Manager Lee Attenborough made one change to the team that started the original tie the previous Saturday with Nat Crofts coming in for Keaton August.

A difficult game was anticipated, and the hosts looked a different team from the one that the Nailers should have beaten first time round.

What came as a pleasant surprise was the performance of the Nailers who were excellent from start to finish and should have taken the tie to penalties when they were given a penalty close to the end of extra time.

Sporting put the Nailers under pressure straight from the kick off and Belper survived a few close calls in the first fifteen minutes.

Curtis Burrows headed off the line in the 8th minute then a Theo Robinson header three minutes later looked to have given Bromsgrove the lead, but the referee’s assistant’s flag proved to be Belper’s saviour.

Belper’s first opportunity arrived in the 16th minute when Harry Draper headed the ball to Nat Crofts, but the resulting shot went just wide.

The Nailers were battling back now after a torrid opening and in the 26th minute Draper looked to have put Belper ahead after Burrows and Gratton combined to put the Belper front man in with a chance, but somehow Charlie Price pushed the ball away.

Dan Moore got down to a crisp shot from Robinson two minutes later, then Bromsgrove took the lead in the 36th minute when Jamie Meddows returned the ball into the six-yard area, and it drifted past everyone to land in the net.

Belper fought back and Burrows had a shot well saved on 40 minutes, however at half time there was always the feeling that the Nailers were still very much in the game.

Brodie Litchfield replaced Luke Rawson at the break, but the hosts pressed forward relentlessly and came close when Meddows ran through to fire wide of the target.

Lost possession in midfield nearly handed the hosts with a goal after Meddows put Harry Crook through but he lifted a great chance over the bar.

Belper were showing a great deal of industry and endeavour which paid off for them when Gratton turned on the ball just outside the penalty and despatched a superb shot that crept inside the far post for the equaliser.

Substitute Keaton August hit an 82nd minute shot just over, and the Nailers were now pushing for a winner, however they needed the skills of Dan Moore in the 90th minute to push over a header from King.

Extra time ensued and King was close again when his header shaved the top of the cross bar early in the first period. Belper survived some nervy moments as Bromsgrove threw everything they had at the Nailers.

Belper showed superb resilience and excellent organisation, but early in the second period Ryan Snape found a chink in the Nailers’ armour, and he hit an unstoppable shot into the net to put the hosts in prime position.

It wasn’t all over though as with three minutes of play left the referee spotted a handball in the Bromsgrove penalty area, however the usually dependable Warren made a hash of the spot kick, and his shot went high and wide.

It was a superb team performance from Belper who stood up well to a team from Step 3 in their own back yard and hopefully they can carry this forward into their league performances and in Saturday’s F A Trophy clash with Boldmere St Michaels.

Bromsgrove Sporting: Price, Palmer, King, Rowe, Cook (Shaw 72), Robinson, Meddows, (King-Harmes 78) Crook (Snape 78), Newell (Roberts 96) Melbourne (White 62). Unused subs: Powell, Patterson.

Belper Town: Moore, Burrows, Aguas, Whitehead (August 62), Broadhead, Evans, Crofts, Warren, Draper (Austin 66), Rawson (Litchfield 45), Gratton. Unused subs: Gregory, Rhodes

Referee: Harley Hetherington

Att: 517