Rugby Town completed an impressive second-half turnaround to secure a place in the next round of the Isuzu FA Trophy against high-flying league rivals Belper Town.

Valley found themselves two down at the break after an unimpressive first-half performance, but Grant Joshua's half-time team talk had the desired effect as his men put on a superb display after the restart to get past the Second Round Qualifying of the Trophy for the first time since 2004.

Joshua handed the recently-signed keeper Ethan Pheasey his Town debut between the sticks, whilst also making two further changes from the starting line-up the week previously at Loughborough - with Josh Thomas back from suspension and Harrison Nee preferred to Stan Anaebonam up-front.

The hosts started slowly for a change though, and Belper were soon creating chances, with Kevin Bastos heading one off-target from the edge of the box, before a powerfully struck shot from Jacob Gratton deflected away for a corner.

The Nailers took the lead shortly after when Gratton cut back onto his left foot to deliver his cross from the right-hand side onto the head of Jonathan Wafula - who rose well to score past Pheasey.

Jacob Fenton blazed one high and wide of the frame, Gratton's rising effort cleared the bar and Wafula also headed over a Kevin Bastos cross, as the visitors pushed for a second.

Rugby's first shot of any significance came with 29 minutes on the clock, with Belper keeper Kieran Preston gathering Callum Griffin's low strike at the second attempt, before Nee then like he was taken out by Preston just to the right of the penalty area - only to see the match referee turn down the home side's appeals.

Belper soon doubled their advantage though with a near carbon-copy header at the back post by Fenton - with, this time, Bastos the assist provider with a tricky run followed by a perfectly-flighted delivery.

Nee's shot squirmed away for a corner off a defender after Griffin had done well on the press to gain possession high up the pitch as Town looked to respond, although the visitors then nearly added a third after another Bastos cross from the right was flicked onto Fenton to put in a low shot that Pheasey saved with his legs.

Caine Elliott's free-kick from a dangerous position hit the defensive wall after Kabeya had been taken down following neat feet from sub Cairo Taylor - who had only just replaced the injured Isaac Adegoke.

The last two opportunities of the half fell to Belper, with Gratton denied by the quickly-off-his-line Pheasey, and Fenton dragging one wide after he had cut inside from the left.

Valley's fightback started just five minutes into the new period when Elliott nodded Sam Tye's chipped cross from the by-line into the path of Griffin - who took a touch before firing home despite Preston's best efforts in getting a hand on it.

Louis Keenan's low effort drifted comfortably wide at the other end, but the goal had clearly sparked the hosts, and they enjoyed a period of pressure with both Nee and Elliott having shots blocked and then Kabeya nearly playing in Griffin behind the Belper back-line.

The visitors responded with a mini-flurry of their own with Pheasey executing a fumbled save to James Tague's strike, Thomas doing well to cut-out another threatening centre from Bastos and Tague then pulling one across the face of Pheasey's goal.

Anaebonam flashed the ball across the other goal-mouth from a similar position, with Taylor and Anaebonam both delaying getting their efforts off within the same phase of attacking play which meant both strikes were ultimately blocked away.

Town's equaliser came on 72 minutes thanks to an inspired intervention from Griffin when he exquisitely lifted the ball beyond the reach of Preston from fully forty yards after Rivel Mardenborough had flicked a loose ball onto him in the middle of the pitch.

Only two further minutes had elapsed when Rugby sealed the tie with Kabeya's crossfield pass picking out Anaebonam's run and the striker applied a measured low finish beyond Preston to the delight of the Valley faithful behind the goal.

With only one competitive defeat before the match, a storming finish from Belper was then expected, but apart from Tague's rising effort over the bar, Valley coped very ably with any threat offered.

In fact, it was Rugby that almost scored the game's sixth goal before the end with Anaebonam's low strike pushed away by Preston, and Kabeya striking the base of the post when he looked to recreate Griffin's inspired moment by steering the ball past the keeper from way out.

Valley Line-up: Pheasey; Kabeya, Tye, Thomas, Hanson; West, Adegoke (Taylor 42' (Lundoloki 88')), Elliott, Griffin; Mardenborough (McNeil 81'), Nee (Anaebonam 63'). Subs not used: Bald. Booked: Nee.

Belper Line-up: Preston, Rodes, Keenan, Fankwe, Broadhead, Evans, Bastos, Burrows, Wafula, Gratton, Fenton. Subs: Tsolakis, Tague, Austin, Edwards.