Belper Town equal Trophy record with win at Kidgsrove

With top scorer Harry Draper unavailable, Luke Rawson was left to lead the line on his own while Keaton August started the tie against NPL West Division side Kidsgrove Athletic.

Nathan Whitehead returned in midfield to add much needed strength and knowhow in front of the back four.

A promising start for the Nailers could have led to a goal in just the 3rd minute when Keaton August fed Nat Crofts a perfect through ball, but the Belper striker saw his shot beaten away by the advancing Grove ‘keeper.

Belper were quickly on the attack again in the 6th minute when Mason Warren found August free in space on the right, and Paulo Aguas sent a superb header past Kieran Harrison to put Belper ahead with his first goal for the club in his second spell.

Belper put the hosts under more pressure in the 12th minute when two quick corners had Grove scrambling to clear on both occasions, then Kidsgrove had their first real effort when Kingsley Adu Gyamfi cut inside and sent a low drive just beyond the far post.

The Nailers went further ahead on 34 minutes after Luke Rawson was held by Grove skipper Richie Sutton as he turned past the defender, and Curtis Burrows scored from the resulting spot kick with the best penalty conversion you are likely to see.

Belper could have quite easily gone in at half time with a three-nil lead after an onslaught on the Kidsgrove goal in the last few minutes saw various shots blocked, culminating with a Ben Rhodes volley that bounced agonisingly wide.

As so often happens at the start of the second half the opposition come out fighting and Grove had the better of things after the break.

The Nailers were indebted to Kieran Preston for a dramatic double save on 53 minutes, and Belper had to soak up unrelenting pressure. There was a chance for the Nailers to put the game to bed on 63 minutes when August forged an opening on goal, but Kieran Harrison did well to block the shot to the near post.

Kidsgrove were inching closer and closer to getting a goal and they thought they’d got it in the 69th minute when Nat Morley broke away to slam a low drive against the inside of the far post and away to safety.

The experienced Matt Rhead glanced a straight ball wide of Preston in the 70th minute to reduce the arrears and the pressure was on to keep the hosts from getting an equaliser.

Belper regained more possession in the latter stages and stemmed the flow of Kidsgrove attacks and were able to play the remainder of the tie in relative comfort.