PHOTO | Kyle Dixon slides home the Nailers second goal (Pic: Mike Smith)

The Daniels were certainly the favourites coming into this clash having won all nine of their previous league fixtures, whilst Stamford had also comfortably brushed aside Belper twice during the regular season, scoring 10 goals to Belper’s 2 .

Fit again, Prince Mancinelli was the only change to the side as he returned in place of Sam Wright.

However, the Nailers didn’t care about the statistics and produced a heroic performance in Lincolnshire on Tuesday night and deservedly ran out 2-1 winners.

It was nearly a nightmare start for the Nailers as former Belper striker Jonathon Margetts found himself through on goal in the opening 30 seconds of the match and was only denied by the inside of the left post.

Stamford had another great chance to break the deadlock in the 13th minute following a quick free kick; Tendi Chitiza whipped the ball into the middle of the box where an unmarked Sean Wright could only head wide.

In the opening half it seemed like Belper’s only opportunities were going to arise from set-piece scenarios with the Nailers struggling to create chances from open play.

In the 30th minute Sam Muggleton produced a deep inswinging corner to the back post where Tom Wilson could only head his effort firmly into the hands of former Nailers’ ‘keeper, Danny Haystead.

Lewis Gwilliams produced the first of what was a series of heroic saves throughout the night in the 31st minute after Chitiza crossed the ball into Margetts, who fiercely volleyed his shot first time, but Gwilliams got down quickly and pushed the ball away from danger.

Speaking of heroics, Brodie Litchfield produced a moment of individual brilliance in the 40th minute to put Belper 1-0 up on this monumental occasion.

Wilson played a long-lofted ball to the left wing where Litchfield controlled the ball beautifully, the winger then drove into the box at speed and smashed his shot underneath Haystead to make it 1-0.

Only a minute later things got even better for Belper as Marshall Willock was sent off for a second yellow card following an aerial challenge on Riece Bertram.

Litchfield continued to terrorise the Daniels’ defence heading into the second half and was unlucky not to have scored a second goal in the 47th minute.

Following a one-two with Kyle Dixon, Litchfield once again drove into the box taking on three defenders in the process before firing his shot just wide of the target.

However, the game wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Nailers as Stamford were awarded a golden opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot in the 50th minute after Ben Rhodes pushed over Margetts inside the area.

But once again a Belper player produced a moment of magic. This time it was Gwilliams who got down quickly to his left to stop Harry Vince’s penalty, whilst his quick reactions also allowed him to stop the headed rebound from Margetts.

Stamford missed another sitter in the 65th minute after Connor Bartle crossed the ball to the back post, where Cosmas Matwasa headed the ball back across to Chitiza who headed his shot over the bar from 2 yards.

Finally, after soaking up all of Stamford’s pressure for the entirety of the second half the Nailers got a second goal in the 90th minute.
Following a quick break Kyle Dixon burst deep into the Daniels half and played a one-two with Alex Peterson on the edge of the box, before firing his shot low and hard into the bottom left corner sending the travelling fans absolutely crazy!

Deep into stoppage time there was a glimmer for Stamford after Matwasa lined up a shot 35 yards out from goal, and he miraculously found the top left corner to give the home fans something to cheer about.

Ultimately Stamford’s late wonder goal wasn’t enough to stop Belper from reaching the Play-Off Final on Saturday, where the Nailers will travel to Chasetown hoping they can produce one final push and achieve promotion

This is a game which will live long in the memories of the Belper Town fans who were sensational in their support for the Nailers not only tonight but throughout the entirety of the season.

Stamford AFC: Haystead, Burgess (Blunden 45), Bartle, Vince (Morgan 62), Wright, Willock, Chitiza, Duffy, Duffy, Margetts (Frew 76), Matwasa. Unused subs: Wallis, Armstrong.

Belper Town: Gwilliams, Rhodes (Woodcock 74), Muggleton, Wilson, South, Jordan, Robson, Mancinelli (Curtis 65), Bertram (Peterson 62), Litchfield, Dixon. Unused subs: Wright, Benjamin-Potts.

Referee: Ben Cooke

Attendance: 984