"Bucks face Blues on the banks of the Trent"

Match Date : April 13th, 2024 3:00 pm
Competition : Southern League Premier Central
Ground : Grange Park
Kick Off : 15:00

The Bucks travel to Derbyshire this weekend to take on already relegated Long Eaton United.

The Blues finished 4th in the Northern Premier League Division One East last season before overcoming Hebburn Town and Stockton Town, both on penalties, in the playoffs. That secured a second consecutive promotion for the Blues, after they won the United Counties League Premier Division North in 2021-22.

This season has been a step too far for United, though. Their campaign was dealt a big blow before it had even begun, when double-promotion winning manager Ian Deakin surprisingly left the club at the start of August. Former Loughborough Dynamo boss Brad Munn arrived shortly after Deakin’s departure, but with a number of players following Deakin to Ilkeston Town, the Blues haven’t been able to escape the confines of the relegation zone all season.

Munn’s side have lost more games than anyone else in the league (26 defeats) and were relegated after a 3-2 reverse at Stratford on 23 March. Long Eaton have gone on to lose to Barwell and Stamford since then.

The Blues had looked like they might belatedly be turning a corner with a recent run of five straight draws against sides including Needham Market, Leamington and Coalville. However, that streak, while fairly impressive in itself, forms part of a current ten-match winless run. What’s more, Long Eaton have the division’s worst defence (98 against), while only fellow strugglers Berkhamsted have scored fewer than the Derbyshire side (36 for).

Young winger Joe Nyahwema has been one of the few bright points in an otherwise disappointing season for the Blues. The former Burton Albion man has impressed on the flank and is Long Eaton’s top scorer this term with seven goals.

The Bucks have the league’s second-best away record and won 2-0 when the sides met in November. And with Kevin Wilkin’s men aiming to try and snatch 2nd place from Mickleover, the Bucks will be targeting another three points at Grange Park this Saturday.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Website: longeatonutd.co.uk

Ground Address: Grange Park, Station Road, Long Eaton, Derbyshire, NG10 2EF