The Nailers introduced new signing Terry Atem on the bench and former Belper player Louis Keenan who started the game at left back with Paulo Aguas the man to make way. Mason Warren was serving a one game suspension.

It was a gritty, hard-fought game played at a frantic pace throughout, and the Nailers were grateful to see the assistant’s flag raised in the 4th minute after Scott Fenwick put the ball in the net.

Nat Crofts had a shot on the turn that was easily saved by Liam Higton in the 11th minute, and this was to be a half of very few clear chances for either side despite the high work rate that both teams put in.

Larell King’s long throw on 13 minutes caused confusion in the Boro six-yard area and a flick from Luke Rawson hit the outside of the post.

Fenwick forced Kieran Preston into action on 31 minutes with an angled drive that needed tipping over the cross bar, then just before the break the industrious Kelan Swales let a pass run under his foot and created space for a cross which Rawson headed straight at Higton.

The Nailers were more imposing after the break, and Draper warmed up the Boro defence with two efforts on goal in the 47th and 50th minutes. The first was a volley that went just wide and the second a glancing header from a Crofts cross.

After a two-game spell without a goal, Draper was about to make amends when in the 58th minute excellent work from Swales ended with Draper heading home the resulting cross into the six-yard area.

Keaton August provided the assist for Draper’s second goal as the Belper substitute picked out Belper’s top scorer who nodded the ball past Higton to stun the home side.

The hosts took off a defender in attempt to strengthen their attacking effort, but all this did was give the Nailers more space to work on the break.

The Nailers defended resolutely when they had to but for all Boro’s clever play around the box, they found no way through Belper’s superbly organised defence.

August and the recently introduced Terry Atem threatened to terrorise Boro’s rearguard and should really made the victory more convincing.

Draper came close to clinching a hat trick on 87 minutes, but Higton saved well from his header, and he then had a shot cleared off the line as the game entered added time.

The Nailers saw out the four minutes comfortably enough and could be well pleased with their afternoon’s work.

Grimsby Borough: Higton, Wood (Venney 69), Taylor, Topliss, Jamieson (Jacklin 81), Sawyer, (Edwards 76), York, Collins, Fenwick, Adlard, Drury. Unused subs: Robinson, Dennis.

Belper Town: Preston, King, Keenan, Whitehead, Broadhead, Evans, Swales, Burrows, Draper, Rawson, (August 61), Crofts (Atem 61). Unused subs: Rhodes, Aguas, Austin.

Referee: Ashley Royston

Att: 219