Coleshill Town 1-1 Long Eaton United
Saturday 7 March 2026
Northern Premier League, Division 1 Midlands
At Pack Meadow, attendance 82 (my headcount), 221 (official – what??)

Long Eaton United claimed a point in a tough see-saw encounter away at Coleshill Town

The Blues made one change to the starting line-up from the match against Lichfield as George Atwal started, with Dexter Walters dropping to the bench. Callum Cocks marked his return to the club by taking the number 17 shirt in the dug-out.

The early exchanges favoured the home side but with little clear-cut chances on goal, the best opportunity falling to the magnificently-monikered Marvellous Onabirekhanlen on the edge of the Long Eaton penalty area, but he slashed wildly at the ball sending it a long way wide of the goal. The Blues meanwhile made a couple of half chances with Owen Betts in the thick of the action, including Owen skipping past two defenders but shooting straight at home goalkeeper Cameron Belford.

The best chance of the half fell to Coleshill, Theo Rowe letting fly a vicious drive from the edge of the area that seemed to twist in the air, forcing Lewis King into an unorthodox but effective save. Long Eaton pressed again, a Betts cross just failing to be met by Tristan Thompson-Matthews, and Elliot Hartmann curling a shot just wide from the left of the penalty area. On 37 minutes the ball fell to Connor Pace but he hacked at the shot, sending the ball high and wide. A few minutes later, George Atwal had an attempt at goal but his shot blazed over even higher than Connor’s. The half time chat was if the two were having a contest to see who could miss by the biggest margin! Goalless at the interval.

The second half started in a far more positive vein for Long Eaton, and following a corner, the ball was whipped back in by Gianluca Bucci, James Taylor headed the ball down and Jayden Cotterill was on hand to slam the ball home and give the Blues the lead with just eight minutes played of the second half

Coleshill made a pair of substitutions to try and refresh their options. The useful Bassit Mandey went close with a header just over the bar, before Lewis King was injured in a challenge from Onabirekhanlen that resulted in a yellow card. Not for him, but for the protesting Coleshill manager who took his grumbles too far.

Coleshill drew level on 65 minutes, Theo Rowe keeping himself just onside to race through on Lewis King. His shot was stopped by Lewis, but the ball rebounded upwards, and Rowe got his head to it to nod it in despite the efforts of both Lewis and Jayden Cotterill. It was one of those slightly comedic goals, but one you hope doesn’t happen to your team. With just under 15 minutes left, a Long Eaton break saw Elliot Hartmann scamper down the touchline and lay back a pass to Tristan Thompson-Matthews, but the Long Eaton number 10 failed to mark his 50th appearance for the club with a goal by driving the shot just wide.

With time running out, it was Long Eaton that tried to snatch all three points. Dexter Walters went close, and Evan Garnett putting another effort well over the bar, but the hero in the last minute was Coleshill keeper Cameron Belford, who made a brilliant tip over from a fierce James Taylor effort to save a point for the home side.

The Boss wasn’t too happy with the result, feeling the Blues were worthy of all three points, but seemed to be positive about the performance.

Long Eaton United: Lewis King – Owen Betts – Elliot Hartmann – George Atwal – Jayden Cotterill – Gianluca Bucci – Jahvan Davidson-Miller – Connor Pace – Evan Garnett – Tristan Thompson-Matthews – James Taylor
Substitutes: Dexter Walters (for Pace, 73) – Callum Cocks (for Atwal, 80) – Jake Finnerty, Coden Duncan , Jamie Hanson (all unused)

Report by Chris Berezai