The success was the tonic needed to alleviate the disappointment of the FA Cup defeat the previous Saturday but the opposition at the weekend were a poor advert for the NCEL Premier Division and it was evident that they have their own struggles ahead of them.

Jimmy Hunter was restored to a right-sided midfield berth after missing the defeat by Dunkirk and Danny Chambers made his first appearance of the season in a central defensive role. Dom Jones was unavailable and Kial Thurman was still absent due to an ankle problem. United’s veteran utility man Kelvin Mushambi reverted to the bench to accommodate Hunter’s inclusion.

In their opening two league outings Lincoln Moorlands had lost twice and failed to score a goal in the process. Their starting line-up on Saturday had a particularly youthful look and their woes of last season seem set to continue if the subdued atmosphere at their Newark Road home is anything to go by, where United’s own meagre following outnumbered the home support.

United had the best of the early exchanges and midfielders Blaine Hancock, Jacob Webster and Matt Savage were often in the thick of affairs in their endeavours to carve out openings for strikers Shaun Rickford and Cameron Martin.

Jimmy and Jordan Hunter were both linking up well down the right hand side and the former created the first half-chance for United, though Martin was unable to get a decent contact on the cross that came to him. Michael Armstrong had his customary effort from long range that drifted wide of the post and Jimmy Hunter hit a cross-cum-shot that almost deceived the home ‘keeper. Rickford also rose to meet a ball from the right but his attempt was parried by the ‘keeper.

At the fifteen minute point United took a deserved lead when a powerful shot from Jordan Hunter ricocheted back to the same player who struck an even stronger effort that rocketed into the roof of the Moorlands net. The strike may have taken a slight deflection but United’s scorer was delighted to claim his first goal for the club.

Within a minute the home side had a clear chance to level the scores when a defensive lapse allowed a Moorlands player too much time on the ball, Fortunately for United, the striker fired his shot high over the bar from close range.

During the latter stages of the half Moorlands produced their most productive football of the contest, with their tricky left-wing man at the heart of everything creative. Five minutes before the break the same player jinked his way into United’s penalty area and there were claims that his run was ended illegally. The referee ignored the demands of the home contingent, though a more experienced player may have gone to ground.

United gained the breathing space their overall first-half control deserved when Martin ran on to a through ball moments before the break. After the home ‘keeper failed to clear competently enough the United man had the simple task to tap home his side’s second.

United did start the second half fairly impressively, but within ten minutes of the restart the game began to fizzle out. The home side did have a couple of clear chances but the combined efforts of Mark Littlewood, Chambers and ‘keeper Scott Miles kept them at bay.

Substitute Elliot King (pictured) had a great effort that just went wide of the Moorlands post and Martin also had a long range strike that almost troubled the Lincoln side. Miles produced an excellent save to keep out the home side with barely five minutes remaining and Rickford seemed almost bemused that his late, late effort from five yards out hadn’t added to his team’s scoring.

Scott Miles was in good form in United’s goal and his handling was exceptional throughout the ninety minutes. Danny Chambers also turned in a strong defensive performance that again highlighted his usefulness to the club, though it was clear that his exertions had taken their toll at the close of the affairs.

Long Eaton United Team: Scott Miles, Jordan Hunter, Mark Littlewood, Danny Chambers, Jimmy Hunter Michael Armstrong, Jacob Webster, Blaine Hancock, Matt Savage, Shaun Rickford, Cameron Martin
Subs: Elliot King (Savage 67), Kelvin Mushambi (Hancock 74)

The display by United was another of those games where they appeared to do enough to win but never quite got their passing game together for long enough periods to wholly dominate.

The home side did have their opportunities but it seemed that they completely lacked belief in their abilities to take something from the game.

As previously mentioned, Danny Chambers helped out once again with a performance that indicated his worth to the club. It is only a shame that his availability is not more frequent. Elliot King too also deserves mention, again indicating his committment to the cause, and he possibly merited a late goal himself with the best attempt of the game.

With three players already absent before Mick Galloway even names his squad for the games against Retford and Scarborough we have to hope that the likes of Kial Thurman and Dom Jones are now back in contention.