Long Eaton United fell to a fifth consecutive league defeat away from home as our faltering start to the 26/27 season continued with a 2-0 defeat at Derbyshire neighbours Mickleover at Station Road.

A goal in each half proved enough for the hosts, though Long Eaton did have their moments in an evenly contested first half, on a bright and sunny October afternoon.

Long Eaton looked to build on their midweek victory over Boston Town, naming the same starting 11 which hit 4 past Boston at Grange Park. In fact, there was just 1 change to our 16, with Evan Garnett named amongst the substitutes in place of Aaron Cole, though after a sustained fitness check in the build-up to the game, Garnett wasn't deemed fit enough to take his place on the bench after all.

The Blues did look bright and positive early on in proceedings, but Mickleover struck first on 8 minutes. Long Eaton failed to clear their lines and an effort from around 12 yards out looked to be nestling into the corner of the net, but Blues 'keeper Lewis King, on his 100th appearance for the club, saved excellently, pushing it out for a corner. From the resulting corner, King once again kept out an effort which darted towards the goal but the rebound was swept home by Mickleover leading marksman Norkett.

It has proved to be a familiar story all season, with Long Eaton conceding the first goal and on no less than 6 occasions already this season, that goal has come inside the first 20 minutes, giving an already struggling side even more work to do, chasing the game from here on in.

The Blues did respond very well though and began to assert their authority on the play, knocking the ball around the pitch nicely, dominating possession and beginning to look the side they had done in midweek.

Callum Cocks had our first sighting at goal, hitting a 25-yard screamer, which had the home sides keeper Chapman at full stretch. The ball though went just wide of the post on 16 minutes.

2 minutes later, we created our best chance of the game. Neat link-up play down our right from James Taylor and Connor Pace, set Taylor through on goal, with Davidson-Miller, fresh from his hat-trick a few days earlier, waiting for the ball across the face of goal for a simple tap-in. Taylor though tried his luck at the front post, and Chapman was equal to this effort and with his legs, kept it out.
Less than a minute later, Mickleover were caught out at the back, failing to clear, and Cocks dispossessed a defender, and from a similar angle to Taylor's just 30 seconds before, found Pace who guided his short towards the corner of the goal, only for the home sides captain Bencherif to somehow block the effort with his body and clear.

At the half-way stage of the first half, McLachlan, who did look threatening down the left, cut infield, and hit an effort from outside the area towards goal, but his shot was easily save once again by Chapman.

Long Eaton were well on top at this stage, but still trailed, and it almost got worse for The Blues, as a quick breakaway, after Hanson was caught out in possession, saw Norkett through on goal and after initially rounding King, The Blues number 1 just seemed to do enough to unbalance the forward who blazed over when a goal looked certain.

Mickleover did seem to weather the storm, and the rest of the half was quite even thereafter. On 37 minutes, there was a clash of heads between Taylor and Bencherif and The Blues number 11 came off the worst, and was forced off, nursing a head injury, to be replaced by Casey Johnson.

Both teams then had a late chance apiece to get on the scoresheet; Eden hit a ferocious effort from a short corner, parried away by Chapman, whilst Norkett miscued a header when unmarked inside the penalty area.

That was the end of the action of the first half, with Long Eaton behind but certainly not appearing to be out of the reckoning.

From the kick-off in the second half, Long Eaton forced an instant corner. From this set-piece, Chapman was able to comfortably claim the ball and from the resulting attack, Mickleover doubled their lead. Some lax defending from Long Eaton gave half-time substitute Jude Taylor space down their right and he pulled it back for Josh Ashman who hit an unstoppable shot straight into the corner of the net. An excellent finish, but a goal which could have been prevented.

Long Eaton heads then seemed to visibly drop and The Blues began to go somewhat through the motions for the majority of the half. Johnson and McLachlan both picked up bookings, Howes replaced Hanson, whilst King was forced into a couple of notable saves to keep the deficit to 2 goals.

Surprisingly, the hosts dangerman Norkett was withdrawn on 70 minutes, perhaps Mickleover were certain of the points by then, but Long Eaton just rallied slightly and began to look dangerous once more.

On 73 minutes, there was a big moment for Long Eaton, Pace played a 1-2 with McLachlan, and inside the penalty area, bearing down on goal, appeared to be brought down. The referee made no hesitation to blow his whistle, but to Pace's and the rest of the side around play, surprise, the referee gave the free-kick the other way and booked Pace for simulation. This once again, just seemed to knock the stuffing out of The Blues and from then on, the points looked safe for Mickleover.

Former Blue, Cieron Keane, who had a good game in the middle of the park, came off in the 79th minute, whilst a few minutes before, Luke Williamson came on in place of George Atwal.

Just into stoppage time, Lewis King made another excellent save to deny a Mickleover substitute when clean through, whilst Pace's frustrating afternoon was concluded when he came off in place of Artem Maslenikov.

By the end of the game, Mickleover were disappointed not to have won the game more comfortably, but Long Eaton would rue their missed opportunities in the first half when they were the side well on top.

Full Time, Mickleover 2 Blues 0

LINEUP: King(C) - Atwal (Williamson 70), Eden, Cotterill, Bucci - Cocks, Pace (Maslenikov 90), Hanson (Howes 63), Mclachlan, Taylor (Johnson 40) - Davidson-Miller.
Sub not used; Garnett
Yellow cards; Johnson 56 (unsporting behaviour), McLachlan 61 (foul), Pace 74 (simulation)
Attendance; 470