Gedling "scrambled" by an easter weekend United 4 goal "egg"stravaganza!

With many a mind on what the Easter Bunny might bring, Long eaton minds were firmly fixed on the last but two fixtures of what has been a tremendous season.
Gedling were the visitors to Grange Park this easter weekend, and they came with a well earnt reputation of leaking very few goals. A team that are notoriously hard to break down, and one who very recently held Carlton until a dubious injury time winner had broken their resolve.

Long eaton have been pretty tidy at the back too, and with Ed absent through illness, Perry started once more with Harry and Matt at the back. They had put in a faultless performance 7 days earlier in a 2-1 win at Sheerwood, and so there was nothing to fear on that front.
Scoring was going to be the challenge, and the question was whether Long Eaton were up to it.

The game started in the way one would have expected. Long Eaton took all the early intiative, playing with flair and confidence and easily making progress into the Gedling third. Olly stamped his authority from the outset, and both George and Keelan enjoyed the space that they were allowed on the flanks.
However, Gedling were certainly living up to their reputation. As quickly as the blues progressed, Gedling remained steadfast and repelled.
With so much posession, but little joy, the Long eaton faithful began to wonder if this was to be the much feared Long eaton stumbling block.

Gedling fans were aghast with the way in which Long eaton played out from the back. Matt in goal was as bright as a button, gathering the ball up and rolling out to his captain Harry. On almost every occasion this happened Harry found one of his wingers, and Keelan in particular was filling his boots on the left. Almost like clockwork he collected the ball, skinned his fullback and whipped in a cross. Long eaton played end to end in seconds.

The breakthrough finally came with an unexpected effort really.
Matt won a good tackle at the back, perfect timing as ever, and began to stride forward. As he knocked the ball into Justin, he decided that rather than turn into the brick wall that had been the gedling defence, he instead cushioned a pass backward to Olly who was lurking with intent.
Some 40 yards out Olly tried his luck. He caught the half volley well, and with the keeper unsighted as the ball passed through a see of black and red stripes, the first he saw of it was as it tucked itself into the bottom right corner.

An enormous cheer, a massive relief, Long eaton nerves were settled and it was now game on.

Luke came on mid-way through the half to give Georges legs a break from 15minutes of up and down, and he was straight into the thick of the action.

Half time came and it was a deserved drink and a relax for the patient league leaders.

Not much to say at half time for Perry. Long eaton had been very good. The goal was more than deserved, but he wasn't going to settle until Gedling were out of sight. "keep playing your football" was the simple advice.

And so they did..

The blue shirts strolled out full of confidence and delivered a second half display that would of struck fear into either of the other tilte chasing teams.
Long eaton pressed and pressed, and when they didn't have the ball, every boy was desperate to get it back.

Gedling dealt with Keelan in the only way that was going to stop him. A kick to the ankle saw him carried off.
George stepped back into the frame and within seconds was turning to celebrate his 10th goal of the season.

Luke had swapped to the left, and a direct run from him allowed a slide rule into Justins feet. This week he was playing provider, and as he helped the ball on, George was there to guide a firm volley into the roof of the net.

2-0 up and cruising.

Justin seemed to enjoy playing provider, but it was going to take the world to stop him from getting on the score sheet.
A little dink to the back post from Olly sat up nicely for Justin. He shaped his body to get his wrong peg over the ball and whallop! A crashing left footed volley left the Gedling keeper rooted to the spot.

Long eaton 3 to the good.

A bit of a swap around ensued, with Keelan coming back on for Luke, and then in the final moments Luke back on for Justin.
And how thankful was Luke for that swap. £5,s worth of thankful I should think, as his grandma felt herself once more reaching for the purse.
Harry had played creator this time. He took a short corner from George, and found himself with lots of space to run into. Ignoring the screams of "shoot" from the sideline (mostly from me!!!,) he unselfishly floated a cross into Luke, and he did the rest. An accomplished side footed half volley left the keeper no chance.

This was a convincing, compelling, controlled victory. To come out and play and win in such style at this time in the season is truly remarkable.
5 games ago Long eaton were looking down the barrel of needing 5 wins to set up the showcase finish. Well, they have done precisely that.

And so here we are...2 games to go. Second and third to play. 4 points required to make sure.

Put that from your minds young men of Long eaton. Relax, enjoy, keep playing this style of football and you won't go far wrong.

Next up Carlton at home!!

MoM: Harry.