Northern Premier League Midland Division Tuesday 14 October 2025
Boldmere shuffled the pack for this game, played on the lush, sprinkler watered Grange Park turf, before a meagre crowd. With the Under 21s engaged in an F.A. Youth Cup match at Solihull Moors (before a crowd almost twice the size of that here), Boldmere support numbered four! The battered Aris Christophorou was rested on the bench: Charlie Manners started in the centre of the back line: newcomers Taylor Dodd and Jayden Bailey-Hunter made the starting eleven: and Ben George moved upfield. Consequently, they looked like something of an ad hoc combination, making an untidy start. The style of the two teams was easily contrasted, Boldmere sending long balls (sometimes over long) forward for their front men to chase, Long Eaton passing the ball in intricate patterns; both teams picking up on opponents’ mistakes, as the game was played at furious pace. The fury overtook the pace nine minutes in, home keeper Lewis King and Freddie Cockerell earning yellows after a minor fracas: had something untoward been said?
The Blues were on the front foot for the first half, winger Jahvan Davidson-Miller using his bulk to good effect, as well as displaying excellent ball control. He scored both United’s goals before the break, neither shot giving Jonathan Brown any chance of saving it. With the game a quarter gone, his first was a twenty-yard rocket: his second, the half hour just passed, converted a penetrative centre, from near the penalty spot. Half time: 2-0.
An improved second half showing from the Mikes threatened to reduce the Blues’ lead, last ditch tackles denying Jayden Bailey-Hunter and Harry Wakefield on several occasions, as they ran through on goal. Boldmere didn’t lack determination, and the Derbyshire men’s Connor Pace had to be helped from the field, having been disabled by a card-earning challenge from behind, after only thirteen minutes. The game was killed off, however, with twenty minutes left. As the Mikes’ central defence attempted to clear an attack, Evan Garnett pounced from fifteen yards out, to put points for Boldmere out of reach. There could have been more goals, an off-balance Brown managing to push a rebound round the post, and Tristan Thompson-Matthews firing just wide. Even so, it needed more solid blockage at the back to deny the Mikes a goal, as they gamely fought on, stretching the home defence on the break. Having said that, you couldn’t deny that the final score reflected reality: our opponents were stronger in the tackle, better individually and corporately, and left us one slot above the relegation zone.
Long Eaton United: Lewis King; Owen Betts (Dexter Walters 86); Elliott Hartmann; Coden Duncan (George Atwal 78); Jayden Cotterill; Gianluca Bucci; Jahvan Davidson-Miller; Cieran Keane; Evan Garnett; Connor Pace (Tristan Thompson-Matthews 13); James Taylor. Subs. not used: James Shaw; Aaron Cole.
Boldmere St Michaels: Jonathan Brown; Ben George; Jordan Gough; Taylor Dodd; Charlie Manners (Constantine Panayiotou 78); Connor Armstrong; Ben George (Kaireice Cunningham 70); Daniel O’Callaghan (Nathan Oyemade 74); Jayden Bailey-Hunter; Freddie Cockerell (Harry Wakefield 55); Kai Bilton. Sub. not used: Aris Christophorou.