Long Eaton United hosted table neighbours Garforth Town on Saturday with the aim of overtaking them in the rankings.
United were quick to take control of possession in the first half. Defender, Michael Armstrong presented striker, Matt Savage
with an opportunity three minutes in. But he was unable to volley the right back’s cross on target. Long Eaton were given a
second opportunity two minutes later. An Armstrong free kick from outside the area failed to test the Garforth keeper, Karl
Martens. In the fifteenth minute the Blues thought they had taken the lead. A strike from, Watkiss was denied by the Miners
keeper leaving Captain, Shaun Rickford to sprint forth and put in the rebound! But the goal was ruled offside.
One minute later Long Eaton could have won a penalty. A corner sent in by United’s, Danny Gordon resulted in shouts for
hand ball. These were denied by referee, Darren Russell and play continued. The match would continue to play away from
United’s favour. Blaine Hancock was gifted an opportunity in front of goal but his shot narrowly missed resulting in a goal
kick.
Then disaster struck in the twenty third minute. A goal from Garforth’s right back, Gary Stohrer put Long Eaton United 1 – 0
behind. A through ball from Martin-Wyatt pierced Long Eaton’s defence leaving, Stohrer to place his shot in the bottom right
hand corner. Long Eaton struck back immediately with a corner from Danny Gordon. A searching ball became a curling shot,
which ricocheted off the Garforth cross bar and the Miners Defence were able to clear. Two minutes later the visitors doubled
their lead . An unorganized defence were unable to defend a Garforth free kick from the right wing. Stohrer delivered a ball to
Sinmi Oyebanji who volleyed his shot into the roof of the net. Garforth continued to press and on twenty minutes were
awarded another free kick. The ball was played down wing to be collected by right midfielder, Tawanda Rupere who swept in
behind defender, Danny Gordon. Rupere then drove the ball inside past three lunging defenders to the feet of McDaniel whose
shot curled off target.
The visitors would not be granted full possession. Long Eaton’s, Shaun Rickford played the ball to Watkiss on the right. The
winger produced a cross back to his skipper whose diving header sent the ball out of play. Thirty five minutes of play saw a
long throw-in from Jacob Webster. This was headed into the box by Rickford. A searching ball was then sent high over the bar
by, Matt Savage adding to a list of missed opportunities.
Garforth mirrored United’s opportunity four minutes later when a shot by, Logan McDaniel went high over the bar from
outside the area. On 42 minutes they won themselves another free kick just outside the box. A cross by Miners goal scorer,
Stohrer was comfortably saved by United Keeper, Shaun Cardwell. United fought back to try and steal a goal before half time.
Farthing made a break down the right before passing to the feet of Armstrong. The defender crossed from deep into the path of
a running, Ross Palmer who headed towards goal. The shot went high and was cleared by Miners centre back, Andrew
Hawksworth. In time added on a Garforth free kick was sent in by number ten, Josh Cartman and was cleared by the United
skipper. This clearance was the ending to an action packed first half. United had their work cut out for them from here on.
HALF TIME: LONG EATON UTD 0 2 GARFORTH TOWN
The second half saw Garforth on the attack one minute in. A through ball by, Rupere reached, Oyebanji down the right wing.
But the goal scorer was muscled off the ball by number four, Ross Parker winning United a goal kick.
A swift move between Miners Lewis Thomas and Sam Akeroyd created enough room for McDaniel to unleash a shot across
goal fifty six minutes in. His attempt went just wide of the post. United fought back against increasing gale force winds. A
through ball by, Jacob Webster into the feet of, Savage resulted in a shot on target. But united saw another opportunity go
missing, as the shot was deflected wide by skipper, Rickford.
The second half continued to reflect the first as the game remained end to end. A lobbed pass found number fifteen, Josh
Greenhalgh who found himself one on one with the United keeper. Garforth could have gone 3 – 0 up seventy minutes in but a
placed shot drifted a fraction wide of the right hand post.
Long Eaton continued their attempts to get back into the game and ten minutes from time a cross from Armstrong forced a
comfortable save from the Miners Keeper. The Blues continued their offensive but strong winds were a factor in their second
half display.

FULL TIME: LONG EATON UTD 0 2 GARFORTH TOWN
Long Eaton United have fallen to seventeenth in the table whilst Garforth seize eleventh place in the Northern Counties East
League. United still have an average of five games in hand due to cup games. Manager, Charlie Palmer will be hoping to take
all three points away at Maltby Maine on Saturday.
GARFORTH TAKE THE POINTS FROM UNFORTUNATE
UNITED

by Rob Scott