Joint manager Danny Hudson wasn’t too surprised with Brigg’s approach to the game after having read in the local press that their manager was going to try a new formation for the visit of Belper.

He said: “They have been improving despite a dismal league record so far, so we knew this wouldn’t be a straightforward win just because they are bottom of the league.

“Even so we weren’t at our most fluid and if we had been more careful with our passing in the final third of the field I think we would have won more easily.”

Even with missing key players Krystof Kotylo (‘flu) and Ben Walker (suspended), Belper could have avoided their frustration by taking just one or two of the chances and promising positions that came their way, but at half time they had only managed to take a single goal lead.

This came from the penalty spot, and Brigg supporters were still complaining at the end of the afternoon about the injustice of it.

And they did have a case because after Leigh Herrick seemed to do more than innocently clash with Ant Wilson who had already despatched his effort over the crossbar.

However, there was no doubting the quality of Lee Stevenson’s spot kick as he blasted the ball at phenomenal speed into the back of the net.

The Nailers desperately needed a second as Brigg put them under pressure after the break and when it came with just over 15 minutes to play it was a joy to watch.

The Zebras had always looked vulnerable on the break and except for when Wilson hit the upright in the first half and the events leading to the penalty kick, they had failed miserably with the final ball.

Yet in this case everything went according to plan with Wilson finding Andy Rushbury out on the left, and his pinpoint cross to the near post was perfectly timed for Danny Hudson to head home powerfully at the near post.

But within seconds of the restart the home team drifted through the Belper defence and heightened Belper’s anxiety by reducing the deficit back to one goal.

It was difficult to begrudge Brigg their strike as they had severely tested the Belper rearguard in the second half, although until that moment they had only managed to get a handful of shots either on or off target.

Hudson added: “We missed the strength of Krystof Kotylo in midfield and the pace of Ben Walker but I thought we did well to come away with a win. It’s always tough for us at Brigg and as a player I can’t ever remember winning there.