A WIN and a narrow defeat from their double-header weekend left Belper coach Mark Lamb satisfied with the progress his team is making.

As Saturday's 3-1 win over Olton & West Warwick was their second in succession, the Nailers consolidated their mid-table place in National Conference North and relegation looks a remote possibility now.

Belper followed their win with a 1-0 reverse to Durham University, in which they pushed their higher-placed visitors all the way.

"I'm really pleased with how the squad applied themselves," said Lamb.

"The first game was massive and one that shows just how far we have come since the start of the season.

"Although we may not have got anything from the second, we now know that we can take the game to anyone when we are at home."

Skipper Richard Kitchen added: "We can be proud of what we have achieved in the last couple of weeks and need to take that forward into the next couple of important matches."

Saturday's game against Olton began with both sides keen to impose themselves but it was Belper's front line which looked more threatening, Nick Morris going closest in a scoreless first half.

Lamb urged his side to pressure further up the pitch in the second half and the impact was clear.

Having survived a dangerous counter-attack in the 40th minute, the Nailers broke through after 47 minutes.

James Blackwell rounded three Olton defenders and fed new Dutch signing Nicolaas Den Ouden, who controlled the ball calmly and unleashed a fierce reverse stick shot into the roof of the net.

Olton levelled when David Sulway scored from a penalty stroke after Belper keeper Neill Slane had fouled one of their forwards.

But the Nailers soon regained the lead, when a fine running move by Richard Cassidy and Adam Innocent was finished by Ben Inshaw at the back post.

Belper were high on confidence and Ben Walton added another only two minutes later.

He evaded the Olton defence and finished with precision into the bottom left corner, the goal a just reward for a strong performance.

Although delighted with that result, Belper knew they faced a tougher challenge against Durham the next day.

Joe Sharp found space to set up David Ebbage for an early chance that was saved by the visitors' keeper.

Slane also made a strong save when a poor back pass led to a close range effort for Durham.

With the game scoreless entering the second half, Belper were optimistic but Durham began the stronger side, forcing Slane into a number of saves.

The breakthrough arrived for the visitors in the 51st minute when Chris Hall's right-wing pass swept past Slane for Adam Miller to provide a simple finish.

The Nailers then had a lot of defending to do, with Durham piling on pressure.

They thought they had a late equaliser when Den Ouden deflected Ebbage's shot into the net, only to see that the umpire had already awarded a penalty corner.