Northern Premier League Midland Division Saturday 14 February 2026
What had been an evenly contested, good quality game ground to an uncalled for halt with ten minutes’ standard time remaining, when our referee hobbled off with a damaged ankle. A replacement official was sought for; but no replacement official could be found. By the time the abandonment was officially announced, most of a smallish crowd had either left, or wandered into the Club House, in search of liquid refreshment or warmth, on a day that gave us welcome sunshine to begin with, but had descended into overcast chilliness by the time we finished.
The Mikes started on the front foot, forcing two quick corners before, four minutes in, Harry Crook burst into the box…and must still be wondering how his shot hit the post and the crossbar, but escaped the net. Our referee was stricter on pushing and shoving than most we’ve had this season – which contributed to the quality of the game, and kept bad temper (of which we’ve had some in recent days) to a minimum. Although the Mikes held the balance of territory, United were moving efficiently out of defence – as we shall see.
A quarter of the game gone, ever dangerous winger Jahvan Davidson-Miller, not for the only time, got in a cross which whizzed across the Boldmere goal mouth; but on this occasion, Dexter Walters couldn’t quite reach it, to push it home. A chess match of passes and interceptions emerged, sometimes punctuated by sloppy home midfield passes. It needed an ankle height save from Lewis King, though, when Toli Omotola burst through the middle on the half hour; but you could smell an imminent goal five minutes later, when an outburst of faffing about broke out in the home back line. Forty minutes gone, a fluid three man move down the visitors’ right flank ended up with striker Evan Garnett, who converted from five yards, thus scoring what might have been the winner. As the half closed, Connor Armstrong received a yellow card for something, and one of the few genuine saves the game saw denied James Tague, (who for some reason was wearing a number eighteen shirt: doubtless kit man Alan Patterson can tell you why). Half time: 0-1.
The hosts continued, as before the break, to combine effectively down the right, Kye Bilton and Harry Crook putting in intelligent runs. Anger came from the home support after Pedro Lima was cautioned ten minutes after the interval, and the game was recommenced before he had time to resume his position. Rockets from distance were fired at both ends; but though some of them curved through the air nicely, none of them were actually on target. The Mikes were exerting pressure as we reached the three-quarter mark. Did the circling buzzard overhead signal a losing fate for the Mikes – or the demise of the very game itself? An ironic cheer went up when our official collapsed; but lengthy negotiations in the tunnel led to no positive outcome, and we will welcome our Nottingham visitors again, later this season.
Boldmere St Michaels: Jonathan Brown; Kye Bilton; Pierre Phillips; Daniel O’Callaghan; Aris Christophorou; Connor Armstrong; Jack Burgess; James Tague; Toli Omotola (Ben Lund, 56); Harry Crook; Kyle Byrne (Frankie Ealing, 46). Subs. not used: Charlie Manners; Ben Croot; Jack White.
Long Eaton United: Lewis King; Elliott Hartman; Jake Finnerty; Dexter Walters; Jayden Cotterill; James Hanson; Jahvan Davidson-Miller; Coden Duncan; Evan Garnett; Tristan Thompson-Matthews; James Taylor. Subs. not used: Nykah Liburd-Hines; Kyle Burke; George Atwal; Aaron Cole.