The Nailers weren't to be denied for long and in the seventh minute some great passing between Phallon Symcox and Mia Carnelley brought the ball to the feet of Jess Smithurst. She produced a great finish to open the scoring.

It was nearly two in the 13th minute, Wragg finding Carnelley whose shot forced a good save out of Lily Rice. Wragg had a follow-up effort of her own which Rice grabbed at the second attempt with Alice Faulding lurking.

Cleethorpes started coming in to the match more at this point and within a minute had their first good chance when Olivia Smith collected the ball and tried her luck from 22 yards but Maggie Buxton was able to watch it go just wide.

The equaliser came on 17 minutes, Smith cutting in from the left and unleashing a powerful shot which went in off the unfortunate Buxton at the near post.

In the 26th minute Lily Blackwood laid the ball off for Emily Blyth but Buxton's save was a comfortable one.

On the half hour mark Carnelley found Faulding with a great long ball but Belper's number nine was unable to get her shot away, instead rolling the ball into the path of Smithurst who shot wide.

The visitors went ahead four minutes before the break. With Belper unable to clear their lines, Martha Rodger passed to Blackwood who nipped in with a cool finish.

The lead however lasted only seconds, Faulding with a ruthless finish into the corner from the edge of the box.

Belper started the second half as they had the first, Smithurst picking out Faulding but Rice blocked the shot before Evie Jowett's effort was deflected for a corner.

On 54 minutes good work from Gee Bestwick kept the ball alive, her cross found Jowett but she was off balance and the shot went over the bar.

The 59th minute saw Smithurst find Symcox but Rice saved low down.

A minute later at the other end Imogen Hull's ball to Scarlett Norman gave the latter a shooting opportunity but Buxton was equal to it with a good save.

On 69 minutes Buxton was called into action again, this time palming wide an effort from Smith.

Symcox's cross in the 74th minute found Faulding who brought a great save out of Rice then with ten minutes remaining Jowett created space for herself on the edge of the box but saw her shot go just over the bar.

In the final minute of normal time Jowett got herself on the end of a goal kick but was unable to connect properly with the shot which Rice gathered.

The last chance went to Blyth at the other end who shot over from a tight angle.

Belper now sit 5th in the table, with a visit to basement club Newark Town up next.

The Reserves difficult start to the campaign continued as they were defeated 2-1 at Hilton Harriers, Faith Simms on the scoresheet for the Nailers.

Belper Town: Buxton, Pickard (C) (Jowett 45), Claxton, Cowen, Allison, Smithurst, Symcox, Wragg (Worrall 58), Bestwick (Needham 73), Faulding, Carnelley.
Unused subs: White, Buxton.

Cleethorpes Town: Rice, Dalton, Norman, Burns, Booth, Oldfield, Smith, Blackwood, Hull, Blyth, Woods.
Subs: Clapham, Rodger, Welsh.

Referee: Mark Nicoll