We were held to yet another draw, our 4th in 6 games, at Shepshed Dynamo on Saturday, after the hosts came from behind to take a share of the points.

Tristan Thompson-Matthews had fired us ahead midway through the second half after a fine move, but Shepshed midfielder Jesse Friend bundled home a loose ball from close range with 15 minutes to go. We finished the game strongly, but were unable to find a winning goal.

REPORT
Long Eaton arrived at the Dovecote Stadium with fitness doubts over a number of players. Defender Owen Betts was still nursing a knee injury sustained at Wellingborough whilst playing in goal, while Evan Garnett and Jahvan Davidson-Miller underwent fitness tests upon arrival at the ground. Oscar Hugenholtz was drafted into the travelling party to provide cover, whilst manager Brad Munn also named himself as a substitute.
Betts and Garnett were deemed fit enough to start, but unfortunately Davidson-Miller was unable to be named in the matchday squad.

With the squad stretched, there were 4 changes from the goalless draw at Wellingborough;
With Lewis King suspended for the first of 2 games, Ben Allsop, back at the club on Thursday, took his place in goal. Elliott Hartmann returned to his parent club Mansfield Town, therefore Louis Bonser was immediately handed a debut at left-back after making the switch from The Stags on the same day. In midfield George Atwal and Davidson-Miller were replaced by Connor Pace and Jamie Hanson.

A brief hail storm just before kick-off didn't disrupt proceedings, and after the teams switched ends, The Blues kicked off our latest away game - the last of 5 consecutive matches.

There was a momentary early scare for Long Eaton, when Jamie Hanson gifted the ball away in midfield, leaving Dynamo forward Friend one-on-one with Jayden Cotterill, but Cotterill was able to marshal the ball out for a goal kick.

The first 20 minutes largely became a midfield duel, with limited goalmouth action. The Blues were having joy down the right hand side, with Betts and James Taylor linking up well, Betts had put a dangerous ball into the box, but was out of reach of Evan Garnett, who had taken the captains armband in place of Lewis King.

The hosts forced some early corners, but were all dealt with comfortably by the Long Eaton United defenders.

Shepshed had the games first opportunity on 21 minutes. Following a foul by Tristan Thompson-Matthews on Chad Timson, Dynamo were able to put a ball into the box, which Long Eaton forced out for a corner. The corner was only half cleared, and the resulting ball back into the danger area was met by former Blue, Luke Cox, who from 10 yards out was unable to steer his effort on target and Long Eaton were relieved to see the ball go behind for a goal kick.

Shortly after, Long Eaton had their first effort, with Thompson-Matthews having a low range shot from just outside the area comfortably saved by home 'keeper Wallis.

On 29 minutes, Niall Prenderville was shown the games first yellow card, after a foul on Blues defender Jayden Cotterill.

Owen Betts was enjoying some space down the right hand side and on 33 minutes, he had an effort just wide when well placed in an advanced position.

Jowan Partridge had a dangerous break 3 minutes later, which was deflected away for a corner. Fortunately for The Blues, this corner proved of little threat, like the majority before.

Just into stoppage time in the first half, and Long Eaton had the games best chance so far. A half clearance from inside the box fell to Thompson-Matthews, who on the volley caught it sweetly, only for Wallis to beat the ball away and out for a corner.

Shepshed held out for the remaining moments as the referee blew to end a first half of very few chances.

At the break, the home side, who still maintained serious playoff hopes, made a change with Timson, had had received lengthy treatment in the first half following a Thompson-Matthews foul, replaced by Bayliss.

Long Eaton made a quick start and Thompson-Matthews was once again in the thick of the action. A ball over the top beat the offside trap and put the midfielder through on goal, however the ball just seemed to run away and the hosts 'keeper just managed to get to the ball first before Dynamo were eventually able to clear.

Long Eaton began to look the more dominant side, and were starting to build some pressure, and didn't have to wait too long until the breakthrough.

On 61 minutes, a move from right to left involving James Taylor and Evan Garnett, saw the latter play a lofted pass through to Thompson-Matthews, who beat his man, cutting inside and rifling a shot out of the grasp of the goalkeeper. A lovely Long Eaton move and overall, a deserved lead.

Shortly after, Shepshed made another change, Cox was replaced by Ryder, but Long Eaton had their tails up. On 72 minutes, another flowing move provided the clearest opportunity of the game. Taylor and Thompson-Matthews combined to play a square pass to Pace who only had the keeper to beat, but he was unable to wrap his left foot around the ball and fired out just wide.

Long Eaton were made to pay for that missed chance just 3 minutes later.

The Blues briefly switched off, expecting a long throw deep in their own territory, instead a short throw was taken and with ample time and space, the home sides defender was able to send a long searching ball to the far post where Callum Burkey was lurking and his header across the goal was easily side-footed in by Jesse Friend from close range.

The momentum of the game switched, and another former Blue, Jack Rogers, on as a 2nd half substitute came close to a winner 5 minutes later.

Long Eaton weathered the storm from Dynamo, and were able to regain a foothold in the game and the final few minutes were played in the Dynamo half in and around the penalty area, but after 3 minutes of stoppage time were played, neither side could find a winner and had to settle for a point.

SHEPSHED DYNAMO 1 LONG EATON UNITED 1
Long Eaton United: Allsop, Betts, Bonser, Cocks, Cotterill, Bucci, Pace, Hanson (Atwal 77), Garnett (c), Thompson-Matthews, Taylor. Subs not used: Cole, Munn, Hugenholtz.
Attendance: 326