A Kyle Belmonte second half double sent City into the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup on Saturday, just hours after he’d decided to join City full-time after his initial dual-registration with Redditch United.

Ahead of the game, Manager Cornes elected to go with the same eleven that had controlled proceedings so well away at Raiders in midweek. The only changes to the squad were in the substitutes where Belmonte and goalkeeper Joe Stockton were added in as options from the bench.

The game began as a scrappy affair, and fans had to wait until around twenty minutes gone for the first action of the match. Striker Insall saw a header on goal deflected for a corner, with Lockett swinging in the resulting set piece, only to see this headed wide by Gater.

Sherwood Colliery had a call for a penalty with thirty on the clock, but they would go in front on the stroke of half time, Whitcombe initially doing well from a cross into the box before Ewan Robson was able to bundle home.

Chris decided to ring the changes at half time, with Insall and Thompson Brown being replaced by Evans and Belmonte. And it didn’t take long for the change in personnel to make a difference. Gater did well in the middle of the pitch to win the ball back for City before breaking for Evans, and his ball forward was deflected before sitting up nicely for Belmonte on the edge of the area. The new signing made no mistake, driving the ball in from the edge of the area into the top corner, a fantastic strike and an early contender for September’s goal of the month award.

Back on level terms City began to show their class and dominate the ball again albeit not for many chances on goal. Sherwood themselves had a good chance midway through the half, Whitcombe punching clear a free kick, and then a slight mis-control from Stoddart saw the ball land at the feet of number 9 Westcarr, but his time finish was saved by Whitcombe.

Haydn was called into action again, not once but twice, shortly after, making a fantastic save after a corner was drifted in and headed towards goal, managing to get a big hand to a headed effort to keep City in the tie. Then he was quick off his line to smother a chance at the feet of Westcarr in a one-on-one.

Evans also had a good chance to put City ahead, a ball over the top from Izak Reid setting him away, but his first touch was slightly heavy giving the Sherwood keeper a chance to come out and make himself big, then saving the resulting effort.

City’s winner came on 88 minutes. Skipper Mace did well pressuring the Sherwood winger and winning the ball back for Belmonte in midfield, who released Izak Reid now playing on the left. Progressing into the box, he slowed play down to wait for more City bodies to get forward, playing a ball to the edge of the box for Belmonte, striking first time, side footed into the back of the net.

Sherwood pressed for an equaliser late in the game, and had a brilliant opportunity with another cross into the box at the back post, but Westcarr couldn’t keep his header down and it was well over the bar.

For the second round in a row, City managed to turn around the tie after being a goal down at the break, with another late goal sealing the comeback. The players made sure to show their appreciation to the travelling Faithful who made the trip to Nottinghamshire, ahead of Tuesday’s league fixture against Pershore Town at Claines Lane.