Long Eaton United followed up their exhilarating midweek performance against Staveley Miners Welfare with a home tie in the FA Cup that produced an outcome that was as disappointing as their previous game was encouraging when they succumbed to Midland Football Alliance opponents Dunkirk at Grange Park, losing by a solitary goal.

Although the sides last met over a decade ago, Saturday’s visitors had not lost at Grange Park in their ten previous visits in both league and cup during a period when both teams were members of the Central Midlands League.

Kial Thurman, who suffered an early exit in the game against Staveley, and Jimmy Hunter were both unavailable and Mick Galloway’s re-shaped team included Cameron Martin and Kelvin Mushambi in the starting line-up. Mushambi’s appearance was his first start since rejoining United following his departure last December. The visitors had former United players James Mountain and Jaylee Hodgson amongst their ranks.

Galloway’s formation saw Jordan Hunter, Michael Armstrong and Mark Littlewood form a three-man back line and Matt Savage reverted to midfield to enable Martin to lead the line.

The initial stages of the contest saw United begin fairly brightly with Savage and Shaun Rickford combining well on a couple of occasions but the visitors quickly began to settle after a hesitant start and impose their influence on proceedings.

Scott Miles in United’s goal was the busier of the two ‘keepers during the first half, pulling off two good saves, and the visitors also squandered a couple of clear cut chances midway through the half.

Blaine Hancock and Jacob Webster each sent shots wide of Mountain’s goal and a Mushambi run past two Dunkirk defenders brought no reward. Dom Jones was also able to get into some useful situations on the left side but his searching crosses into dangerous areas went unchallenged.

Overall, the first forty-five minutes provided a fairly subdued display from both sides, with little of the anticipated atmosphere that local cup-ties are capable of producing, but at the interval it was perhaps the visitors that were the more disappointed to have not edged in front.

United were unable to shake off their collective lethargy in the second half and despite the obvious work-rate of the players, they often appeared heavy-legged and seem to have run out of ideas well before the visitors eventually took the lead.

The Dunkirk goal typified United’s afternoon after possession was surrendered in the final third and Hodgson raced away to slot a low drive past the outstretched lunge of Miles in United’s goal.

The goal lifted the visitors own performance a degree and they continued to hold United at bay with some confidence.

Despite the goal, United were unable to raise their game sufficiently enough to produce the vital ingredient that would create an opening and most of their approach play broke down before any meaningful pressure was exerted on the visitors defence.

Elliot Perry, Duane Barton and Elliot King were all introduced from the bench in an effort to inject something different but their emergence failed to provide any impact of note.

Savage had the best opportunity to rescue matters for United in the closing stages but his effort was saved by Mountain after he had cleverly found the space to finally open up the Dunkirk rearguard.

After a less than rousing ninety minutes, the visitors dutifully progressed in the competition and in doing so consigned United to their third consecutive first hurdle defeat during an encounter in which too many of United’s players suffered an off-day.

United’s early elimination was a disappointment to the larger than usual Grange Park contingent that witnessed proceedings, and not least the players themselves, but it should not detract from the profitable start the team have made to their league season, where they have produced performances that would clearly have seen them progress on Saturday if they had been able to repeat the levels achieved in the games against Armthorpe and Staveley.

This Saturday, United are back in league action when they visit Lincoln Moorlands and will have the opportunity to put their downbeat exit from the FA Cup behind them.

Long Eaton United Team: Scott Miles, Jordan Hunter, Mark Littlewood, Michael Armstrong Dom Jones, Jacob Webster, Kelvin Mushambi, Blaine Hancock, Matt Savage, Shaun Rickford, Cameron Martin.
Subs: Elliot Perry (Martin 59), Duane Barton (Hancock 75) Elliot King (Jones 83)