Long Eaton United suffered a fourth straight league defeat after going down to a goal in each half at Rugby Borough on Wednesday evening.

A superb first-half penalty save from Lewis King failed to spark The Blues into life, and in the end it turned it another tame display, as our stuttering start to 26/27 goes on.

The Blues made 2 changes from the starting 11 which fell to defeat at Grantham just over a week ago. Jamie Hanson and Connor Pace both dropped to the bench, with Jahvan Davidson-Miller and Luke Williamson returning to the starting line-up. New signing Kieran Francis had to settle for a place on the bench after joining the club from Lichfield City, in a move completed last Friday.

The game started at a lively pace, with the ball bouncing around in the middle of the pitch with neither side able to get an early foothold in the game. We did manage to force an early corner, which from George Atwal's delivery, James Taylor managed to rise highest, but his header dropped comfortably wide of the hosts goal.

On 8 minutes, Rugby threatened The Blues goal, a raking cross-field pass to Armeni put the midfielder briefly through on goal, but Jayden Cotterill was able to get across and shield the ball away from danger.

Rugby began to look the most likely to break the deadlock, but Long Eaton had another opportunity from a corner on 14 minutes. This time it was from our right, with Harry Eden swinging it in towards goal, James Taylor, once again at the far post won the header and this time it was better directed, but drifted just wide of the post.

Rugby instantly responded, and a quick break found Collins inside the area and his low shot was goalbound, but King was able to dive to his left and claw it away.

The home side then had a good move on 22 minutes, but York failed to hit the target.

However, their best chance was just about to come...

A cross from their left, close to the by-line, was handled by George Atwal as he jumped and turned to try to block the cross, and as he was just inside the area, the referee who had a good view, immediately pointed to the spot. Waite would take the spot-kick, but Lewis King denied the forward with an excellent save. Waite had struck the penalty well, but King, diving full length to his right punched it away. The danger wasn't quite over yet, as Rugby reclaimed possession, and the ball was crossed back across the face of goal, but somehow eluded everyone.

An excellent save from The Blues skipper to keep us on terms, but we needed to use that as a moment to get a foothold into the game, which unfortunately, we were unable to do.

A few minutes later, Borough came close again, and it was Waite, arriving at the far post unmarked who almost had a tap-in, but the ball just ran away from his outstretched boot.

On 33 minutes, on what was becoming a rare Long Eaton attack, a nice move involving Eden, Garnett and James Taylor, ended with Taylor pulling the ball back to Durose who arrived late in the box, only for his effort to drift harmlessly over the bar.

The Blues had looked like they may have managed to get to halftime all square, but switched off from a ball into the box, and Waite was able to head in from close range, unattended. A blow for The Blues, who despite being largely second best so far, had worked hard and generally kept the hosts at arm length.

That goal was scored on 40 minutes, and The Blues were rocking slightly from there, and were thankful of the halftime whistle.

During the first half, The Blues had been sloppy in possession, and in a bid to regain the midfield battle, Munn uncharacteristically made a double halftime change, with Cocks and Durose replaced by Francis and Hanson.

From the first play of the second period, York had a clear sight of goal , when put clean through, but King stood tall and blocked, before Eden cleared his lines.

We then went straight up to the other end and almost snatched an equaliser, with James Taylor, with purpose, going forward and from an angle hit a super strike which ricochet back off the bar.

The frantic nature of the half continued a minute later, with King called into last-gasp action once more, this time midfielder Stohrer had powered his way through on goal, but King was once again The Blues savour.

New-boy Kieran Francis looked lively down the left hand side and he had an opening on 51 minutes, but scuffed his shot wide of the 'keepers near post.

Harry Eden was cautioned on 54 minutes, following a foul, then 3 minutes later, Connor Pace replaced Luke Williamson.

The game became a scrappy affair after an end-to-end start to the half, and it wasn't until the 69th minute that another meaningful effort on goal would come, but it proved to be a killer for The Blues.

A ball over the top seemed to catch our defence napping, and the ball was put across the face of goal, out of the reach of King, and for a moment seemed to pass everyone by, but York, arriving late into the box, just managed, from a tight angle to prod it into an unguarded net.

The Blues confidence seemed to drain from here. Whilst there was plenty of endeavour, there was little if any cutting edge, and Garnett at the top of the pitch looked increasingly isolated.

Nyakuhwa replaced Atwal on 73 minutes, whilst the hosts made a succession of changes, as the game drew to a close.

Davidson-Miller made a surging run from the right, cutting inside, but on his weaker foot, shot wide of the post in a rare attack in the final quarter of the match.

Rugby had a couple of further late chances to further seal their win, whilst Lewis King picked up a caution towards the end for dissent.

After 3 minutes of time added on, the referee blew his whistle to somewhat end the misery for Long Eaton, whose winless run goes on.

Another game which promised so much, failed to materialise and after the sucker punch of the second goal, the lack of confidence was there for all to see.

Line-up: King (c) - Atwal (Nyakhuwa 73), Eden, Bucci, Cotterill - Cocks (Hanson 46), Davidson-Miller, Durose (Francis 46), Williamson (Pace 57), Taylor - Garnett. Sub not used; Cole.
Bookings; Eden (54) - foul. King (88) - dissent.