Long Eaton United could only draw 1-1 against Hinckley LRFC despite being the more dominant force. Evan Garnett missed a penalty in the fifth minute of the game, however the striker went onto score his sixth goal in three games in the 65th minute. Ben Humphreys equalised for the visitors in the 90th minute. A tough one to take for the Blues.
It was a fast start for Long Eaton United as they had a penalty awarded in the fifth minute. James Shaw was brought down by the outrushing Jake Laban.
Evan Garnett had his penalty saved by Laban who dived down to his right, the ball was heading towards the bottom left corner.
Ryan Campbell-Gordon went on an electric run down the left, cutting inside and then chopping back out. His shot from the left side of the box, travelling across goal, went just narrowly wide of the right post.
Tidy football down the right by Long Eaton resulted in James Taylor being abled to deliver a ball across goal to Liam Loughlan. With the attacking midfielder fully stretched, it was a tough chance to convert, and the ball trickled wide of the left post.
The Blues really were playing some neat football.
It was 0-0 at the half-time break. Long Eaton were undoubtedly the better of the two sides.
Garnett had another opportunity in the 60th minute to put the Blues ahead. James Taylor won the header from a Lewis King goal kick and the ball dropped to the striker. He tried to squeeze his right footed effort past Laban, however, the keeper stood tall to keep the game tied.
The ‘Knitters’ keeper was having a tidy game.
Substitute Ronnie Kokkinos had the best chance of the game up to this point in the 63rd minute. Owen Betts played a ball across to Kokkinos and the winger had acres of space to calm himself before his shot. A curled effort from a central area in the box with his right foot was superbly denied by Laban. The keeper anticipated the direction of the shot and tipped the ball over the bar.
Long Eaton took the lead shortly after in the 65th minute. Gianluca Bucci’s sharp turn on the edge of the box allowed him space to put a low cross into the box. Garnett arrived urgently to flick the ball into the bottom right corner under Laban.
Hinckley levelled the game in the 90th minute. Ben Humphreys headed the ball past King after a corner was put into a dangerous spot from the right.
In the dying seconds of the game Long Eaton were so close to sealing the win. Taylor’s cross failed to be converted home by a scramble of bodies in the six-yard box. Laban was the most relieved man in the ground.
The game finished 1-1.
Long Eaton United move up to fourth in the table, four points above sixth place.
The Blues face top of the table Quorn on Saturday the 4th of January (3pm KO) away at The Stotto Stadium.

Match Report: Sam Hargrave