On a bumpy and uneven pitch, the Nailers found it difficult early on to put their passing game together as Nirvana’s more direct approach was infinitely more suited to the playing surface.

In fact, it was Nirvana that created most of the scoring opportunities in that opening 45 minutes.

Danny Haystead saved well as Ash Day sent in a vicious 18-yard strike and then repeated his prowess when the industrious Reece Morris sent in a low shot that might have crept inside the post.

Nirvana ‘keeper James Flinders did will to parry the ball clear when Laurie Wilson’s free kick was deflected and full back Luke Day nicked the ball off Evan Garnett’s toes as the Belper striker latched onto Michael Towey’s through ball.

But Nirvana continued to look the more dangerous

Morris sent a shot just over the Belper crossbar and teammate Matthew Melbourne repeated the feat minutes later as the Nailers continued to be tested at the back.

Grant Ryan shot straight at Flinders as the Nailers rallied before Nirvana tested the Nailers nerves moments later when Melbourne dispatched an angled drive that cannoned back off the outside of the post.

But the game turned in Belper’s favour with two goals in as many minutes just before the interval.

Grant Ryan headed the Nailers in front a pinpoint Sam Purcicoe cross after Flinders miscalculated the flight of the ball and then Evan Garnett wrestled the ball away from Luke Day before racing into the area and sending the ball inside the far post.

A two-goal advantage at the half way stage perhaps flattered the Nailers but they looked to have put the game beyond Nirvana seconds after the restart when Grant Ryan swivelled on the ball from Garnett’s pass across the area before dispatching his shot low inside Flinders’ right hand post.

But the hosts refused to buckle and reduced the arrears on 57 minutes when substitute Alex Paval made progress along the by-line before squaring the ball for Ash Day to slot the ball in from close range.

The Nailers restored their three-goal advantage after 64 minutes when substitute Rob Stevenson raced away from the Nirvana defence before side stepping the ‘keeper and rolling the ball into the net.

Yet again the hosts responded in great fashion as they again cut the deficit just three minutes later when the Nailers failed to deal with a free kick and the ball squirmed into the net off a Belper defender.

Johnathan Williams made life difficult for his colleagues when he earned a second caution for kicking the ball away leaving the Nailers to protect their lead for the final 10 minutes.

And how they had to defend as Nirvana ‘threw the kitchen sink’ at the Nailers in a frantic final spell with defenders manfully blocking a succession of shots and the ball twice being cleared off the goal line when the impressive Haystead was finally beaten.

But, the Nailers rode out the storm and began to wind the clock down with a series of counter attacks that eventually took the heat out of the game.

This was a decent victory over a very committed Nirvana outfit but the Nailers clinical finishing was the main reason why they were able to claim a place in the next round against Nottingham-based Dunkirk FC.

Leicester Nirvana: Flinders, Luke Day, Murphy, Doy, Calver, Lynch, Ash Day, Morris, Nassor, Melbourne, Parkes. Subs: Paval, Mwanyongo, Gonga, Biggs, Harper, Nelson, Harris (GK)

Belper Town: Haystead, Purcicoe, Matthews, Lister, Watt, Williams, Wilson, Towey, Garnett, Ryan (Fairclough 81), Johnson (Stevenson 45). Other Subs: Cooksey, Taylor, Divver

Referee: Shaun Barry

Attendance: 96