Belper were missing Alice Faulding and Jess Smithurst, two players who have contributed 16 goals between them already this season and made the worst possible start.

Inside two minutes, Connie Forman used her explosive pace to get in behind the Nailers defence. She crossed for Jess Hogg to blast home the opening goal.

The hosts nearly doubled their lead on 14 minutes when Jess Parker got on the end of a chipped through ball but her shot left a comfortable save for Maggie Buxton in the Belper goal.

Belper started to improve and in the 17th minute Mia Carnelley saw her dangerous cross from the right evade everyone and drift wide.

A couple of minutes later Gee Bestwick stung the palms of Georgia Porter with an effort from range.

Two more half chances followed, with Evie Jowett intercepting a Newark pass on 25 minutes to go through on goal but shooting wide under pressure, then in the 28th minute Phallon Symcox picked out Jowett but with little support she was forced to take on a shot which went over the bar.

On the half hour mark some nice passing play between Forman and Kate Waddel created a chance for the former but the shot cleared the Belper crossbar.

In the 39th minute Waddel found Kirsty Naismith who brought a great save out of Buxton but Newark made it two on 42 minutes. Waddel tried her luck from range and the unfortunate Buxton was unable to keep it out.

Two minutes into the second half, Honor White found herself through on goal on the right hand side, her shot tested Porter as did Liv Froggatt's effort a minute later from the left, Belper forcing a corner as they improved.

However they weren't able to find the breakthrough and Newark made them pay in the 57th minute. Waddel's cross from the right was volleyed home on the edge of the six yard box by Naismith and the Nailers had a mountain to climb.

Belper nearly found a route back into the match within a minute when White found Carnelley who in turn picked out Jowett but her left foot shot came back off the post.

In the 71st minute Forman created a shooting opportunity despite strong Belper claims for a foul on Dion Cowen but her effort was over the bar.

With ten minutes remaining, Carnelley hit the post for Belper with an effort from the edge of the box.

The final two chances went to the home side, with Forman's cross being volleyed wide by Hogg on 81 minutes then two minutes into injury time a Forman shot came back off the post.

A disappointing result for Belper, missing key players but there was a second half improvement. Next weekend sees a free Sunday for the First Team.

The Reserves drew 1-1 away to Hatton United, Lauren Murfin on the scoresheet for Belper.

Newark Town: Porter, Howard, Rainbow, Green, Phillips, King, Wielgos, Naismith, Forman, Hogg, Parker
Subs: Murphy, Waddel

Belper Town: M. Buxton, Pickard (C) (White 45), Cowen, Allison, Needham (J. Buxton 34), Bestwick, Symcox, Carnelley, Froggatt, Claxton, Jowett (Pickard 65)

Referee: Lawrence Chapman