Anthony Malbon’s 146th goal for Kidsgrove Athletic deep into stoppage time salvaged a point for the Grove as they drew 2-2 at home to Belper Town.

Midfielder Rhys Thompson’s 25 yard strike inside the opening five minutes gave the hosts the lead but, the scores were level only 12 minutes later when Danny Gordon slotted past Kidsgrove goalkeeper Kieran Harrison.

The Nailers thought they had walked away from the AutoNet Insurance stadium with all three points when Alex Peterson smashed the ball home in the 72nd minute. However, it was not to be as the Grove’s all-time top goal scorer scored in the final minute of stoppage time.

The visitors made a bright start to the game; looking threatening when obtaining possession of the ball but it was the home side that broke the deadlock inside five minutes when Rhys Thompson’s low effort from range arrowed into the bottom left hand corner leaving goalkeeper Ryan Musselwhite with no chance.

Lee Williamson could have doubled Kidsgrove's advantage on 11th minute but his low shot from the edge of the area was tame allowing Musselwhite to comfortably hold the effort.

This ultimately proved to be costly as 6 minutes later Belper levelled, when a long throw in from the right hand side was flicked on by Evan Garnett and, was heading goalwards but Thompson managed to clear the ball off the line. However, the follow up was met first and hooked home by Gordon just outside of the six yard box.

The away side were very close to then taking the lead on the 26th minute with Garnett being involved again when his low cross from the by-line deflected off Sam Hall and was goalbound. However, Stoke City loanee Kieran Coates recovered in time to clear the ball off the line and away to safety.

Then with just nine minutes remaining until the interval, Harrison made a superb flying save to stop a George Milner free kick from outside the box from being fired into the top left hand corner, as the keeper somehow managed to tip the ball over the crossbar.

After the interval, even though Belper had made the better start to the second period, it was Kidsgrove with the halves first clear cut chance when Willaimson’s powerful shot from just inside the area was fierce but straight at Musselwhite as he managed to parry the ball away to safety.

Williamson then had another chance just three minutes later to restore the Grove's lead when he volleyed a Thompson free kick just wide of the post.

Despite Kidsgrove having better opportunities, it was Belper who got a second goal with 18 minutes left when Garnett slipped in Derry Robson on the right hand side. He crossed to Paterson who had the simple task of smashing the ball home despite the best efforts of Alex Morris.

Paterson was lucky to still be on the pitch just four minutes later when the goalscorer went in on Morris with a high and late challenge. However, the referee deemed that the goalscorer should only be booked.

Belper came close to wrapping up the three points on the 84th minute when a cross from the right found Milner unmarked in the penalty area but, his acrobatic effort just evaded the far corner as it flew narrowly past the far post.

However, Kidsgrove did grab the goal that they were searching for late on when a corner from the right hand side was flicked on by Oliver Jepson into the path of Malbon who poked the ball into the far corner of the goal earning the hosts a precious point.

This brilliant result for Kidsgrove sees them rise into eighth position in the league table, only seven points behind the playoff positions but they do have games in hand on five of the teams currently in front of them.

Kidsgrove Athletic: Harrison, Coates (France, 90), Morris, Hall (Adu- Gyamfi, 83), Jepson, Butler, Thompson, Blake (Sparrow, 72), Wiggins- Thomas, Malbon, Williamson.
Unused Subs: Chesters, Hart

Belper Town: Musselwhite, Bryant, Clark, Bertram (Robson, 66), South, Watt, Gordon, Wright, Peterson, Milner, Garnett (Dawes, 79).
Unused Subs: Ridley, Kozluk, Curtis

Attendance: 230