For Belper, it was a first match at the Raygar Stadium since October, with the previous five matches being away and the most recent home matches having been moved to the Leisure Centre.

After a 6-0 defeat in Lincolnshire three weeks ago, Emma Varnam's side knew they faced another tough test.

The visitors started strongly and on six minutes a corner from Olivia Kershaw was nearly headed in by Abbie Emslie but the Nailers managed to head the ball out for a corner.

Four minutes later Milly North fired the ball across the edge of the six yard box but Emslie couldn't quite reach it.

Grimsby took the lead on 21 minutes. A cross from the right found Beth Wharton who fired home from close range. Wharton scored two hat tricks against Belper last season and one at Clee Fields just a few weeks ago and was already proving to be a thorn in the side once again.

Eight minutes later it was two when Wharton pounced again after Belper failed to clear a free kick.

The home side nearly got back in things after 37 minutes after a mix-up in the Grimsby defence. Gee Bestwick seized possession but her shot was just over the bar.

Belper had a mountain to climb seven minutes into the second half when Emslie nipped in at the far post to make it three.

It was nearly four a minute later when Kershaw ran through but dragged her shot just wide.

The last real chance for Belper came on 69 minutes when Jess Smithurst cut in from the left and forced Jasmine Lacey in to a smart save.

The fourth goal arrived 15 minutes from time. Kershaw crossed for Wharton to complete yet another hat trick for the visitors.

In the 81st minute, Emslie found North but the shot was wide.

The final goal came on 85 minutes when Kershaw once again linked up with Wharton who provided a trademark finish into the corner to make it five.

Wharton nearly had a fifth goal of her own a couple of minutes later when North found her with a through ball but Maggie Buxton was out early to block the shot.

So Belper remain in 6th in the EMWRFL North with five games remaining and are back at the Raygar Stadium on the next two Sunday afternoons.

Dronfield Town are now the only team that can catch Grimsby but this would require them winning all seven of their remaining games and Grimsby only picking up one point from their last four; put simply, Grimsby will be heading to Tier Five and the EMWRFL Premier next season.

Belper Town: Buxton, Pickard (C) (Longdon 53), Cowen, Allison, Carnelley, Worrall, Smithurst (White 75), Haslam, Faulding, Froggatt (Jowett 71), Bestwick (Wilson 84).
Unused sub: Varnam.

Grimsby Town Academy: Lacey, Burnett, Grey, Wray, Brighton, Welsh, Kershaw, Westerman, Emslie, North, Wharton.
Subs: Thorpe, Pedersen.

Referee: Paul Massey