After a stalemate first half, Sean Cooke fired the hosts in front at the start of the second, before James Taylor found the leveller in terrific fashion moments later.

However, it was James O’Neill’s glancing header at the near post that secured victory for the visitors midway through the second half.

Brad Munn opted to make just two changes coming into this Isuzu FA Trophy Preliminary Round match – Jamie Hanson dropped to the bench, and Andrew Wright missed through injury, which allowed Owen Betts and Connor Pace to start.

Stafford Rangers began on the front foot - Luca Whitney came close for Stafford in only the sixth minute of the match. The forward chased down a forward pass and looked to strike towards goal from a tight angle down the right, although it did not trouble Lewis King.

Cameron Belford was then called into action for the visitors in the 16th minute as Pace attempted to bend a strike towards the bottom left from the edge of the area, but the Stafford shot stopper was equal to it.

United then had two opportunities go begging just after the half hour mark. Evan Garnett saw his thumping effort saved by the strong palms of Belford, then after a deep cross Archie White’s header deflected off the back of Oliver Jepson and trickled just wide of the target.

The referee soon blew for half time after a fairly even first half, with both sides eager to find the opener at the start of the second.

Stafford did just that in the 48th minute through Cooke – intricate passing as well as a mix up at the back allowed the midfielder to prod home a Joe Mswalie flick on to ignite the scoring.

Although, the visitors’ lead did not last long, as it was Taylor who equalised just four minutes later. The forward picked up the ball around 20 yards out down the right, turned his man and unleashed a venomous strike into the top left corner and over the diving Belford.

Pace looked to catch Belford out with a low free kick towards the keepers near post moments later, but the visiting shot stopper was quick to dive and stop the shot.

Another chance came Long Eaton’s way in the 65th minute, as White, Garnett and Liam Loughlan worked the ball into a fantastic area and gifted the ball on a plate for Ryan Campbell-Gordon to strike home, however the full back could only find the side netting.

Then with 21 minutes remaining, O’Neill climbed at the front post to deftly head a whipped corner over King and into the back of the net to give Stafford the advantage.

Garnett came close to equalising for United late on, on two separate occasions – the first saw the forward pick the ball up down the right in space, but off balance the striker could only blast a shot wide.

Then, in second half stoppage time, the striker picked the ball up in similar fashion, this time composed, but could only fire a strike straight into the gloves of Belford.

That turned out to be the last chance of the match, as the referee subsequently blew the full-time whistle and condemned the Blues to defeat on home soil.