Mitchell Robinson’s bullet header gave the Blues the lead going into half-time, and Jamie Walker rounded off proceedings with a well-placed penalty mid-way through the second half.

Ian Deakin opted to make one change to the starting side that drew to Gresley Rovers last weekend – Larell King was given free rein to push further forward as he started ahead of the absent Kameron Campbell.

Long Eaton took control of possession throughout the first half and that was evident in the opening 10 minutes as the Blues looked to pile the pressure on the Eastwood goal.

Two dangerous crosses with less than five minutes on the clock – Mitchell Robinson the first that forced Louis Anthony into a last-ditch clearance, and Jamie Walker with the second that was snatched out of the air fantastically by Warren Squires.

Larell King was next for an effort on goal; however, this may have been unexpected as the wingers’ cross turned into more of a cross-shot and flew just wide of the far post.

The Blues then came close in the 23rd minute, when Keiran Walker’s long throw could only be cleared as far as Tom Marshall on the edge of the box who attempted a diving header that forced Squires into a last-ditch tip over the bar.

Three minutes later, it was the other Marshall brother who came close, this time Alex Marshall was thread through by Jamie Walker and found himself one-on-one with the keeper, but Squires did well to stay big and save the shot from close range.

Robinson eventually opened the scoring for Long Eaton in the 40th minute – the towering midfielder was able to connect with a teasing Tom Marshall corner and thump a header into the back of the net.

Eastwood, on the other hand, had an incredible chance of their own with less than two minutes left to play in the first half. Ben Henderson – twisting and turning – managed to get a shot off towards goal from just outside the box and, luckily, the forward's effort pinged off the crossbar and was eventually cleared.

The Red Badgers came out in the second half with a point to prove, as a failed clearance was picked up by McKenna Parton and the midfielder looked to pick out the bottom left corner with a driven strike, although his effort trickled past the post.

However, only two minutes later, the Blues were denied by the crossbar. Alex Marshall latched onto a deep pass and sent a venomous strike towards goal, but the woodwork came to the keepers’ aid.

The crossbar could not save Eastwood in the 66th minute, after Parton brought down Tom Marshall in the box and gave the Blues an opportunity to double their lead.

It was one that of course they did take, as Jamie Walker stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way by placing the ball into the bottom right corner.

Jamie Walker was gifted an opportunity to clinch his brace less than 10 minutes later – an over the top through ball that was cleared by Connor Wrenn could only reach the curling right foot of the winger on the edge of the box, but unfortunately, the ball inched just wide of the far post.

Eastwood had another opportunity late on through Kaylum Mitchell, after the winger was able to get the better of Brad Wilson, cut inside the box and unleash a strike on goal, although his scuffed effort simply bobbled past the post.

The final chance of the match fell to the feet of Callum Jones, as a loose ball was struck from inside the box on the half-volley by the midfielder, but Sam Wilson was equal to it and that save helped secure the Blues all three points.