With a strong squad manager Mick Galloway gave Blaine Hancock a rest and went with a 4-3-1-2 formation. Long Eaton started with the sun in their faces on a well groomed pitch with that familiar slope from wing to wing.

To begin with the Blues struggled to find their shape and Baxter was finding room and attacking Adam Holmes with some success down the right. It was clear Holmes was adjusting to the pace of the NCEL after time out from football. Pikes were playing a high line mainly due to lack of pace down the middle and Wiggins was getting caught offside.

The first goal came after 6 minutes down the right with Baxter cutting inside on the corner of the 18 yard box and perfectly curling a shot to the far post giving Miles no chance. This was a worry with such a short time on the clock but managers Galloway and Neale calmed the players and shouted instructions for the players to follow.

This did the trick and the Blues started to gain more possession and from a corner whipped in by Gordon, Rickford missed at the far post, seemingly losing the ball in the sun and heading wide. This only spurred the players and Savage who was a constant threat with his pace, skipped past Reid and pulled the ball back to Wiggins whose side footed shot was accurate and deadly.

The game now got a bit bad tempered and both Thurman and Wiggins were fortunate not to get a card. As it seemed half time would leave a 1-1 scoreline, Savage again went past the full back and somehow put in a great cross and Webster with a late run past two defenders and powered the header into the net. Great time to score and left it at 1-2 at half time.

The second half carried on in the same vein with both teams creating chances, Pikes missing good opportunities with Heads shooting wide on two occasions but the Blues still looked dangerous also,with Sturdy having to make a late tackle to deny Wiggins. And it was on 63 minutes where the set pieces of Galloway and Neale finally paid off after a series of near misses. The deliveries from Armstrong and Gordon were very difficult to defend and with the focus on Rickford, Armstrongs corner was met by man of the match Webster with his second headed goal of the game.

Both teams now made changes, Hancock for Mushambi who again looks better with age, always finding time on the ball and Pikes going 3 up front. On 70 minutes Pikes found Salt and clear on goal missed the target with Miles standing tall. But the goal did come on 77 where Pike's mom Baxter found Salt on his own with a simple tap in to leave what would be an exciting last 15 minutes.

Galloway made a double substitution , Chambers and Martin on with Gordon and Wiggins making
way. On 87 minutes the Blues wrapped the game up. A cross into the box fell loose and Hancock bravely attacked and received a good kick in the face and the referee with no hesitation gave a penalty. There seemed to be some dispute about who was taking it, the last one missed by Armstrong, but such a confident kick by the young player left the keeper no chance.

There was one last effort by Fenwick but Miles saved comfortably.

It was a great away victory well deserved and with Mick Galloway's ability to read a game and shape his team ably assisted by Jason, the Blues are being moulded into a squad that are now looking a force in the NCEL.

Webster with his two goals got MOM but the team should take the accolades also and special mention to Adam Holmes who after a torrid first 10 minutes picked his game up and looked like his old self

MILES LITTLEWOOD HOLMES ARMSTRONG THURMAN WEBSTER MUSHAMBI ( HANCOCK 66) SAVAGE WIGGINS ( CHAMBERS 79) RICKFORD GORDON ( 79 )