Jayden Cotterill started at centre back alongside Gianluca Bucci, who returned following his completed suspension which he picked up in our win over St. Neots.

Cieron Keane also completed a suspension and returned to his left back position as Jake Finnerty remains sidelined with a broken wrist. Owen Betts donned his usual right back spot.

Connor Pace, James Taylor, and Tristan Thompson-Matthews began as our familiar midfield trio.

James Shaw, who scored a hat trick the last time we were at the Loughborough University, started out on the left wing with Dexter Walters on the opposite wing.

And Evan Garnett was our central striker.

The bench included Coden Duncan, George Atwal, Jahvan Davidson-Miller, and Kian Morrison.

The game started quickly with the hosts finding the back of the net within ten minutes. Shortland was in the right place inside the box and rifled the ball into the net.

Dexter came close in the 16th minute as he hit the post.

A minute later, Dexter managed to get a cross into the box, but in doing so, the ball deflected off Loughborough’s left back Spiteri and found its way into the back of the net.

We should have taken the lead in the 20th minute, but the ball was cleared off the line by a Loughborough defender.

Three minutes later, Shortland got his second of the game and restored his sides lead.

In the 32nd minute, Garnett brought the game level again. A cross into the box from Dexter was met well by Garnett as he headed the ball into the back of the net.

It did not stay level for long as in the 38th minute, Shortland and Loughborough scored their third goal of the night as a ball into the box was met by their number nine and he headed the ball towards the back post leaving King no chance.

However, the first half drama continued as we equalised for a third time. Again, it was another Dexter cross that posed the threat. His ball was again deflected into the back of the net by Spiteri.

Taylor was shown a yellow card in the 43rd minute.

Just before the interval, Shaw had a chance to send us into half time 4-3 up. A cross into the box was met by Shaw, who had made a great run in behind. He got up well and got a good amount of power, but the effort flew over the bar. It was almost a perfect recreation of one of his goals he scored when he scored a hat trick there last season.

The second half began, and we found ourselves behind with four minutes of the restart. Shortland scored his fourth goal of the night.

Two minutes later, King produced a fantastic double save. An initial ball into the box was palmed away by King, the ball fell to Keene who had a shot, but King managed to get back up well and produce a great one-handed save.

In the 52nd minute, Loughborough and Shortland scored their fifth and final goal of the evening.

Our first change of the night came in the 65th minute with Duncan and Davidson-Miller replacing Shaw and Taylor.

Both Dexter and Betts were shown yellow cards with Dexter’s coming in the 73rd and Betts’ in the 76th.

Our best chance of the second half came in the 78th minute with Jahvan having a thunderous strike inside the box fly just wide of the post. It was a great team move that deserved a goal, but the volley from Jahvan just lacked the accuracy.

With six minutes of normal time left, Dexter was replaced by Atwal.

Keane was shown his sixth yellow card of the season in the 86th minute.

Pace was also booked in the 90th minute.

And after five minutes added time, the final whistle was blown.

We fall to 17th in the league, four points off bottom.

We face Bedworth United at home this coming Saturday.

COME ON YOU BLUES

Match report: Damion Arnold
Match photos: Richard Gadsby