Anstey Nomads vs Long Eaton United
Northern Premier League – Midlands Division
22/02/2025 – 3:00pm KO

Two play-off rivals go head-to-head in this weekend’s action in the Northern Premier League – Midlands Division as the Blues travel to a sixth placed Anstey Nomads.
Long Eaton last played on Tuesday night when we travelled to Bedworth United and came out victorious as Brad Munn’s side scored three on their way to victory.
The Blues are the most in-form side in the league currently and the lads will not be looking to change that come three o’clock Saturday afternoon.

How have Anstey Nomads been doing?
Anstey are sixth in the league and only one point outside of the play-off positions. They have three games in hand on Sporting Khalsa who occupy fifth.
They suffered a 4-1 loss to Worcester City on the opening day of the season, however that certainly did not affect Anstey.
The Nomads drew 0-0 to league leaders Quorn on the 26th of August, proving defensive resilience.
Their biggest win of the season came against Shepshed Dynamo on the 7th of September when they won 6-1 at home. James Tague and Zayn Hakeem both scored two with Jordan Annable and Kyle Tomlin also getting on the scoresheet.
Corby Town came out 2-0 winners against Anstey and was followed by the 5-2 defeat at the Family Only Stadium a couple of weeks later.
Quorn visited the Mark’s Electrical Arena on the 30th of December 2024 and won 3-2. Kyle Tomlin thought he had rescued a point for the Nomads when he netted in the 87th minute, however Silvio Bello had other ideas. His 97th minute goal meant that Quorn took home all three points.
Their form heading into this game is strong, making the game on Saturday an intriguing one.

The reverse fixture:
Long Eaton were 5-2 winners in the reverse fixture which took place on the 2nd of November 2024.
The Blues went 4-0 up at Grange Park, thanks to a brace from James Shaw, an own goal by Conrad Logan and a goal in the 58th minute from James Taylor.
There was a hectic three minutes late on which seen Jacob Fenton pull one back in the 79th minute. Connor Pace added a fifth for the Blues in the 80th and in the 82nd Fenton added his second.
Long Eaton secure all three points on that day. Will history repeat itself?

Current form:
Anstey Nomads sit at the top of the form guide. The Blues are second. Two goal difference separates the two sides. What a game this should be.
Long Eaton have five wins and one loss in their previous six.
The only loss coming against Worcester City on the 25th of January.
Apart from that, wins against Quorn, Boldmere St Michaels, Loughborough Students, Corby Town and Bedworth United put Brad Munn’s side in a healthy position.
The Nomads’ only loss in their last six came at the expense of Corby Town. Anstey lost the fixture 1-0 due to a goal from Amarvir Sandhu in the 59th minute.
Five wins make up their current form these came whilst facing Shepshed Dynamo, Coleshill Town, Darlaston Town, Grantham Town and Boldmere St Michaels.
Who will be sat at the top of the form guide come Saturday evening?

Brad Munn speaks ahead of Anstey Nomads:
“We are confident against anyone we come up against and we have had some really good results. We had a good result against them earlier on in the season, scoring five past them, winning 5-2, and we deserved it. We probably should not have conceded the goals, I think we got a little bit complacent.”
“Going to their place and supposedly their pitch after playing on it on Saturday was not right to be played on (Tuesday night) with no rain or anything but listen it is what it is.”
“I am sure it will be fine for Saturday. So we will go there all guns blazing, they certainly bring the aggression and as I have said they’re a good side because they are together and a nasty together side but can play as well.”
“It will be a good game of football and let’s see if we can go and do the double on a play-off rival. Worcester did it to us so we have got to do it to someone else, so it is as simple as that.”
“We are looking forward to it, we are enjoying what we are doing, the boys enjoy coming in. The disappointment on some lads’ faces when they’re coming off or anything, I like that. It means that they care, so we are going into the game full of confidence, a bunch of players that really care and we are in a good position at the moment so it is positive on our front, let’s recover Thursday and really attack Saturday.”

Ryan Campbell-Gordon touches on Saturday’s match:
“I am confident going into every game to be fair.”
“If we get the three points there then I think that’s absolutely massive and that allows to carry on pushing for the play-offs.”

Match Preview: Sam Hargrave