PHOTO | Nathan Curtis challenges for a cross but Spalding 'keeper James Goff hangs on to the ball (Pic: Mike Smith)

The Nailers’ relationship with the Trophy has never been a happy one however they might see this defeat as an aid to their main objective which is to finish in the play off places this season.

Manger Grant Black would have wanted a victory on the day he signed a contract extension which keeps him at the club until the end of the 2023/24 season, but it was not to be as a resilient Tulips side edged out a Belper team that could easily have been victorious themselves.

The hosts got off to a perfect start when Jordan Macleod scored from a 4th minute break away with Belper custodian Ollie Battersby left exposed as the Tulips striker tucked the ball away just inside the far post.

The Nailers took time to recover from this early setback however Jonathan Margetts had a half chance to level the scores in the 8th minute as he attempted to drive the ball in from a narrow angle, rather than hook the ball back into the danger area.

Nathan Curtis might have scored if he had been bold enough to shoot rather than cross the ball in the 13th minute, but Belper were showing enough on the ball to suggest that they wouldn’t be in arrears for long.

Brodie Litchfield spurned a great opportunity on 24 minutes when Alex Peterson set him up perfectly 12 yards out but Nailers’ midfielder couldn’t make a connection and the chance was lost. The expected equaliser arrived on the half hour mark courtesy of an excellent Craig Nelthorpe free kick and a glancing header from skipper Danny South who found the net just inside the post.

Tulips ‘keeper James Goff denied Peterson a goal with a close range stop after the Belper striker had headed a Nathan Curtis cross, then Nelthorpe made a great run with the ball in the 36th minute but couldn’t find power or accuracy in the finish.

While Belper had edged possession in the first half it was more even in the second period.
Jordan Macleod was given time and space to score his second goal of the game in the 48th minute as the Nailers creaked a little from the hosts early pressure.

Nathan Stainfield looked to gave extended Spalding’s lead in the 62nd minute but his effort was disallowed by the referee for offside. Prince Mancinelli, on for Alex Peterson in the 66th minute had a shot over the top moments after coming on the the field, and Tulips substitute Liam Adams went close with a snap shot in the 70th.

The Nailers were back on level terms in the 75th minute when Danny South deflected a Nelthorpe free kick into the goal, and it was anybody’s guess at this stage who would progress into the next round.

South was close to giving Belper the lead on 82 minutes with a looping header that just cleared the angle from a Nelthorpe free kick, however the tie turned in Spalding’s favour with 5 minutes to go when Mcleod ran clear to thread the ball just inside the far post to complete his hat trick.

The Nailers tried their best to grab an equaliser which would have sent the tie into a penalty shoot out but it wasn’t to be, and Belper will have to wait until next year to try again.

Spalding United: Goff, Price, Putton, Bucciero, Stainfield, Ward (Floyd 73), Yala, Broccoli, Smith, Macleod, Mezine (Adams 56). Unused subs: Duggan, Baker, Olivant.

Belper Town: Battersby, Wilson (Brown 88)), Beejer, Bertram, South, Jordan, Curtis, Litchfield, , Peterson (Mancinelli 66), Margetts, Nelthorpe Unused sub: Woodcock, Sandhu, Kozluk.

Referee: Adrian George

Attendance: 379