After the first-half ended goalless, Andy Kanga scored a debut goal in the 53rd minute to put The Blues ahead. Although the lead lasted just four minutes as Daniel Idiakhoa soon found the equaliser at the other end of the pitch.

George Atwal restored the advantage in the 78th minute with a deft header, his third goal in as many league games. However, just three minutes later Arnold Matshazi brought the match level yet again.

With time almost up, Nyahwema scored a superb solo goal to silence the home crowd and earn three points on the road for United.

A minimum of eight minutes of additional time were signalled by the dugout yet this time The Blues not only held onto the lead but almost netted a fourth through Jack Rogers in the final minutes of the match.

Now, after scoring three goals in a single match for the first time this season, Long Eaton return to Grange Park this coming saturday to face Leamington; the side that our Step Three journey began against on the opening day of the season over six months ago.

Brad Munn made three changes to the side that beat Gresley Rovers 5-4 in a penalty shootout midweek as Kanga made his debut, Ryan Campbell-Gordon made his first start since November and Cieron Keane returned to the midfield.

Hitchin Town started strong and peppered the Long Eaton United defence with a succession of corners and long-range efforts. Though nothing particularly challenged Blues’ number one Ross Durrant.

Nyahwema came closest to scoring in the opening 45 minutes but Charles Horlock stormed off his line, closed down the angle and saved the winger’s attempt on goal at the near post.

An end-to-end contest resumed in the second-half as both sides hunted for the opener. Kavan Cotter saw his shot blocked and cleared by Callum Cocks then, moments later, a smart one-two between Rogers and Campbell Gordon was headed clear by Kye Tearle.

The Blues continued to threaten down the left and found the opener in the 53rd minute. Nyahwema cut inside and struck the woodwork from the edge of the area, the rebound bounced up off the back of Horlock and Kanga reacted quickest and smashed the ball into the net from point-blank range – a real poachers goal for the debutant.

Hitchin quickly hit back and equalised just four minutes later when Idiakhoa tucked the ball into the bottom corner of the goal at the far post.

Matshazi had a great chance to fire the hosts ahead but Cocks slid in and blocked the shot inside the area. There were plenty of claims for handball from the home crowd which the referee promptly dismissed.

Very much in the ascendency, Hitchin could easily have taken a two goal lead on another day. Eadie Layne lobbed the ball into the box and Cotter dived in to hit it goalwards, though Tommy Blennerhassett made the final touch from an offside position and the would-be go-ahead goal was chalked off.

Two minutes later The Blues were ahead again. Rogers chipped the ball into the box and Atwal looped the ball into the top corner with a glancing header.

Despite conceding a second goal, Hitchin stayed in the match and carried the momentum from their previous attacks. Matshazi tapped in the rebound after Durrant saved the initial effort from Blennerhassett to restore parity for a second time.

Lewis Belgrave almost made an immediate impact from the bench when Cieron Keane ran to the byline and found the substitute with the cutback but the substitute missed the ball as he attempted a flick-on at the near post.

In the 89th minute Nyahwema heel chopped his way into the box, beat two defenders and slotted the ball past Horlock to earn a late lead in the match.