For the fifth home league game running United played host to one of the NCEL’s leading sides and as in their encounters with Retford and Thackley they slumped to a solitary goal defeat after conceding a late penalty that was hotly disputed. Prior to the visitors winner, United substitute Kelvin Mushambi was sent off for what the referee deemed to be a dangerous challenge by a player who cannot recall being dismissed at any time in a long non-league career.

Promoted from Division One as champions, Staveley started their league season in sparkling form and had only suffered their first defeat at the beginning of November.

Joint Managers Craig Weston and Mick Galloway kept faith with the starting line-up that had gained a valuable victory at Lincoln Moorlands seven days earlier, resulting in Mushambi, Michael Martin, Will Mellors-Blair, Jimmy Hunter and Jacob Webster taking their places on the bench. Nathan Parker was still unavailable for selection due to injury.

In light of the grim contest that ensured, United started the game fairly brightly.

As early as the second minute Josh Hooley found room on the edge of the visitors box to strike a shot that was deflected high and wide for a corner and Zakk Hilton moved into space on the left to send over a dangerous cross that only just eluded the head of United’s leading scorer Shaun Rickford.

Following United’s early impetus, the game settled down into a dour pattern in which both sets of players fought for control but invariably only succeeded in conceding possession. On the positive side, United defenders Dean Whiley and Chris Murdock were responsible for preventing the visitors from engineering any significant openings and it was a full thirty minutes before Ross Whalin was called on to make a save of note.

During the final fifteen minutes of the first half, Staveley became the more dominant of the two sides and did produce some neat football at times. Whalin was forced to flick an awkward goal-bound effort over the bar and Breach, Hooley and Paul Gamble were working hard in midfield to stem the flow of through-balls to the visitors front men. Michael Armstrong too, made some well-timed interceptions to eliminate the Staveley threat from the right.

Goal-less at the interval, the main incidents of the game occurred in the second half.

United’s Matt Weightman took advantage of a rare defensive lapse by the visitors to turn inside before firing his effort at the ‘keeper and a Gamble strike from eighteen yards lacked the power and direction of his classy winning effort the week previous.

To most observers, the game seemed to be heading for a stalemate, even with twenty minutes remaining, but after a Staveley foray deep in United’s half the assistant referee signalled for an infringement just as United appeared to be clearing their lines. Following a short consultation, the referee awarded a penalty for a handling offence, much to the distress of a number of United’s defenders and Whalin in particular.

Staveley’s top striker Ryan Damms stepped up to coolly despatch the spot-kick to Whalin’s left to edge his side in front.

United’s task was compounded soon afterwards when Mushambi, who had only been on the pitch for a few minutes, was uncharacteristically dismissed.

Martin and Mellors-Blair had both been introduced to aid United’s cause but the visitors defended sensibly and amidst a rash of late yellow cards it wasn’t until the final minute of the game that United produced their best effort of the match when a powerful shot from Gamble was tipped over the bar by the Staveley ‘keeper.

Once again United had slipped to a home defeat in which they were left to reflect on their ill-luck against one of the fancied sides, though there is perhaps more concern in relation to the lack of chances that were created. Nonetheless, there seventh home setback leaves them with the worst home record in the whole of the NCEL and only their healthier away form is ensuring that their league position is not more precarious than it currently is.

Long Eaton United: Whalin, Armstrong, Whiley (c), Marshall, Murdock, Hooley (Mushambi) Breach, Gamble, Hilton (Mellors-Blair), Rickford (Martin), Weightman