Nearing neighbours Long Eaton United and Sandiacre Town went head-to-head in the third round of the Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup on Tuesday night and it was The Blues who came out 2-1 winners.

Evan Garnett’s brace pulled Brad Munn’s side out of a closely contested and at times a worrying game against their step 6 opponents.

Munn made three changes to the starting XI that drew 1-1 away at Basford United on Saturday as Jahvan Davidson-Miller, George Atwal and James Shaw replaced Jamie Hanson, Dexter Walters and Tristan Thompson-Matthews.

It was a rather cold one at Grange Park and after a fairly contested opening third of the first half, Garnett scored his and Long Eaton’s first goal in the 16th minute.

Davidson-Miller did well as he progressed forward with the ball and then he chopped the ball into his centre forward’s path. With ice in his veins, Garnett curled the ball past the Sandiacre goalkeeper, Jonasz Godomski, and wheeled away in celebration. It was a calm finish with his right foot to put The Blues one in front.

The only other chance for Long Eaton in the first half was a shot from Owen Betts which hit the side netting.

James Taylor was the first name in the referee’s book as he was shown a yellow card in the 42nd minute.

The remainder of the first half played out with both sides struggling to gain any real control over each other.

Both sides looked to come out of the blocks with pace in the second half and it was The Blues who had a chance to extend their lead in the 48th minute. Taylor had a shot saved by Godomski as he hit his effort from just inside of the box and James Shaw had the rebound kept out by the Sandiacre keeper’s left boot.

Sandiacre Town were then awarded a penalty kick in the 53rd minute as Owen Betts tripped Ricco Spencer in the box.

Up stepped their number nine, David Kolodynski, and the striker made no mess of his penalty as it nestled into the bottom right corner.

It was a goal that Sandiacre had fought hard for.

Munn made a double change in the 58th minute as George Atwal and James Shaw made way for Tristan Thompson-Matthews and Dexter Walters.

Thompson-Matthews was straight in on the action when his header failed to test Godomski as the attacking midfielder rose highest in the box to get on the end of an Elliot Hartmann cross.

Long Eaton United regained the lead with 15 minutes left on the clock and it was Garnett with his second of the night.

Gianluca Bucci found himself in an unnatural position on the left side of the box and his cross found Davidson-Miller. The winger’s shot was a low one and an outstretched right boot of Garnett was on hand to redirect the ball into the roof of the net from a couple of yards out.

In the final 10 minutes of the cup tie both Walters and Betts had efforts that came very close to extending the margin to two but the Blues managed to see the game over the line with it finishing 2-1 in favour of the home side.

The Blues will be looking to go far in a tournament that they were knocked out of in the quarter-finals last season. Derby County U21’s beat the Blues last season. Alfreton Town went onto win the competition. They beat Buxton on penalties.

Next up for Long Eaton is a league game at Grange Park on Saturday against St Neots Town.