gone close for Belper, firing into the side netting. Once again it was Jones who showed good composure to take the ball around Varnam and tap into the empty net.

Within a minute they had extended their lead further when Jess Jones got in on the act, cutting in from the left and firing over Varnam.

The visitors added to their tally in the opening minute of the second half with (G) Jones once again getting in behind the Belper defence and slotting home.

In the 48th minute it was nine when (G) Jones knocked the ball into an empty net after a defensive mixup.

Varnam rescued Belper on 52 minutes when Thornley tested her with a shot after a (G) Jones pass.

The 59th minute saw Gainsborough enter double figures. A corner from the right was headed low down by Thornley.

In the 63rd minute Jones tried her luck again but Varnam tapped it on to the post and the ball went out for a corner.

Four minutes later (G) Jones was through on goal again but her chipped shot went just wide of the post.

The final goal came on 70 minutes. After a foul in the area, Anderson rolled the penalty into the corner of the net.

The last action in the final minute saw Crellin find Jones but Varnam came up with a great save with her feet.

A scoreline which looks bad on paper but does not reflect the spirit shown in the second half and the fact that this season has been a huge step into the unknown for the Ladies Team, accepting promotion and finding themselves up against some really high class opposition.

Elsewhere, Arnold Eagles and Sherwood played out a 1-1 draw while Grimsby Borough won at Buxton, a good result for Belper. Chesterfield and Notts County also shared two goals.

Belper remain in ninth place in the table, eight points ahead of Buxton who occupy the relegation spot but only have nine points to play for. As things stand one win could send the Nailers up a couple of places in a tight bottom half.

The Reserves saw their match called off due to the weather.

Belper Town: Varnam, Longdon, Pickard (C), Cowen, Layton, White, Needham, Carnelley, Bennett, Faulding, Wilson.
Subs: Brown, Buxton, Jeffrey.

Gainsborough Trinity: Parsons, Deakin, Carte, Baird, Gardener, Anderson, Crellin, Thornley, J. Jones, G. Jones, Booth-Roberts.
Subs: Leslie, Robinson, Drewery, Hill.

Referee: Mark Hickman