After the high of a late victory over Bradford (Park Avenue) ten days earlier the Nailers came down to earth with a bump and failed to score for only the fifth time in all competitions.

Manager Lee Attenborough retained the same starting line up that did so well at Bradford, which meant that leading scorer Harry Draper was missing through suspension, but it was a night of frustration despite having the majority of the ball and pressure.

A promising start by Belper deserved a goal but the only effort that was on target was a Luke Rawson looping header in the 31st minute that went comfortably to Ben Bottomley the Villagers ‘keeper.

Before this, the visitors had shown more end product in front of goal despite their lack of possession, and Jack Walters nearly squeezed the ball in at the near post on 15 minutes.

Tom Corner’s long range effort in the 21st minute swerved wide however the Villager’s striker was on target in the 41st minute when he headed the ball in from a right wing cross.

The Nailers showed more urgency after the break and Tavonga Kuleya turned inside and sent a low drive straight at the ‘keeper. Belper used all their substitutes in the second half, and the Nailers continued to have plenty of possession in and around the North Ferriby box, but the ball just wouldn’t fall kindly for them.

When a clear shooting opportunity did arrive on 70 minutes after good work from substitute Jack Watson, the usually reliable Mason Warren lifted the ball high over the cross bar.

Desperate to see the ball go into the Villager’s net, some of the crowd thought that Jack Broadhead had managed it when he struck a fierce volley towards the near post. The net rippled, but unfortunately, he had struck the side netting, and the Nailers were still a goal adrift.

North Ferriby were hanging on in the latter stages although credit was due to the way they defended and reduced Belper to barely half chances. Warren tested Bottomley with a low shot from twenty yards, but the Villager’s ‘keeper was equal to it.

Broadhurst had a half chance on 87 minutes but his volley on the turn went too high, and despite the Nailers pushing hard up to the final whistle, there was to be no happy ending on this occasion.

Belper Town: Preston, Rhodes (King 76), Keenan, Whitehead (Crofts 66), Broadhead, Evans, Swales (Watson 66), Warren, Rawson (Atem 85), Burrows (Austin 85), Kuleya.

North Ferriby: Bottomley, Johnson, Walters, Kirk (Dixon 85), Tinsley, Roma, Aynsley (Johnson 58), Thacker, Corner, Dennison, Ceesay (Shortland 62). Unused subs: Douglas, Morrall.

Referee: Daniel McDonald

Att: 387

Man of the Match: Louis Keenan