The hosts took the lead on nine minutes with a short corner routine on the left which found the head of Abbie Emslie at the back post.

In the 15th minute only a good stop from Emma Varnam prevented it becoming two, she tipped a Bethany Wharton shot wide.

A couple of minutes later good play between Danielle Brighton and Laura Flecknor created an opportunity for a shot from range by the latter which clipped the bar and went over and on 20 minutes Olivia Kershaw's effort was just over the bar.

Grimsby doubled their lead in the 21st minute. Belper were unable to clear a corner and when Abbie Emslie chipped the ball back in, it was met by a nice volley from Chloe Thorpe.

On 23 minutes it was three. A long ball by Kershaw found Emslie and she found a good finish past Varnam.

In the 25th minute came Belper's first real chance when Freya Wilson lobbed the goalkeeper but Anna Macluskey was unable to reach the ball before it was caught by Chloe Gray.

Three minutes later the hosts punished the Nailers by making it four. Another corner from the left was met by the head of Flecknor.

That was Grimsby's final goal of the half but Belper pulled a goal back on the half hour mark. Hard work by Macluskey and Wilson resulted in a chance for Alice Faulding. Her shot was blocked but when it fell to Honor White, she found the bottom corner to reduce the arrears.

Varnam produced another great save with her feet within seconds of the restart when Emslie was through on goal and six minutes before the break another shot from distance hit the post and rolled along the line before being cleared to safety.

In the 56th minute Abi Bancroft charged down a Grimsby clearance but her shot was just wide.

Belper continued their good start to the second half when Bancroft tried a lob from just outside the box which was narrowly over the bar.

The tie was put to bed on 73 minutes. A long ball from the back caught out the Belper defence and Wharton was on the end of it with another nice finish.

Varnam produced another good save in the 78th minute, this time from Wharton.

The last ten minutes would see Grimsby garnish the scoreline with further goals but not before Faulding went close for Belper.

Five minutes from time a through ball from Kershaw found Wharton who produced a nice lob over Varnam to make it seven.

Wharton was on hand to finish again and complete her hattrick almost immediately, this time following a ball from Barker.

It was eight in the 89th minute when Kershaw's free kick found Wharton, this time it was a delightful flicked finish over the advancing goalkeeper.

The final action of the match saw Mia Carnelley try her luck from the halfway line with a free kick which caught the wind but Gray was able to backtrack and catch the ball.

A very spirited shift from Belper against a strong team who will be one of the favourites to win the league this season. The Nailers will drop into the Plate following this defeat.

The opposition selected Freya Wilson as the Belper Player of the Match while the Managers & Media Player of the Match award went to Honor White.

The Nailers return to Grimsby next weekend to face Grimsby Borough as the league returns.

Grimsby Town: C. Gray, Wray, Brighton (C), Kershaw, Thorpe, Emslie, Flecknor, Wharton, E. Wilson, S. Gray, Welsh.
Subs: Fawcett, Swallow, Barker.

Belper Town: Varnam, Carnelley, Layton, Cowen, Claxton, Longden, Buxton, H. White, Wilson, Faulding, Macluskey.
Subs: Thompson, Bancroft.

Referee: Wayne Capes