Belper had lost just one of their previous 14 games coming into this Easter Monday fixture, so it was always going to be a tough ask for Heanor coming up against this play off chasing outfit.

Heanor Town competed well during the opening half hour, Craddock, Bowley and Reece, particularly industrious in midfield, restricting Belper to some long-range efforts. The Lions’ best moment came when Yas Ohmura got down the right-hand side and delivered a good cross into the middle, after 14 minutes, but the ball was cleared and the linesman’s flag raised in any case.

However, the game changed on 32 minutes as Belper’s Keaton August won a corner for the hosts. The delivery was deep, swung into the back post, where a Belper head looped it back across for centre half, Ben Price, to stab home.

United, boosted by the opening goal, then looked for another, with their tricky winger, August, giving Josh Newnham plenty to think about. Despite this, Heanor could have gone into the break on level terms as a free kick, taken by King, had to be turned around the post by keeper, Fryatt.

Heanor started the second half of their final away fixture of the season in a positive manner. Their best move of the game came in the 48th minute, as Smith flicked the ball to Ohmura on the right. His centre was dummied by Charlie Reece and King’s shot was again saved by Fryatt.

With the game opening up and Heanor continuing to search for an equaliser, Reece went down in the penalty area after 67 minutes looking for a spot kick. But the referee waved away any appeals from the Lions midfielder.

Belper then stepped up their efforts as Alex Britton cleared away a dangerous cross. From the resulting corner, a towering header crashed against the post. Just seconds later the bar came to Heanor’s rescue as a shot from distance also came close.

But Heanor then fell to a couple of late goals, as Belper put the game beyond doubt. Striker, Diego Edwards, found space on the right, ran into the area and despatched a low shot into the corner, after 80 minutes. Then with virtually the last kick of the game, substitute Harry Banks, slotted home in the fifth minute of added time.

Heanor battled gamely throughout, but Belper’s quality won through in the end, running our victors by three goals.