The first chance of the match resulted in the opening goal for Belper on seven minutes when Alice Faulding chipped through for Evie Jowett and despite the goalkeeper getting a strong hand to it, the ball rolled over the line.

In the 14th minute, a free-kick in to the Belper penalty area fell to Lib Shaw who hit the post before the ball bounced back, hit her then the post again.

Three minutes later, Taliah Brammah beat the offside trap and shot across goal but it was just wide.

On 20 minutes, good play between Mia Billups, Maisie Everitt and Charlotte Bennehan created a chance for the latter and she tested the woodwork with her effort.

Belper’s goal continued to lead a charmed life in the 24th minute when Everitt’s shot from a tight angle deflected and rolled along the line before being cleared.

Everitt found Billups with a great ball on 31 minutes, she had a golden opportunity to level the scores but her shot was easily gathered by Maggie Buxton.

The Academy didn’t miss their next chance however. Ten minutes before half-time, after Belper were unable to clear a free-kick, Brammah was on hand to slot home.

Two minutes later, Academy were awarded a penalty for handball. Buxton produced a fantastic save down at her right hand post to deny Everitt.

The Nailers made them pay by retaking the lead in the 40th minute. Lauren Haslam’s pinpoint ball picked out Hannah James and her fantastic start to life in a Belper shirt continued with an unstoppable effort from 22 yards.

On 43 minutes it was Buxton to the rescue again as a slip at the back allowed Brammah in but Belper’s number one was equal to her effort with a superb save.

Academy hit the post again a minute before the break, Everitt going close again before the final action of an entertaining half saw Brammah played in but she took her shot on early and Buxton saved at her near post.

In the 56th minute, Asha James laid the ball off for debutant Flo Wakefield but her effort was just wide.

The final goal of the match arrived on 62 minutes. Shaw headed in at the near post from a corner.

Four minutes later, a looping cross from the right found the head of Annie Davidson but it landed on the roof of the net.

Shortly after, former Nailer Macie White fired just over after a half cleared corner.

In the 73rd minute, Everitt’s curled shot with her left foot only just cleared the crossbar and ten minutes before the end, White fired a shot across goal which hit the post.

Everitt tried her luck again in the final minute of normal time but it was wide before back at the other end, Asha James attempted a lob from the right edge of the penalty area which came down just too late.

The final action, two minutes in to stoppage time, saw Brammah fire just over.

So Matt Chatfield’s first league game ends with the spoils shared on a warm afternoon, with plenty of promising signs.

Your Potential Academy: Millington, Billups, Turner, Spink-Robinson, Oxley, Shaw, Bennehan, Brown, Carr, Brammah, Everitt.
Subs: Davidson, Foster, O’Reilly, Baker, White.

Belper Town: Buxton, Claxton, Sheard, Allison, Wilkins, Worrall, Faulding, Haslam, Carnelley, H. James (C), Jowett.
Subs: Wakefield, Semenytsh-Wright, Pickard, A. James.