Long Eaton United kept up their Jekyll-and-Hyde form after picking up a very much deserved point against Belper Town at a blustery Grange Park.

On the back of Tuesday's below-par display at Carlton Town, which itself was on the back of a very positive display against Basford United, The Blues were once again hit and miss through both halves, but eventually, through a late James Taylor leveller, took a deserved point against The Nailers.

Long Eaton made 4 changes to the side which went down 3-2 at Carlton Town, with CJ Nyakuhwa, Luke Williamson, Kieran Francis and Dexter Walters replaced with George Atwal, Jamie Hanson, Connor Pace and Curtis Durose, whilst on the bench, we welcomed youngsters Riley McLachlan and Jacob Stubbs, who were alongside Francis, Williamson and boss Brad Munn, as we named a 5-strong bench.

Belper Town kicked off the game, with the wind behind them, and it quickly became obvious that this would be a tough half for The Blues, with several clearances/high balls simply holding up in the air, whilst any long kicks from Belper went a lot further than you'd usually expect.

This did make the early stages a little scrappy, with the ball bouncing around in the middle of the pitch. The Blues forced an early corner after good work from Jahvan Davidson-Miller, but this came to nothing.

It wouldn't take long for the visitors to take the lead from the first effort at goal from either side in the game.

The Nailers number 11, wideman Tavonga Kuleya, picked up the ball in the left-wing position, cut inside and drilled a relatively harmless shot towards goal, but unfortunately the ball seemed to squirm under Blues 'keeper Lewis King and rolled into the net. A cruel blow for The Blues, and for King, who has come to the rescue on countless times for The Blues already this season.

Long Eaton's heads did seem to drop a little, but they didn't look like conceding another goal, which has been a problem so far this season - conceding goals in quick succession.

Jamie Hanson fired a well-hit free-kick straight at Kieran Preston in the Belper goal to force him into a first save on 17 minutes, then shortly after, Curtis Durose broke down the right and delivered a cross just out of reach of the on-rushing Davidson-Miller.

Long Eaton's brief, but positive spell continued on 26 minutes, when a short corner from Cocks was fed to Eden on the edge of the box who rifled an effort towards the far post which flew like a rocket past everyone and just wide.

On 33 minutes, Belper almost doubled their lead when Keenan hit a long-range effort from around 30 yards, swirling in the wind, King made a superb save at full strength to his left to parry it round for a corner. From this resulting corner, The Blues had their hearts in their mouths as the ball fell inside the 6-yard-box, but nobody seemed to move towards the ball with the goal gaping, and almost like slow-motion, Long Eaton managed to scramble it clear.

Just before halftime, Belper forward Wafula was perhaps just a little fortunate to only see yellow after his slightly high tackle on Jamie Hanson just inside The Blues half caused a melee amongst several players.

Hanson would continue, but was substituted at the break.

Just before the halftime whistle, Davidson-Miller had an effort saved by Preston, then Cocks whipped in corner just evaded everyone across the face of goal.

Overall in the first 45 minutes, Belper were the better side, but The Blues did create a few openings against the wind, so there were still some positive signs to take into the interval.

Second-half report to follow....