Emma Varnam's side came in to the match off the back of last weekend's Plate victory and confidence in the squad was high on a lovely afternoon for football at the Raygar Stadium.

The first chance went to the visitors on five minutes when Lily Brookes produced a perfect connection to get a volley away at the back post but Maggie Buxton was equal to it.

Belper went straight down the other end, with Alice Faulding finding Evie Jowett however Leanne Brannan was out quickly to block the shot.

The Nailers took the lead in the 14th minute. A great move involving Ella Boden, Faulding and Honor White ended with a tap in for Faulding after an initial shot was blocked.

Ten minutes later, Lincoln nearly levelled with Olivia Sausby-Gallimore getting on the end of a great through ball and rounding Buxton but finding the side netting.

Lauren Haslam tried her luck in the 34th minute after being played in by Mia Carnelley but the shot was just over the bar, then a few minutes later Leah Longdon's cross picked out Carnelley who headed just wide.

Belper doubled their lead in the final minute of the first half. Boden picked out Jowett with a great ball before she picked out a cross just as good. Carnelley was on the end of it to put some daylight between the sides.

In the 48th minute, Faulding played a one-two with Jowett then put in a shot which Brannan saved with her feet but a minute later the Nailers put the game beyond Lincoln.

Carnelley intercepted a short back pass and smashed the ball home to make it three.

On 57 minutes, Carnelley laid the ball in to the path of Faulding whose shot was saved.

Five minutes later, Boden's free kick from range was well held by Brannan and then from the next attack Faulding provided a shooting opportunity for Jowett which went over the bar.

Lincoln's best spell came after this, with Sausby-Gallimore finding the side nettting then Jasmin Lowe doing the same after her effort had evaded Buxton's reach.

Buxton was out quickly to gather when Lowe played in Grace Carrand and after this the chances dried up somewhat for Lincoln, who have been relegated this season but have showed some resolve in the second half of the campaign.

Boden tried from range again with 11 minutes remaining, with the shot narrowly wide then a Haslam free-kick brought Brannan in to action once more.

The 82nd minute saw Sammy Bennett return to action after a long layoff and she received a warm welcome from everyone in attendance.

The match and season were both capped in fine style by who else but Faulding... Belper's top goalscorer produced a wonderful volley from outside the box in the 90th minute.

Defeat for Cleethorpes at Dronfield means the Nailers are guaranteed to finish 5th, a highest ever position for the Ladies Team and added to last weekend's Plate victory.

The only game remaining in the EMWRFL North is the return fixture between those two sides where a Dronfield win would secure a 2nd place finish while if Cleethorpes can find a way past them they will climb to 6th.

With only five defeats from 16 matches and a trophy to show for it, this season has been a really positive one. A season which began with Luke Jackson leading the side and ended with Emma Varnam in caretaker charge. With a new manager in the pipeline, hopefully the team can go on to even bigger and better things.

Belper Town: Buxton, Pickard (C), Claxton, Longdon, James, Bestwick (Faulding 42), Haslam (Bennett 82), White (Bestwick 59), Boden, Faulding (Carnelley 31), Jowett.
Unused subs: Varnam, Cowen.

Lincoln United Development: Brannan, Ryan, Allan, Carr, Brown, Hallam, Lowe, Fawcett, Brookes, Edwards, Sausby-Gallimore.
Sub: Field.

Referee: Jordan Schofield