Evan Garnett’s goals at the death of the first and second half secured The Blues the win, meaning the striker has scored six in his last six.
It was also another clean sheet for Long Eaton, that is now five in the league.
There were a couple of changes to the starting XI that featured in the 2-1 loss to Anstey Nomads last Tuesday night. George Atwal started and he replaced a suspended Cieron Keane. James Shaw started behind Evan Garnett in the ten role, with Jake Finnerty also being welcomed back to the matchday squad.
The sun shone on the turf at Grange Park as it peeked through the clouds on a chilly afternoon in Derbyshire with the referee commencing proceedings.
Both sides were weighing each other up throughout the opening twenty minutes with neither side getting a clear-cut opportunity on goal.
Coleshill Town, who came into this match with four wins and clean sheets on the bounce, threatened first when Benjamin Usher-Shipway went through on goal. Lewis King, as he so often does, remained composed to get down low and save.
Our opening chance of the match fell to Garnett in the 25th minute. He got the ball out of his feet on the edge of the box and hit a low shot which looked to be travelling into the bottom left corner however Cameron Belford got down well to save.
Captain King again stepped up for his team when his amazing diving save off of Alex Mcskeane’s close-range header kept the score level. Our skipper was heavily involved in the first-half both with big saves and having the ball at his feet, showing how vital he is.
It looked as if we were heading into half-time with the game goalless but that was all about to change.
Garnett bagged his first of the game as the first-half trickled into its period of additional time.
Owen Betts crossed the ball into the box from the right and Garnett was there to get a glancing touch onto the delivery with the ball just about rolling past Belford and into the back of his net.
We took a one goal advantage into the half-time break and Coleshill Town’s clean sheet streak was over.
The Blues came out hungry for more in the second half when Garnett was a toe away from getting another. It was Betts again who delivered a teasing ball into the box but the outstretching Garnett only just failed to get any contact on the ball.
It was time for Long Eaton’s first change of the game as Tristan Thompson-Matthews was introduced and he replaced James Shaw.
Thompson-Matthews was straight in the action when he watched his volley from the edge of the box narrowly go wide of the top left corner.
The Colemen continued to push for an equaliser however the defence remained solid and resolute in order to keep the ball away from King’s goal.
Dexter Walters replaced the yellow-carded Coden Duncan in the 80th minute as Brad looked to his bench for fresh legs.
Our penultimate chance of the match fell to Jahvan Davidson-Miller who received a spectacular long pass from King. What can’t the skipper do?
Davidson-Miller’s touch was just impressive as the pass from King however the finish lacked placement as Belford made the save at his front post.
The Blues kept going until the very end and were rewarded for doing so when Garnett added his second of the match in the 90+3rd minute.
The newly introduced Dexter Walters hit a shot from the right side of the box which hit the crossbar and it made the ball drop vertically onto the goal line with Garnett the only player around to tap the ball into an empty net. Belford gave everything to get back onto his feet and claw the ball away from danger but The Blues wheeled away in celebration.
Everyone confused as to whether the goal was Walters’s or Garnett’s the match officials had deemed it as the latter’s. Garnett had his sixth goal in his last six games.
One clean sheet. Two goals. Three points.
The Blues now sit 12th on 21 points with Rugby Town up next at The Family Only Stadium next Saturday.
We hope to see you there!