It was a breathtaking evening of fast flowing and exciting football that got better and better as the evening progressed.

Whatever the pros and cons are of 3G pitches the Nailers shook off any doubts and played some wonderful football as did their worthy opponents Basford.

The Nailers were boosted by the presence of last season’s top goalscorer Harry Draper who made his first appearance of the season as a substitute and his controversial dismissal for a second yellow at the end of extra time didn’t prove costly, fortunately.

Tom Eccleshall on a dual registration with Belper United was on the bench and came on in the second half and played his part.

While this was an excellent team performance in which every player was at the top of his game, and had to be, Jacob Gratton was amongst the standout performers as he has been all season.

It was Gratton that got things moving for the Nailers as his run and shot inside the first 2 minutes set the tone, then Danny South managed to get something on a 10th minute corner kick, but the ball went the wrong side of the post.

Jonathan Wafula, another solid performer on the night let the ball run away from him as he bore down on goal in the 10th minute, and for the first half an hour, there was little between the teams as they battled it out in all areas of the pitch.

Basford struck first in the 31st minute when Belper failed to deal with a cross into the box and Tyreace Palmer fired the ball home from close range.

The Nailers took time to recover from this set back and responded magnificently in the 43rd minute when Kevin Bastos latched on to a Diego
De Girolamo pass and jinked past two defenders to score brilliantly inside the far post.

Basford held the initiative early in the second period and Connor Diamio’s half volley went too close for comfort.

The Nailers conceded again after 56 minutes when Nathaniel Peters pounced on hesitation to drive home from a free kick, and the Nailers were back to chasing the game.

Their response was magnificent as they raised their game to an even higher standard and pressure started to mount on the host’s goal.

A Louis Keenan corner on 60 minutes was headed just over the bar by Jack Broadhead then Gratton, whose game rose to even greater heights, fizzed a twenty-five yarder just wide of the upright.

Bastos’s run down the right saw him find De Girolamo in space just outside the six-yard area but his goal bound shot took a deflection and looped over the cross bar.

Harrison Hazard missed a good chance for the hosts on 77 minutes, and he was shortly to rue the missed opportunity when the Nailers equalised again with a thunderous 87th minute shot by Gratton from the edge of the penalty area.

Broadhead’s header over the bar from a Keenan cross was the last notable act of the ninety minutes and the players took a well-earned breather in readiness for extra time.

The incredible pace of the game continued, and the Nailers nearly scored in the first minute of extra time when Wafula’s close range shot was brilliantly blocked by Matthew Yates.

Preston’s save from Dameer Rose in the 100th minute was equally crucial, then Yates was well placed to save an effort from De Girolamo moments later.

The breathless pace continued and as the emphasis switched back to Basford, the Nailers rode their luck when a goal mouth scramble in the 122nd minute fortunately went Belper’s way.

There had been nothing between the two sides in the league games with both finishing in draws, and this game ended the same way with a penalty competition required to settle the tie.

Gratton, Keenan, Bastos and De Girolamo were all successful for the Nailers and with Basford missing two of theirs the Belper went through 4-3.

The Nailers will play Racing Club Warwick in the final who also required penalties to get past Carlton, and another gripping encounter is anticipated.

Basford United: Yates, Soloman, Ebanks, Diamaio (Rose 80), Stewart, Wilson, Hazard, Thomas (Hallam 69), Blake, Palmer, Peters (Twite 90). Unused subs: Deeney, Wilson.

Belper Town: Preston, Fankwe, Keenan, Wafula, Broadhead, South (Moran 70), Bastos, Burrows (Draper 82), De Girolamo, Gratton, Shaw (Eccleshall 71). Unused subs: Rhodes, Austin.

Referee: Michael Pattison.

Attendance: 864