It may have been a routine end of season fixture with league positions less of a priority, but the Nailers’ performance, attitude and goals were so much improved that it was difficult to understand the transformation in the side.

Lee Attenborough’s options were minimised further by the loss of Curtis Burrows through injury and with Kevin Bastos and Karl Demidh unavailable, he could only name two substitutes for this final away fixture of the season.

Those players that filled in for the absentees more than made up for those missing players, and Brodie Litchfield in particular seemed to relish his central attacking role, with Liversedge barely able to cope with him.

However, this was a team performance and after an even first half, with no goals scored or conceded, the Nailers dominated things after the break and could have doubled their margin of victory.

Belper started well enough, and Ben Rhodes headed a Mason Warren cross straight at Louis Hood in the 9th minute. Sedge’s best chance came minutes later when Alex Wollerton hit the side netting from a narrow angle.

Litchfield’s low centre of gravity caused problems for the hosts’ defence and on 19 minutes he twisted and turned past three or four players before losing control of the ball deep into the penalty area.

Liversedge held the edge in the latter stages of the first half and a Jeremie Milambo cross on 23 minutes was just out of reach of Eddie Church and Jack Dyche running in, then Dyche wasted a good opportunity when he shot high over the target.

Simon Heslop’s shot was too far away on 53 minutes, but after this Belper started to string their passes together and were helped by a pitch that was in remarkably good condition considering the circumstances.

Toby Gregory hit a swerving shot that went just wide on 63 minutes, then an excellent passing movement almost found a way through the Liversedge rearguard moments later.

As the Nailers got closer and closer to ending their goal drought, Litchfield saw his well struck shot cleared off the line on 69 minutes. By now the Nailers were dominating and on 73 minutes there was a huge cheer from the twenty or so Nailers’ supporters when Litchfield smashed the ball home from 10 yards.

Mason Warren curled a free kick just wide on 80 minutes and with Belper in total dominance, James Oliver put the ball over the top from close in after James Cadman’s accurate centre.

Mason Frizelle couldn’t keep his close-range header down from a free kick in the 84th minute, then three minutes later, the Nailers secured their victory after some tidy work from Ewan Sutherill set up Cadman to thrash the ball home.

Not only was this Belper’s first win in five games but a clean sheet was also a very welcome statistic. If the players had chosen this game to cement their places in the minds of the management for next season, then they all did a great audition.

Liversedge: Hood, Proctor, Milambo, Heslop, Hartley, Harris (Essien 61), Wollerton, Raw (Walton 72), Church, Dyche (Portman 61), Boateng. Unused subs: Tarangadzo, Hudson.

Belper Town: Moore, Rhodes (Cadman 45), Warren, Dunn, Frizelle, Atcha, Oliver, Austin, Goodson (Sutherill 83), Litchfield, Gregory.

Referee: Neil Howlett

Att: 191