Shaw, Loughlan, and Taylor have scored 48 goals altogether, whilst our opposition Sutton Coldfield Town have only managed 43 goals this season as a squad.

The Blues are now on a win streak of seven games. In those seven, the defense has stayed strong having picked up five clean sheets.

Brad Munn’s men stay third in the league, just one point above Worcester City and only three points behind Corby Town – who also have a game extra to play.

There was only one change to this side that beat Shepshed Dynamo 3-0 two weeks ago.

King started in goal and kept his eighth clean sheet of the season. In front of him was the usual suspects as Jayden Cotterill was partnered alongside last matches Man of the Match, Gianluca Bucci. The first goal scorer Betts began in the right back position whilst Ryan Campbell-Gordon took up the left full back spot.

Andrew Wright wore the captains armband and was accompanied by a new partner this game as Callum Cocks was serving a suspension, so instead Connor Pace was dropped back whilst Tristan Thompson Matthews made his first start of the season.

Up front remained the same with our current top goal scorer James Shaw (21 goals) playing through the middle, and he had Liam Loughlan on his right and the other goal scorer Taylor out on his left.

The Blues began the game quickly, dominating possession and showing the hosts that they intended on leaving with all three points, and they thought they had begun leaving as in the seventh minute, the ball was in the back of the hosts net, but it was deemed offside.

The first goal of the game came in the 13th minute as Thompson Matthews whipped a ball into the box from the corner and gave Betts the best opportunity to score. Betts towered above everybody in the box and guided the ball into the far right inside netting, giving the Blues the lead early on.

In the way of action, there was not much in the first half, but the lads stayed defensively strong as on the 30-minute mark, Callum Wilson was played through on goal, but he was denied by King and then denied again by Betts as he cleared the rebound off the line.

The Royals kept pushing for an equaliser, but they could not find that finishing touch as they were either denied by the gloves of King or the shot missed the target.

Just before the half-time break, Betts found himself in the referee’s book as he was yellow carded for a challenge on the edge of the box.

Half-time ended, and the boys got right back to it as they found the back of the net for the second time in the game. In the 46th minute, Betts played a ball into Shaw who laid Taylor off for a shot inside the box. He placed the ball past the goalkeeper and gave the Blues a two-goal cushion.

A chance came in the 63rd minute for a third goal of the game ad Loughlan tried to find Shaw at the back post, but it was too far in front of the striker.

Just three minutes later, Shaw made way for Evan Garnett. This was his first game since his injury against Loughborough Students on February 8.

The traveling fans thought they had another goal to celebrate as Taylor hit the side netting in the 68th minute.

In the same minute, Thompson Matthews was subbed off for Dexter Walters.

He almost made an instant impact as three minutes later, he had his first shot of the game, but it was well saved by the goalkeeper.
In the 90th minute, Garnett was played through by Taylor and had only the goalkeeper to beat, but his effort was under hit as his chipped shot was saved by the fully stretched James Wren.

The game finished after four minutes injury time, and Long Eaton United traveled home with all three points.

Their next match is against Darlaston Town on March 22 at the Family Only Stadium at Grange Park.

Match report: Damion Arnold
Match Photos: Josh Araujo Ames