Nerves jangle, but Long Eaton pop another 3 points in the bag!

The rain teamed down this Saturday as the Long Eaton squad arrived at Grange Park for their last but fifth fixture of the season.
West Bridgford blues were the visitors, a side that Long eaton had put to the sword only 3 weeks earlier.
It had most certainly not been one way traffic at West Park, and Perry was not expecting an easy ride for his valiant boys in blue on this, the return fixture.
He wasn't far wide of the mark either.

The rain had slickened the pitch and Long eaton found it difficult to get into their groove.
West Bridgford fielded a big strong team, and a few early tussles between Justin and the Centre back set the tone for the morning.

Onlookers had to wait some 15 minutes before they saw a glimpse of what had steered Long eaton to the top of the league, a style of play that achieved an unbeaten run since before Christmas.
Matt rolled out to Harry, who was keen as ever to get the ball moving on the floor. He played a clever pass round the corner into Olly's feet. Olly turned and released Keelan down the left, who instictively found the front man Justin.
Justin weaved in and out, and found himself behind the West Bridgford stronghold. George had arrived by now, and as Justin released the ball into his path, he unleashed a fierce drive. Only a fine save from the goalkeeper maintained the stalemate.

Long eaton were unlucky, but it served to settle the nerves. Gone was the hot potato as the little men in blue began to open the Bridgford 7 up with slick, quick and a mixture of passes. Added to that was a couple of old fashioned clatterings from Ed at the back. He could mix it up too.

With the football came the chances, one after the other. It was a shame that the breakthrough had to come from an own goal. That said, both George and Justin were lurking to polish off, had the unfortunate defender not put the ball in the back of his own net.

A goal to the good, and Long eaton really settled in. It was like a weight had been lifted from their shoulders. The crowd sat back and began to wonder "how many."

Remarkably, there were no more goals to come in the first half. Clearings of the line, posts, crossbars, you name it. The floodgates were firmly closed.

Ceratinly no need for panic though, and the half time talk affirmed that message.

Long Eaton emerged form the break in confident mood, and their football reflected this, as they caressed the ball around the pitch once more.
But Bridgford were far from done. They put together a series of raids that put Harry and Ed to the test. Thankfully they were upto the challenge, tackles flying in, penalty area interceptions, it was all there.

One raid though did take the league leaders by suprise. A corner whipped in from the left dropped into the Long eaton 6 yard box. Two or three efforts failed to clear the ball, and it finally dropped at the feet of the impressive number 10. He didn't need asking twice, and Bridgford were level.

This would test the Long eaton metal.

15 minutes to go, and the points were still up for grabs.

What Long Eaton showed in that period was that they were not just a footballing side. They were a side who could fight and battle as well. They had done it 7 days earlier at Attenborough. You could see in their little faces that they could do again here.

And thats precisely what they did.

Every Long eaton player ran his heart out. George and Keelan had made way for matt and Luke, and they were up for it too.

West Bridgord wre pinned down in their own area as attack after attack came. And then the moment arrived.
Justin, who had run tirelessly all morning, found himself deep in the Bridgford half, and this time one on one with the centre back. A rare luxury during this game. He was intent on filling his boots to the max.
He lured the Bridgford defender out to the right, and then cut inside with a cultured turn. Here he was, alone with the goalkeeper. Breaths were held all around the ground.
Wait for it, wait for it, and then bang!! The keepr left with no chance, the back of the net bulged. Off Justin danced, and only seconds to go, everybody knew the significance of what they had just seen.
The players knew too, as they raced to jump on their hero goalscorer.

It had been a close call but Long eaton had done it again. A 2-1 win, and that means 3 more points.

Long eaton stay top, and since Carlton had no game again, a Reds victory took them into second.

The business end of the season is most certainly upon us.

4 games to go!!

Next up, Sherwood at Sherwood.

MoM - Luke.