Updated 4th February: Blues News from Erewash Sound.
GALLOWAY COULD HAVE FOLLOWED WESTON
Long Eaton United P - P Liversedge - Saturday 4th February 2012
Northern Counties East League Premier
If a pop song were ever going be associated with Long Eaton United as it may be with other clubs nationally, this week it could be The Clash - Should I Stay Or Should I Go? With dark days continuing at Grange Park, the man in sole charge of boosting morale after the departure of Craig Weston is Mick Galloway, however, news this week has suggested that the man at the helm could have been someone else. It was only a chat with the players that stopped Galloway from following Weston out of the door.
As it stands, a mix of youth and experience is the plan but the mix will be without Dean Whiley who has joined Ilkeston FC's First Division South counterparts Stamford, and also without Nathan Parker who has joined East Midlands Counties League high fliers Borrowash Victoria.
Liversedge were scheduled to be at Grange Park this weekend with Paul Gamble and Will Mellors-Blair back in contention for a place along with defender Isaac Marshall. However, none of the players will get a game after the match was postponed in the midst of the latest cold snap. The Blues are now fifth from bottom and seemingly dropping with just 22 points from their 24 games - perhaps the knowledge of Galloway will prove useful consistency in turning the Long Eaton ship around when the next fixture can be played.
GALLOWAY LAYS DOWN HIS BLUEPRINT:
Armthorpe Welfare 1-0 Long Eaton United - Saturday 28th January 2012
Northern Counties East League Premier
The post Craig Weston era is gathering momentum at Grange Park as sole manager Mick Galloway takes control of a struggling Blues side. The 15th placed side travelled to Armthorpe Welfare with an ever present need to turn the tide against the mid-table hosts and sitting in a position in the table which is by no means secure as sides around them have similar points hauls. Having kept the game to 0-0 away from home, a very late, 90th minute goal was a cruel blow to a limping Blues side but Long Eaton can take some consolation as the rebuilding blocks continue to be dropped into place.
WESTON SPEAKS OVER BATTLE WITH BLUES CHAIRMAN:
Former Long Eaton United manager Craig Weston has spoken about the reasons for his departure from the helm at Grange Park. Despite fighting back from 2-0 down to level in the closing 2 minutes last weekend against Nostell, it was already enough for Weston who left the club before the game, the Blues having already registered six consecutive defeats. Joint manager Mick Galloway was left to take control.
Weston said "Basically, me and the Chairman (Jim Fairley) have not been seeing eye to eye over certain things lately. I felt he had done a bit of a U-turn on what we were supposed to be doing at the club. We had sat down and discussed a two year plan, in which we would focus on bringing young players through into the first team"
Weston continued: "Then, he turned around and told me I hadn't brought in enough experience. I was absolutely gob-smacked. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, so I decided to call it a day - I'd had enough"
In response, Blues chairman Jim Fairley said: "As far as the policy of the club goes, we leave that to the manager. We like to see young players getting a chance but that doesn't mean you have to pick them every week. I feel a mixture of youth and experience might have been better for us. I don't interfere and if we had been successful with a team of kids, that's great, but we have won three of our last 16 league games. We felt it was time to freshen things up. We have had the same faces around for quite a few years now. Mick has come in with some new ideas and has a great deal of knowledge from his time in the game. I'm sure Mick will bring in his own players and we will let him get on with it."
Speaking about his partnership with Galloway, Weston said: "Myself and Mick have put a lot of work in and kept faith with the young lads, which I believe is starting to pay off. I believe that, in time, it will come good but everybody at the club has to be patient - the board, the supporters, the management and the players. Everyone has to be pulling in the same direction, otherwise you just end up looking daft. I'm not bitter really and I want to wish good luck to everybody at the club. I will move on and I won't be out of football for long - I enjoy it too much."
LATE BLUES FIGHT BACK:
Long Eaton United 2-2 Nostell Miners Welfare - Saturday 21st January 2012
Northern Counties East League Premier
After a dismal run of form at Grange Park, Long Eaton United parted company with Craig Weston in the last week - leaving Mick Galloway in sole control of the Blues - a side who had lost six consecutiv games in both league and cup and had been precariously lingering around the wrong end of the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.
A change of manager didn't appear to have made any different as Long Eaton welcomed Nostell Miners Welfare last weekend - there were just two minutes left on the clock with the visitors enjoying an evidently unassailable lead.
But a largely unexpected turnaround came about when Jacob Webster netted and Dean Whiley helped his side, grasp, embrace and hug a very much needed point in the 90th minute for a 2-2 draw. The result left Long Eaton in very much the same position they'd been for some weeks - 15th - 23 games, 22 points, 25 for, 40 against and work to do against Armthorpe next weekend.
BLUES 'NOT QUITE BUT NEARLY' AGAINST LEADERS:
Retford United 2-1 Long Eaton United - Saturday 14th January 2012
Northern Counties East League Premier
Long Eaton United needed something positive and fans would argue they needed it fast. A bag full of goals were shipped by the Blues in the run up to the weekend's fixture over leaders Retford United - a side who were also smarting - having been heavily defeated in the cup the previous week.
If Retford were still smarting, it showed. Matt Weightman put Long Eaton ahead just before half time, but Retford drew level 20 minutes from time when Warren Hatfield netted for the Nottinghamshire hosts. The match was into the 5th minute of extra time when the sting in the tail came for a Blues side hoping for a valuable morale boosting draw against the league leaders, but it wasn't to be - the last minute goal by Retford's Chris Baugh, denting any hopes of both team and fans.
LESSONS STILL TO LEARN FOR A HAPPIER NEW YEAR FOR BLUES:
Long Eaton United 0-5 Scarborough Athletic - Saturday 7th January 2012
Northern Counties East League Premier
"Learn fast" - they were the words ringing in the ears of Long Eaton United's players going into the home encounter with Northern Counties East Premier side Scarborough Athletic. Having fiercely criticised his players for the nature of the Bank Holiday 4-0 mauling away at Staveley, the Blues duly shipped another five, on home soil where form has been very poor indeed. The R word is lingering at Grange Park and although Long Eaton had the chance to register a double over the Yorkshire side, the reality was quite different.
The Blues certainly felt the Blues by the break, already 2-0 down after efforts from Tony Hackworth after 7 minutes and Adam Lee's goal just before the break. Lee put another in the net in the second half as the Blues capitulated the blott on the landscape came in the form of Ryan Blott's brace in the 77th and 79th minute, to knock the Blues almost for six and put them precariously down the table to 15th out of 20 teams.
MUSHAMBI HEADS WEST: Officials behind Long Eaton United FC have moved to confirm the departure of popular Blues player Kelvin Mushambi after discussion began on the club website forum page.
Responding to comments from appreciative fans, Mushambi offered his thanks, adding that he had a brilliant time, particularly during his first year at Grange Park when the team won the League Cup. Mushambi played around 160 games over a period of three years. He said that despite Long Eaton being what he called a 'small team', fans were genuine, passionate and caring with his fellow team mates creating what he said was the best dressing room he had been in.
Mushambi left Grange Park despite manager Craig Weston's eagerness for him to stay, but the recent posting on the Long Eaton forum came two weeks after Borrowash Victoria announced on their website that Mushambi had signed for them. As of 15th December, the Vics website announced his arrival alongside Steve Banks' arrival from Mickleover Sports.
NEW YEAR'S MASSACRE FOR BLUES:
Staveley Miners Welfare 4-0 Long Eaton United - Monday 2nd January 2012
Northern Counties East League Premier
Long Eaton United suffered a poor start to the New Year as they returned from Inkersall Road on Bank Holiday Monday having conceded four goals, one a late affair. By the break, Craig Weston's men were already 2-0 down after goals from Joe Thornton inside the first ten minutes and Simon Barraclough's attempts 3 minutes shy of the half-hour.
Two became four by the final whistle - Andrew Fox made it 3 on the hour mark before Aymen Tahar rounded off the scoring 9 minutes from time. The defeat leaves the Blues 14th with 21 points from 20 games with the next game on Saturday against 7th place Scarborough at home where form is not particularly good, then away to league leaders Retford with an league cup away encounter against Shirebrook Town in the week between. Pressure on then for the struggling Blues.
HAT TRICK OF WINS AIM FOR BLUES:
Long Eaton United 0-1 Arnold Town – Monday 26th December 2011
Northern Counties East League Premier
Plans for a hat-trick of wins to be chalked up on Boxing Day came to nothing as Arnold Town took their own three point present away from Grange Park. A good performance in the first half was undone by what manager Craig Weston said was a 'sloppy goal', although he added that there was no certainty as to whether the ball crossed the line or not.
After giving away the goal, Long Eaton were always chasing the game, whilst Arnold immediately challenged everything the Blues tried to do, putting a halt to any attempt by Long Eaton to build up some momentum going forward. The Blues were weakened by the loss of Gary Breach through suspension and the departure of keeper Ross Whalin to First Division South side Stamford.
WHALIN LEAVES ONCE MORE: Ilkeston FC fans may be about to see more of Ross Whalin. Having returned to Grange Park over recent months, the popular keeper has made a move to Robins' fellow First Division South title challengers Stamford FC. Whalin only made a return to Long Eaton in the Summer of 2011 having spent some time at Nottinghamshire neighbours Hucknall Town but has been lured by the temptation of match action at a higher level. Craig Weston is therefore likely to call on the services of teenage shot stopper Harry Daykin for the Boxing Day home tie against Arnold Town.
BLUES HOME FORM RECOVERY
Long Eaton United 2-0 Selby Town - Saturday 10th December 2011
Northern Counties East League Premier
After a dismal run of form that has seen the Blues plunge down the Northern Counties East League Premier Division table and dally amongst the struggling teams, Long Eaton United made it seven points from three games with a home win over 2nd bottom side Selby Town.
The first half suggested Long Eaton would once again struggle on home soil as the Selby keeper Jody Barford held firm, saving efforts from Matt Weightman, Josh Hooley, Nathan Parker and Ethan Winfield, but when Weightman was denied in the 40th minute, the rebound dropped favourably and the same player reacted to put the ball firmly over the line.
Barford continued to stop shots from Parker and Hooley but when a penalty was awarded to Long Eaton United in the 57th minute, Michael Armstrong stepped up the convert - his fifth goal of the season making sure Long Eaton moved up two places in the table to 13, 21 points from 18 games. and ahead of Wednesday's Derbyshire Senior Cup 3rd Round tie against Buxton in the Derbyshire Peak District..
INJURIES AND SUSPENSIONS BITE FOR BLUES WITH MAIN VISIT:
Maltby Main 0-1 Long Eaton United - Saturday 3rd December 2011
Northern Counties East League Premier
Long Eaton United took travelled to Rotherham last weekend to play a side sitting five places below them in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division - Maltby Main - a site who had won just once so far this season, and that statistic remained as the Blues came away with a win that gives them breathing space at the wrong end of the table. Just a solitary goal made the difference for Craig Weston's side - Zak Hilton's 11th minute goal - Hilton put through on the right hand side of play, before firing low to the right - the shot deflecting off the heel of a defender.
Long Eaton United had goalkeeper Ross Whalin to thank for keeping them in the game but Maltby were guilty of wasting a number of chances anyway, the hosts pushing everything forward to level the game, and holding Long Eaton in their own half but the Blues held out for a much needed win which drags them to 15th, 18 points from 17 games.
HOME FORM SHOWS SOME IMPROVEMENT AS ROBINS EQUALISE LATE TO HOLD VISITORS
Long Eaton United 1-1 Winterton Rangers - Saturday 26th November
Northern Counties East League Premier
Long Eaton manager Craig Weston wanted more responsibility from his players as they made a bid to improve home form with the visit of mid-table Winterton Rangers to Grange Park on Saturday. Playing without suspended Shaun Rickford and Michael Martin, the Blues welcomed Nathan Parker back from a lengthy lay-off.
Having held firm in the opening 45 minutes, the Blues might have needed a reminder of what the manager wanted as Winterton took the lead 10 minutes after the break - Paul Cross beating Ross Whalin.
Long Eaton players sent a wave of appealing arms into the air when Zak Hilton was felled and although the referee agreed, Josh Hooley stepped up only to see his spot kick well saved. The disappointment continued when Gary Breach was sent off towards the end of the game for a second bookable offence.
But Long Eaton levelled with a Michael Armstrong free kick deep into added time after wrong footing the keeper, nicking the ball in just inside the post to take a point which should hopefully give Craig Weston's men a boost to morale.
CUP WIN BOOSTS MORALE FOR BLUES AHEAD OF VASE TIE:
Long Eaton United 0-3 St Ives Town - Saturday 19th November
FA Vase Second Round
Long Eaton United's form swung from one extreme to the other after last weekend's home FA Vase Second Round encounter with Cambridgeshire side St Ives Town. After the Blues won so well against Glapwell 5-0 the previous week, the visiting United Counties League side created countless chances throughout the match and could have won by more than the three goals they finished with.
By the interval, the eventual victors were just one up - Conor Washington's goal midway through the first half - but as the chances continued to come, Washington found time for another two goals for a final hat-trick - luckily this was a cup encounter but the Blues home league form remains poor.
HOME FORM DIP CONTINUES FOR BLUES:
Long Eaton United 0-1 Staveley Miners Welfare - Saturday 12th November
Northern Counties East League Premier
14th place was not what Blues manager Craig Weston had in mind, but it is where Long Eaton found themselves after a run of five consecutive defeats and the previous weekend's league win over Lincoln Moorlands Railway, and with that away win, the hope for the team boss was to create away form at home with four consecutive Grange Park fixtures on the horizon.
Home form is poor - 1 win, 7 defeats in the Northern Counties East Premier, but the Blues entered last weekend's game against Staveley boosted by the return of Will Mellors-Blair, James Hunter and Michael Martin. But Long Eaton were cruelly beaten by a single goal, scored after a late penalty. Ryan Damms did the damage in the 73rd minute, to leave Weston's men looking nervously downwards with ambitions to climb upwards. 14 points from 15 games, 18 for, 25 against means Blues fans are eagerly awaiting a turnaround, if a season of struggle is to be avoided.
VASE JOY REPLICATED IN LEAGUE:
Lincoln Moorlands Railway 0-1 Long Eaton United - Saturday 5th November 2011
Northern Counties East League Premier
The Northern Counties East League Premier table didn't make for good reading for Craig Weston's Long Eaton United going into last Saturday's league match. The Blues sat fourth from bottom, 11 points from 13 games, having won 3, drawn 2 and lost 8, scoring 17, but conceding 24. Those stats came after Long Eaton suffered five consecutive defeats, but action outside the league has been more favourable and successful.
Two victories in the FA Vase included a 4-1 win over the weekend's league opponents - Lincoln Moorlands Railway, so the hope was for league form to be on a par with that in cup and trophy competition.
Signs of recovery in the league came the previous weekend when the Blues scored first over 2nd place Bridlington Town before Long Eaton eventually succumbed to a 3-1 defeat. For the game against Lincoln Moorlands Railway, Weston was without the influential pair of Will Mellors-Blair and Jimmy Hunter.
Although Long Eaton weren't in the same scoring form they were when they last played the Railwaymen, a goal was enough to put an end to the hand full of consecutive defeats - an 85th minute long range effort from Paul Gamble finding the net after Shaun Rickford had been sent off for a second bookable offence - Rickford again in the wars with match day referees. The Blues climbed and indeed leap-frogged Lincoln with the win, taking them to 14th - now the aim is to maintain that form and begin to climb the Northern Counties East League Premier Division table..
Bob Staveley