In fact, in Belper’s case they had played three games since Basford’s last outing which made the Nailers’ feat all the more impressive.

Manager Lee Attenborough stuck with the same starting eleven that beat Boldmere the previous Saturday, and Lewis Austin’s return from holiday added strength and options on the bench.

In front of an enthusiastic crowd swelled by a large contingent of Belper supporters, the game started as it finished, with every tackle and pass played with gusto.

Goalmouth action wasn’t in plentiful supply early on, but Gratton’s crisply struck shot in the 20th minute went straight to Yates in the Basford goal.

Belper’s luck held strong on 26 minutes when Goodman found space close in, and his shot came off Preston’s legs and off the post to be cleared.

Goodman went close again in the 37th minute when his ground shot sped alarmingly close to Preston’s near post and out for a goal kick.

The game had already settled into the battle of the midfields but occasionally the ball found its way into promising positions and in the 45th minute Bastos volleyed from close range only for Yates to make a remarkable save.

It was an even start to the second period and Belper skipper Broadhead nodded the ball back over the cross bar from a right-wing cross.

It wasn’t Goodman’s day it seemed as in the 60th minute he thundered a 15-yard shot off the crossbar, then almost immediately Wafula was away down the left side, but his shot went straight to the ‘keeper.

Great work from Bastos on 73 minutes saw his cross roll invitingly across the six-yard area with nobody there to take advantage, and despite a spell of pressure on the Basford goal the breakthrough was elusive.

Burrows hit a superb volley from twenty yards that struck the outside of the post then arguably Belper’s best chance fell to Bastos in added time after Wafula’s header was palmed away by Yates, and the Belper striker fired over the top from a narrow angle.

A scoreless draw was generally considered a fair outcome and hats off to the players who managed to serve up such an entertaining and hard-fought game in such blistering heat.

Basford United: Yates, Maher, Nicholson (Joyce 59), Diamio, Stewart, Wilder, Christie, Cocks, Goodman, Hallam, Cummings (Hines 70). Unused subs: Chapman, Armond, Deeney>

Belper Town: Preston, Rhodes, Keenan, Fankwe (Austin 75), Broadhead, Evans, Bastos, Burrows, Wafula, Gratton, Tague (Adu-Gyamfi 85). Unused subs: Tsolakis, Edwards, Zerboni.

Referee: Callum Timperley

Att: 501