The Blues were unable to take anything from their last 2 home games over the course of the week, losing to AFC Rushden & Diamonds in an high scoring game (3-5), before falling to defeat to league leaders Wellingborough Town by 4 goals to 1. Incidentally, both those sides are the last 2 remaining unbeaten sides in the division.

The Blues did have some moments in both games, pulling the match back to 3-4 against The Diamonds, with momentum behind them and a few minutes remaining, whilst they also worked hard to draw level against The Doughboys early in the second half, and at that point, it was deservedly on terms, before Wellingborough made their superiority tell.

That leaves Long Eaton stuck on just 5 points this season from 12 games, with just a single victory all season. Since that victory over Boston Town, which lifted some of the gloom around Grange park, The Blues have lost all 3 games since, going down 2-0 at Mickleover , before those 2 home defeats - That does mean, we have conceded 11 goals in our last 3 games, which equates to 42% of all the goals we have conceded this league season have been in our last 3 games!

Placed just above The Blues, St Ives Town have recorded 2 wins this season, but having lost 10 of their 13 games, sit just 2 points more than Long Eaton on 7 points.

Since beating Corby Town 3-1 on 21st September, the numbers make for grim reading for Saints fans. Losing 4 in a row, scoring just once and conceding 12, with 5 of those against both Basford and previously goal-shy Belper Town - which was their last game, The Nailers running out 5-0 winners, with 4 of those goals coming in the second half.

St Ives' only away point came at Grantham Town in a 1-1 draw in August. Since then, they have registered 4 straight defeats on their travels, though they were involved in a tight 4-3 defeat at Bourne Town on 15th September.

Michael Gash and Mark Jones are their leading goalscorers with 4 apiece this season, however both are now no longer at the club, having departed the club just a couple of weeks ago following the resignation of former manager Ricky Marheineke, who left the club after a staggering 12 and a half years, and just shy of 600 matches in charge. Marheineke departed in September after a prolonged run of poor form, having been relegated from step 3, Southern Premier League Central last season, finishing 19th place, 5 points from safety, losing half of their 42 league games.

The new manager, Tommy Cooney oversaw their win against Corby, but results since have been fairly poor, though will certainly be targeting this fixture as a winnable game.

Long Eaton United have managed to score the first goal in a game just once this season, that against Boston Town, and you'd imagine the first goal on Saturday will be crucial as to where this game will go.

Blues boss Brad Munn spoke after the game on Tuesday, admitting this is already a 6-pointer, and with The Blues falling short of their 6 point target from these 3 home games, the pressure is on the team to deliver a result and performance to match, which would at least lift them off the bottom of the table before we then face 3 of the current top 6, all away from home, where we have so far failed to take a single point.

Previous Meetings
16/03/2024 BLUES 3 St Ives 3 (C Cocks 2, L Loughlan)
02/12/2023 St Ives 5 BLUES 0
19/11/2011 BLUES 0 St Ives 3 - FA VASE

Match Details
Saturday 17th October 2026
LONG EATON UNITED vs St IVES TOWN
Northern Premier League Midlands Division One
Kick-off 3pm

Referee: Matthew Friend
Assistant referees: Aidan Murphy and Isaac Culver

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