Long Eaton, Matlock Town & Mickleover Sports

MATLOCK TOWN 0 V 2 LONG EATON UNITED

Teams Long Eaton United Ashley Whelehan, Martin Roome, Gareth Northover, Josh Watts {Captain}, Lynton Francis, Rob Mulonga, Simon Gleave, Nrdem Krasnigi, Ashley Foster, Tom Booth & Danny Chambers.

Substitutes Darryl Hawkins, Sam Hawkins, Brett Hayes, Daniel Kilbourne & Jack Whieldon.

Matlock Town Jason Stanley, Andrew Roberts, Leigh Hicklin, Stuart Baker, Luke Boden, Darren Cartwright, Andrew Roome, Jack Odare, Daniel Bridlie, David Kirk & Wayne Hudson

Substitutes Georgie Walker, Daniel Gregory, Grant Boden, George Whittaker & Sam Meek

A fantastic performance by the Long Eaton Under 19’s. In a thrilling match in which both teams must take credit for entertaining the crowd with some excellent passing football on a wet and tacky pitch.

Matlock had the numerical advantage in midfield, but any attacks on the Long Eaton goal was immediately snubbed out by their outstanding defence, particularly Watts and Francis who completely dominated the Matlock strikers. It was Long Eaton who looked the most likely to break the deadlock and Booth issued an early warning when his right foot shot from distance just whistled passed the post. His strike partner

Chambers was a handful for the Matlock defence throughout the match with his powerful runs and it was taking more then one Matlock defender to halt his progress. After another Matlock attack was cut short by the Long Eaton defence, the ball was played to Gleave in midfield whose pass found Booth who unleashed an unstoppable left foot shot from 25yards into the roof of the net to give Long Eaton a deserved lead.

Long Eaton kept the pressure on and was unlucky not to extend their lead when the impressive Chambers raced onto a through ball, but his shot was well saved by Stanley and the unfortunate Chambers hit the post with the re-bound.

The second half brought more Long Eaton pressure. Mulonga on the right wing was slicing through the Matlock defence at every opportunity and it was his aggressive wing play which earned Long Eaton a corner. Matlock could only partially clear it and when it landed at the feet of Gleave, he swivelled before lashing a right foot shot from the edge of the area into the Matlock net. Long Eaton continued to dominate and ran out worthy winners.

This was another excellent team display. Whelehan in goal was never under threat, but he looked very organised, communicate clearly and concisely, he distributed the ball intelligently from his hands and both feet. Full backs Martin Roome and Gareth Northover both defended well and passed the ball well, midfielders Gleave, Krasnigi {Totti} and Foster worked tirelessly supporting defence and attack. Mulonga was effervescent on the right wing, strikers Booth and Chambers were a constant threat, the subs used on the night Sam Hawkins Darryl Hawkins and Brett Hayes all made useful contributions, but the outstanding pairing of Watts and Francis were rightly named men of the match by the Matlock team manager.