Long Eaton United and AFC Rushden & Diamonds do battle for the third time already this season, when the unbeaten Diamonds make a league visit to Grange Park on Saturday.

The 2 sides have played out 2 FA Cup ties earlier this season, with The Diamonds, eventually running out victors via a penalty shoot-out after the sides couldn't be separated after 2 ties, plus 30 minutes of extra time. Since then, Rushden have progressed into the fourth qualifying round of the tournament following an impressive 2-1 win over Braintree Town on Saturday in front of over 1,000 supporters at their home ground. That result means Rushden are the only step 4 side through to the final qualifying round, with 2 others to play a replay, whilst 3 other step 5 sides are the lowest ranked sides still in the competition.

Away from the cup, and back into the formality of the league, The Diamonds currently sit in 10th position, but with games in hand, and unbeaten from their 8 league games this season, they are handily placed in mid-table with 14 points.

Their league record stands at 3 victories and 5 draws, scoring 16 and conceding 9.
Away from home, they have registered 1 win and a couple of draws from their 3 games so far. That win was last time out away from home, at Grantham Town (3-2), on 12th September, whist they have had 5 home games since then. They have also picked up score draws at Corby (3-3) and Barwell Town (1-1) on the opening day of the season.

Long Eaton will have to be their best to get a positive result, with The Diamonds unbeaten in their last 8 games in all competitions, unbeaten in the league all season, and having lost just once in 15 league and cup games, that was in the FA Trophy at Chasetown.

The Blues slipped to another defeat on Saturday, losing 2-0 at Mickleover, our 7th defeat in 10 games, leaving us bottom of the table with 5 points this season so far. However, all those 5 points have come at Grange Park, where we have recorded 1 win, 2 draws and 2 defeats, conceding just 4 times at home in 5 games. Last time out , we turned the tables on Boston Town, who were themselves on an excellent run, brushing them aside 4-1 after an excellent performance. In fact, 40% of our seasons goals came that night!

Our other home results have been; 0-1 defeat to Coventry United, 0-0 v Basford, 1-1 v Belper Town, 0-1 defeat to Loughborough Students, followed by the 4-1 win against Boston Town - therefore, The Blues have lost just one of our last 4 home games, and including our 1-1 draw to The Diamonds in the FA Cup (replay), we have lost just 2 of our 6 league and cup games at Grange Park this season.

Goals do continue to be an issue this season. So far we have failed to score in 5 of our 10 league games, whilst in the whole of last season, there were just 9 games throughout the whole campaign we didn't hit the target.

With results elsewhere and a slightly worse goal difference, we are 7 points from safety, so with this, the first of 3 home games, we really do need to start picking up points on a much more regular basis.

Team News
With goals in short supply, it will come as some relief to hear that Evan Garnett should be available to take his place within the matchday squad. Boss Munn may have to decide if Jahvan Davidson-Miller, who netted a hat-trick against Boston Town, will keep his place, or reshuffle the forward line, should Garnett be fit enough to start. It would most likely be that Garnett would start on the bench for this one, with 3 games in a week.
Alex Howes is now fully fit and pushing for a starting birth after a couple of substitute appearances.
On-loan Riley McLachlan has been a revelation since joining, and whilst it is only initially a 28-day loan, there may be a possibility that could be extended, though that will be his parent club, Mansfield Town's decision.
One loanee who will not be featuring is Jacob Stubbs, who has returned to Field Mill after picking up a knee injury on his Blues debut against Belper Town, and under FA rules, we have been struggling to cancel his loan, which would enable us to sign a further youngster from the League One club.

With the addition of Casey Johnson, and the returns of Howes and Garnett, our matchday squad is at least, beginning to look stronger in depth.

Previous Meetings
25/08/2026 BLUES 1 Diamonds 1 [L Williamson]* AET - FA CUP REPLAY - R&D win 4-3 on pens
22/08/2026 Diamonds 1 BLUES 1 [J Taylor] - FA CUP
24/01/2026 BLUES 3 Diamonds 1 [E Hartmann, J Davidson-Miller, T Thompson-Matthews]
27/09/2025 Diamonds 2 BLUES 1 [T Thompson-Matthews]
26/04/2025 Diamonds 1 BLUES 0
17/09/2024 BLUES 2 Diamonds 1 [J Hanson, E Garnett]

Match Details
Saturday 10th October 2026
LONG EATON UNITED vs AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS
Northern Premier League Midlands Division One
Kick-off 3pm

Referee: Mason Bussey
Assistant referees: Cashel O'Neil and Kieran Shaw

Grange Park
Off Station Road,
Long Eaton,
NG10 2EF

Admission Prices
Adults £10
Concessions £8
Under 16's £4* or FREE with paying adult

Cash and/or card accepted

Programme Available at turnstile: £3