Tuesday night football at the Dovecote saw Shepshed Dynamo host Belper Town in a rearranged fixture. Dynamo were coming off the back of a 1–1 home draw at the weekend against Long Eaton United, whereas Belper’s play-off hopes took a slight dent on Saturday as they were beaten 4–2 at home by Lichfield City.

Dynamo boss Gary Drake opted for an unchanged side from the weekend, while Belper made one change, with Kevin Bastos replacing Curtis Burrows in the starting eleven. Despite the rearrangement for a Tuesday evening, a bumper crowd of 357 made it through the turnstiles, with a good following from the away support.

A lively start from the home side produced a flurry of set plays early on, occupying the Belper backline. It took 18 minutes for Dynamo to test goalkeeper Kieran Preston, as Jude Collins broke clear of the ‘Nailers’ defence. Collins overran the ball initially but recovered to shoot low from 12 yards out at an angle. Preston got down well to save with his feet, denying Collins the opener.

In the 34th minute, Belper had their first sight of goal. A dangerous cross from the right, courtesy of Matty Bowman, found Jonathan Wafula on the penalty spot. Wafula headed the ball down into the turf, with goalkeeper Dan Wallis getting a hand to the looping effort and helping it over the crossbar.

The hosts ended a lively half with one final opportunity after 42 minutes. Aaron Korpal found space in behind the defence and shot low towards goal, with Preston’s feet once again coming to the rescue for Belper. A good display from Dynamo saw them go in level at half-time.

A stale beginning to the second period, with neither side threatening, looked to be heading towards a second draw in four days at the Dovecote. That was until the 84th minute, when Niall Prenderville’s header over the Belper backline released Jude Collins down the left. Bearing down on goal, Collins unleashed a fierce left-footed strike into the top corner, sparking jubilant celebrations.

The scenes of joy on the touchline were sadly short-lived, as an 89th-minute looping ball towards the edge of the Shepshed 18-yard box was inexplicably punched away by Wallis from outside the area. The bizarre decision from the Dynamo captain earned him a yellow card and gave Belper the opportunity for a late strike at goal.

Substitute Curtis Burrows stepped up from 20 yards out and produced a hammer for the Nailers. The ball flew past the wall and into Wallis’ bottom left-hand corner, bringing Belper level and leaving Dynamo looking at one point instead of three.

As the game entered stoppage time, Dynamo continued to pump the ball forward and turn the Belper backline towards their own goal. Jesse Friend outmuscled his man on the left and delivered a cross from the byline into the centre. The delivery met the run of Callum Burkey, who struck the ball sweetly on the volley to send it past Preston and the home fans into raptures. Burkey’s 92nd minute winner capped an insane eight minutes of football.

Celebrations followed soon after, as the final whistle confirmed an incredible victory for Shepshed, elevating them back into play-off contention. Belper, by contrast, have endured a four-day period to forget as they once again taste defeat. Shepshed’s next game on Saturday is shaping up to be huge against fellow play-off chasers Racing Club Warwick, while Belper look to cling on to their place in the division’s top five away at Boldmere St Michaels.

Dynamo: Wallis, Samples, Peart, Partridge, Friend, Burkey, Korpal (Rogers 67’), Cox, Prenderville, Timson, Collins (Thistleton 87’)

Belper Town: Preston, Rhodes, Keenan, Fankwe (Burrows 68’), Broadhead, Evans, Bastos, Wafula, South, Gratton, Bowman (Moran 69’)

Attendance: 357