On Saturday, Long Eaton United played hosts for the second time in four days to one of the favourites for the NCEL Premier Division title and overcame unbeaten leaders Scarborough Athletic in a performance that made up for their midweek disappointment against Retford United, when a last minute strike cruelly denied them reward after another exciting performance.

The visitors had won all four of their opening league games and arrived at Grange Park with a healthy fourteen goals to their credit and a squad that was vastly experienced at NCEL level and above.

Fortunately, in Mick Galloway, United have a Manager that ensures that every player understands his role and produces a game plan that combats the opposition. On Saturday, that management style was highlighted once again as a much-fancied Scarborough side had to wait until the sixty-first minute to have a clear effort on goal, whilst United’s victory could have been even greater

Still hampered by player availability, United were also without defender Kial Thurman who was still nursing an injury sustained against Staveley Miners Welfare almost three weeks ago and the starting line-up mirrored the side that began the game against Retford on Tuesday evening.

Danny Gordon, a recent signing form Arnold Town, and reserve team players Elliot Perry and Martin Joseph were named as substitutes.

United began the game in a manner that soon demonstrated their intentions and despite the obvious quality of the opposition, they were clearly intent on preventing the visitors from stamping their authority on proceedings.

Dom Jones, Matt Savage and Jacob Webster were all prominent early on, ensuring that Scarborough’s approach play remained fragmented, allowing United to profit from their early pressure.

With the game barely five minutes old, Kelvin Mushambi cleverly retained possession whilst evading the attention of his markers and drifted a pass into the right hand edge of the area. Elliot King connected with the cross and his strike found its way into the net through a crowded Scarborough box to give United the lead.

As the visitors made attempts to conjure up a quick riposte, they were met by some excellent defending from Mark Littlewood, Jordan Hunter and Jones. In midfield, the spoiling style of United’s Shaun Rickford, Jimmy Hunter and Webster ensured that the threat from Boro’s Ryan Blott and Tony Hackworth was continually thwarted.

Savage, King, and Jones all struck efforts that unsettled the Scarborough rearguard and Cameron Martin was working tirelessly as United’s main target man.

Midway through the half Jordan Hunter and Blott were both booked after a clash on the right and from the resultant free-kick Scott Miles plucked the cross from the air in his usual no-nonsense style.

After the interval, there was an expectation that the visitors would change their approach and put United under greater pressure but within two minutes of the restart King pulled himself away from the close attention of a number of Scarborough defenders to bear down on goal and coolly slot the ball past ‘keeper Steve Wilson to install a deserved two goal cushion for his side.

Far from sitting back on their advantage, United continued to pose an attacking threat and Jimmy Hunter and Savage both went close to adding to the ‘Boro agony and a rasping drive from Jones fizzed past the post.

Scarborough tried manfully to inject some life into their attacking play and a decent header form Rob Hawkes flew just over Miles’ bar around the sixty minute mark.

Late chances fell to both sides, with substitute Gordon going the closest for United and the visitors had a late rally that almost brought them some consolation.

An injury to Jones ensured United were down to ten men for the final seven minutes after all their substitutes had been introduced and the game ended with Miles making a superb diving save to end a pulsating ninety minutes for United and clearly a frustrating afternoon for the visitors.

Long Eaton United Team: Scott Miles, Jordan Hunter, Mark Littlewood, Dom Jones, Jimmy Hunter, Jacob Webster, Elliot King, Kelvin Mushambi, Matt Savage, Shaun Rickford, Cameron Martin
Subs: Martin Joseph (Webster), Danny Gordon (King), Elliot Perry (Savage)

The three points won on Saturday has enabled United to gather a total that took them until November to achieve in their last NCEL campaign. Perhaps more important, is the reputed quality of the opposition they have had to face in their three opening home games.

Six points won against Staveley and Scarborough, and only a last minute defeat by Retford, is perhaps more than could have been hoped for by anyone other than Mick Galloway but more impressive than the points gathered has been the way in which the team have performed.

With the exception of the team’s two veterans, Scott Miles and Kelvin Mushambi, the side is comprised of a group of players that have only recently experienced NCEL level football and it is a credit to the combined efforts of the players themselves and the management duo that they have equipped themselves so well.

Yesterday saw some impressive performances from within United’s ranks.

Mark Littlewood is clearly warming to his task and his form is even more admirable when it is realised that he missed almost all of last season with a cruciate injury. Jordan and Jimmy Hunter are also making a significant contribution and clearly enjoying their time playing in the same side and Dom Jones just seems to be getting better with each game.

Shaun Rickford produced another captain’s performance and led by example, continually rousting his team-mates for greater effort. New boys Matt Savage and Cameron Martin both worked their socks off and Savage possibly deserved some reward for his instinct to shoot when he senses an opportunity

Jacob Webster was again the ‘work-horse’ of the side, constantly breaking up the creative elements of the opposition and getting forward and back in equal measure. A stomach injury cut short his involvement but it is hoped that he he recovers in time for Monday’s Bank Holiday trip to Hall Road.

Old stagers, Kelvin Mushambi and Scott Miles again made valuable and experienced contributions and it is clear that ‘Mushy’ is enjoying his football, despite the restriction that regular playing may bring to his availability to play ninety minutes.

The three substitutes all carried out their instruction well following their introduction and in contrast to the experience on the Scarborough bench, none of United’s trio of substitutes have a first team start to their name. One thing is clear, Danny Gordon is going to be a handful for the opposition when he manages to force his way into the starting line-up.

Elliot King, the scoring hero of the afternoon, took both of his goals with some style and it was a just reward for all his patient commitment to the club. Having gone close in each of the two previous games it was evident from the celebration that followed both of his Scarborough strikes how much it meant to his team-mates too.

The forthcoming game against Hall Road Rangers should be viewed with equal importance as the fixture against the league leaders. It would be a heavy disappointment to cancel out the reward gained on Saturday’s by under-performing on Monday.

Hopefully, Mick Galloway’S demands for consistency will ensure that the performance levels are maintained.

One final note concerns the references from some of the visiting contingent about the uneven playing surface at Grange Park. Well, as most people involved with the club realise, plenty of work is being carried out and great strides have already been made. Prior to the game, the Scarborough Manager himself remarked that it was the best he had seen the Grange Park surface in thirty years.

The key point on this issue is that producing an immaculate playing surface will take time and will require a level of patience. A trait I would have though Scarborough Athletic would have in abundance as they await the opportunity to move into their new ground.