With Evie Jowett unavailable, Flo Wakefield would step up for her first start while manager Matt Chatfield went for a change of formation, using Millie Sheard and Tamsin Wilkins as wing-backs.

Belper made a positive start, forcing a corner on two minutes which was only half cleared and gave Hannah James the chance to try her luck from just outside the box. Hannah Payne made the save.

The Nailers didn't have to wait much longer, however as they took the lead in the ninth minute. A corner from Shannon Worrall bounced inside the box and Shania Allison took full advantage, rifling home a first time effort in to the corner.

It was nearly two after 22 minutes when Wilkins found Hannah James who produced a great effort from range, only to see Payne palm it away.

The hosts went close on 24 minutes, with a great ball from Charlotte Martin putting Belle Webb through on goal. However Allison, not content with scoring at the other end, saved an almost certain goal with a perfectly timed tackle.

Rachael Mumford tried her luck on the half hour mark, Lucie Selby in the Belper goal was equal to it but the equaliser came three minutes later. Martin's shot took a horrible deflection and evaded Selby to roll over the line.

Four minutes before half-time, Hannah James did well to win the ball back from Newport and got a shot away which drifted wide.

Three minutes after the break, Holly Tyrrell went close to scoring the goal of the season when the ball fell to her 25 yards from goal. Her volley was tipped wide by Selby before Madi Evans produced a shot from the corner which was deflected over the bar.

In the 50th minute, a Belper counter-attack saw Alice Faulding set free down the left wing. Her cross fell in to the path of Wakefield but Payne saved at full stretch.

Mia Carnelley sent a free kick narrowly wide on 58 minutes and the home side went ahead four minutes later. Sian Morris was played in and produced a great finish beyond Selby.

Lilia Stokes saw efforts go over the bar in the 64th and 67th minute as Newport sought to put the game to bed and Selby kept Belper in the tie again on 69 minutes with a great double save from Stokes then a header from the resulting corner.

Hannah James's free kick went wide with 12 minutes remaining then Liv Froggatt got on the end of a Selby goal kick on 80 minutes but Payne was out quickly to block.

Belper's final chance came in the 90th minute with Hannah James trying her luck from range then back at the other end, Lottie Rosevear fired over from the edge of the box.

So Belper are eliminated at the hands of higher division opposition but take plenty of positives heading in to the County Cup tie next weekend against their own Reserves.

Newport Pagnell Town Women: Payne, Flynn, Evans, Mugford, Roseblade, Mumford, Sargeant, Stokes, Tyrrell, Charlotte Martin, Webb.
Subs: Rosevear, Cruse, Chloe Martin, Morris.

Belper Town Ladies: Selby, Allison, Claxton (Smith 87), Smith (Pickard 62), Sheard (A. James 62), Wilkins, Bestwick (Worrall 27 (Bestwick 76)), Worrall (Carnelley 11 (Sheard 82)), H. James, Faulding, Wakefield (Froggatt 67).

Referee: Harry Newsham