Wet conditions had claimed the original fixture between Belper Town and Shepshed Dynamo and the rain threatened once again to force a postponement prior to kick off on Tuesday evening. A 4.30pm pitch inspection passed and it was game on, much to the delight of both sets of fans.

A howling wind swirled around the Reygar Stadium as the team news came through. Dynamo made two changes to the side that drew 1-1 away at Lichfield with Jowan Partridge in from the start and manager Gary Drake also handed a debut to Ryan Hayes in central midfield.

Belper were held 1-1 by bottom side Bedworth on Saturday and the ‘Nailers’ lined up with former Shepshed Dynamo midfielder Jordan Fankwe in the centre of the park. A healthy 505 fans packed into the ground as the midweek action got underway.

A competitive start by both sides, with a swirling wind to contend with, produced few openings early on. In the 14th minute, a free kick out on the left for Belper was delivered in towards the far post by Louis Keenan. The inswinging ball was met by the head of the unmarked James Tague who headed the ball up and over from four yards out, an early let off for Dynamo.

After 19 minutes, Belper once again looked to prise open the Shepshed rearguard. A looped ball over the top found the run of Liam Moran. The Belper forward latched onto the ball 25 yards out to the left of goal but skewed his shot well wide under pressure from Declan Peart.

Dynamo had looked dangerous down the flanks and with 25 minutes on the clock, a venture down the right unlocked the Belper defence. Jack Rogers found space in behind Louis Keenan and provided a precise, low cross on a plate for the onrushing Jude Collins. The winger finished low under goalkeeper Keiran Preston to give Shepshed the lead.

The home side responded in the 28th minute with an effort from the lively Kevin Bastos. The attacker produced a fierce effort from the angle, six yards out and brought a superb save from Dynamo captain Dan Wallis in the Shepshed goal. The resulting corner produced a further mad scramble in the box with Dynamo eventually clearing the danger.

As the clock ticked down towards the break, Shepshed had one more attack before the whistle. Jack Samples cut inside from the left and struck a low drive from the edge of the box. Samples’ near post strike required ‘keeper Preston to dive sharply to his right and gather safely, as half time approached.

Predictably, the hosts came out for the second half keen to get back on level terms. A Belper corner in the 53rd minute was cleared and then sent back into the box where James Tague attempted a 12-yard, acrobatic overhead kick that sailed wide of Dan Wallis’ near post.

The positive spell at the start of the second half finally paid dividends for the hosts as Kevin Bastos sprinted down the left channel. Bastos drilled a low ball into the near post where Dynamo defender Declan Peart took a swing at the ball. In an attempt to clear, Peart’s miskick diverted the ball past Wallis in the Shepshed goal to hand Belper a 69th minute equaliser.

Shepshed weren’t giving in and once again attempted to hurt Belper from the wide positions. Jude Collins lined up a free kick 25 yards out, slightly to the left of goal. Collins’ strike swirled towards the top corner at the near post but Preston got across to gather the ball safely with 72 minutes on the clock.

Belper were then presented with a golden opportunity to take the lead on 78 minutes. A headed knockdown into the area found Kevin Bastos completely free, 8 yards from goal. Bastos chose power over placement and cleared the stand with his effort. A huge let off for the visitors.

As stoppage time evaporated, Belper had one last attempt at netting a late winner. Jacob Gratton collected the ball 25 yards from goal and struck a low drive towards Wallis’ near post. The Dynamo captain got down to smother Gratton’s 93rd minute effort and secure a point for Shepshed.

In the end, the points were shared as both sides produced a competitive game with a draw the fair result at the final whistle. Shepshed extend their unbeaten run to four matches while Belper continue to chase promotion now seven games without defeat keeping them in second place.

Dynamo: Wallis, Samples, Peart, Partridge, Friend, Rogers (Palit 89’),, Hayes (Korpal 83’), Prenderville, Bayliss, Collins, Burkey

Belper Town: Preston, Rhodes, Keenan, Fankwe (Austin 63’), Broadhead, Evans, Bastos, Burrows, Moran (Wafula 80’), Gratton, Tague (Fenton 63’)

Attendance: 505