Lee Attenborough selected the same side that won at Mickleover the previous weekend, as Belper set about getting the point they needed to seal a play-off place.

Diego De Girolamo gave the Nailers the start they needed when he converted a 7th-minute chance from just inside the penalty area after Jacob Gratton threaded the ball through to him.

Belper looked comfortably in control throughout the first period, and one of the best moves in the 17th minute involved Kevin Bastos crossing into De Girolamo, who nudged it on to Gratton, but he fired wide of the far post.

Bastos nearly claimed an assist on 27 minutes when he found De Girolamo on the edge of the area, but William Lakin made the save look comfortable.

The Nailers pressed for a second goal late in the half and won two or three quick corners, but it was Bourne who struck next when Sam Bayly’s free-kick took a significant deflection and went in off the post to leave it all square at the break.

Clever work from Jacob Gratton set up Bastos for his first goal of the afternoon in the 49th minute, as he dribbled along the byline and picked out Bastos, who applied the finish.

Bourne responded with an equaliser on 58 minutes when Lewis Darlington ran through an open defence to shoot beyond Kieron Preston with confidence.

Belper were back in front on 67 minutes when Louis Keenan’s deep, far-post cross was met by Bastos, who nodded the ball just inside the post after Lakin was unable to cut it out.

Bastos clinched his hat-trick on 76 minutes when he prodded a poor back-pass over Lakin and ran on to gleefully put the ball into the empty net. He then produced an impressive back flip that pleased the crowd as much as the goal.

Belper should have been home and dry, but Bourne didn’t stop trying and gave the Nailers a few uncomfortable moments, including allowing Zac Allen time to run through and reduce the deficit by slotting into the bottom corner.

Lewis Austin was unlucky to see an added-time shot graze the crossbar, and a Bastos curler went wide of the far post before the Nailers could celebrate their place in this season’s play-offs.

A visit to second-placed Basford awaits Lee Attenborough’s men on Tuesday evening and, if they are successful, they will either go to Carlton in the final or host Racing Club Warwick.

A play-off finish was always Lee Attenborough’s first priority this season, and congratulations go to him, his staff and, of course, the players for their achievement.

Can the Nailers go one step further? We shall see.

Belper Town: Preston, Fankwe, Keenan, Wafula, Broadhead, South, Bastos, Burrows, De Girolamo (Austin 70), Gratton, Shaw (Moran 70). Unused subs: Evans, Bowman, Hassett.

Bourne Town: Lakin, Burrows, Allen F, Milne (Milne 74), Marshall, Jones, Furey (Munton 68), Bayly, Darlington, Bird (Wilson 78), Allen Z. Unused sub: Flack.

Referee: Ian Ruddock

Attendance: 877

Match sponsors: Belper Town Juniors

Sponsors’ Man of the Match: Kevin Bastos.