Cotgrave faced a tough looking fixture against Long Eaton and were made to work hard for this victory. In the first minute a good passing move down the right involving Jordan Cumberland and Lewis Hopkinson was finished with a superb shot high into the net by Luke Black. However, as the half progressed Long Eaton refused to give Cotgrave the space to play, and the midfield of Aidan Sheppard, Kit Weir and Black were never allowed time to settle on the ball.

Long Eaton’s attacks were fast and direct. James Staples and Harry Normington had to be alert in central defence and keeper Nathan Burgin was tested several times. However, in the twenty-third minute a clearance from inside Cotgrave’s six yard box fell to a Long Eaton player who finished well from the edge of the area. Cotgrave changed their wingers, bringing on Matthew Hodgett and David Young, and with one minute to go until half time Cotgrave attacked quickly from a Long Eaton corner. Cumberland fed Thomas Staples down the right and a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Max Robertson was expertly finished to restore Cotgrave’s advantage.

With their high work-rate and constant battling Long Eaton made the second-half as hard as the first-half had been for Cotgrave. Sheppard and Weir in midfield were never given any time to move the ball forward, and Cotgrave had to look to their full-backs Thomas Staples and Elliott Coulthard-Gaunt to initiate any attacking play. Cotgrave gave themselves a two goal cushion on forty-two minutes, Kris McCann and Wier working the ball across the area to Robertson who applied a good finish for his second goal of the match. Five minutes later the lead was further extended when some excellent individual play on the edge of the area enabled Cumberland to find himself space for a shot, which he fired into the net.

Burgin then made a superb save and Cotgrave defended well when Long Eaton won a couple of free-kicks in dangerous positions on the edge of the area.

In the end an excellent win on a day when Long Eaton refused to give Cotgrave the time and space to play football.

Man of the Match - Jordan Cumberland