Manager Lee Attenborough said that his team ‘carried out the game plan perfectly’ and its unlikely that anyone who was present at the game would disagree.

The Nailers adopted a 4-4-2 formation which immediately looked better balanced with the players looking comfortable in their roles.

Keaton August and Nathan Whitehead were the players who missed out on a starting berth but provided strength in depth on the bench which is always a good thing to have.

After the ten-goal thriller against Consett a few days earlier, this game was a calmer and tighter affair in terms of the Belper performance.

With Nat Crofts and Kelan Swales operating effectively on the flanks, there was plenty of action in the Ponte penalty area, and the Nailers held the initiative for much of the game.

The visitors had their moments too but found the Belper defenders on top form and clear-cut chances virtually non-existent.

Crofts, always busy on the left side set up Paulo Aguas with a half chance in the 10th minute but the Belper fullback couldn’t quite get his foot around the ball.

Harry Draper sent a 16th minute drive just over the top, and the Nailers’ marksman went close on 21 minutes when he headed Swales’ cross from the right straight at William Mitchell.

Belper’s industry had deserved a reward and that came in the 22nd minute when a cross was recycled from the left and Nailers’ skipper Jack Broadhead still in position for the original cross headed the ball just inside the far post.

The Nailers continued on the front foot for the remainder of the half without getting a presentable opportunity, however a timely interception from Gavin Rothery prevented Luke Rawson getting a shot on target just before the break.

Belper snuffed out hopes of an early second half revival for Ponte when Rawson snapped up a close-range opportunity in the 50th minute to give the Nailers a two, nil advantage.

The Nailers extended their lead five minutes later when Crofts’ shot to the far post rebounded to Jack Steers who couldn’t prevent the ball going into his own net.

The remainder of the game proved to be a relaxing and pleasant experience for supporters, players, and management too, as there didn’t appear to be a possibility that Belper would throw the points away.

Mason Warren was a whisker away in the 67th minute with an effort just past the far post, and Keaton August looked set to score on 78 minutes but over ran the ball and the moment was lost.

Ponte’s Jack Boyle had his team’s best effort in the 86th minute but found Kieran Preston in excellent form, and an otherwise even-tempered game ended with a red card for Ponte substitute Lamin Drammeh who had reacted badly to a challenge from Aguas.

A comfortable win for the Nailers in front of an excellent midweek crowd and they are nicely tucked in behind leaders Cleethorpes and Emley as they enter the middle third of the season.

Belper Town: Preston, King (Rhodes 71), Aguas, Warren, Broadhead, Evans, Swales (Poulter 68), Burrows, Draper (Gregory 80), Rawson (Whitehead 89), Crofts (August 68).

Pontefract Collieries: Mitchell, Rothery, Spratt, Metcalfe (Lindley 69), Steers, Burns, Chorlton, Walker, Carmichael (Wilson 63), Boyle, Cessay (Drammeh 76). Unused subs: Cunningham, Greenhough.

Referee: Thomas Hales

Att: 438

Man of the Match: Jack Broadhead.