Grange Park, home of Long Eaton United based in Derbyshire and play their trade in Step 4 of the Non League Pyramid in the Northern Premier League Division One East. Also the home of Long Eaton United Ladies who play their trade in the Women’s National League Division One Midlands.
My second visit to this ground after the first one being a pre-season game vs Dunkirk for the Men’s team but today, I’m back on the mic with Match Days Joe on Switch Sport just like the Sheffield FC game! Let’s hope for another cracker!
Straight onto the M1 and off into Long Eaton which sees me here with 1 hour to go before kick off. Free Entry as I am on commentary! Buzzing! Match Days Joe is here! “15 minute delay to kick off” due to a game being on here this morning and the Belles being unable to gain access to their respective changing rooms… To the bar! Familiar faces walk in, the gnome is here!! Along with Paul and Mitchell of course!
Brentford 0-3 Arsenal at full time, time to get stationed in the commentary box for the day. A very nice view from here to say the least! The players have finished their warm ups and we are live on air on Switch Sport at last! Roll on the game! But first we once again have a minute silence in honour of the Queen.
Kick Off! Some good passing moves by Long Eaton in the Belles half so far but no real clear cut chances in the early stages. 4 minutes in and the Belles have a corner, in it comes… Jess Andrew with the header… She didn’t quite get a hold of it and it’s wide.
2 minutes later and Long Eaton lose the ball cheaply at the back, Sophie Brown has it now and she squares it to Holly Housley to shoot… She curls it just wide!
9th minute and Nadia Khan is played through here, she’s around the keeper… Is she going to keep up her good goalscoring form…? OH NO! She’s missed… She had the goal at her mercy but took a touch too many and put it wide from close range… Sitter!
14th minute now and the Belles are all over Long Eaton at the moment, they have it down the right wing with Nadia Khan, she crosses, it’s SOPHIE BROWN… What a save! It’s loose on the left hand side and Holly Housley retrieves it, she gets into the box and she goes for goal… THERE IT IS!! It’s been coming! But it was worth the wait! Fantastic finish! She curls it into the top corner! Belles lead! 0-1!
25 minutes now and Belles play down the right with Chloe Dean, it’s worked across the edge of the box, it’s fallen for Sophie Brown in the box and she gets her shot away… Good save! Long Eaton get it away.
28th minute now and Long Eaton have a corner, it’s whipped in… It’s punched away and the Belles break forward down the right, it’s played to Nadia Khan who beats the defender and plays it across to Lindsey Tugby who takes a touch… And finishes!! 2 for the Belles!! 0-2!
4 minutes later and here come the Belles again, it’s played through and Nadia Khan will get on the end of this and she’s in, she goes for the dink… It’s in off the post! What a fantastic strikers finish!!! She’s deserved that! 0-3!! Belles are cruising here!
41st minute and Belles play it through to Sophie Brown who’s in on goal here, she charges into the box to score number FOUR… NO! She’s put it over… Sitter!
45th minute and Nadia Khan is played through again for the Belles, she gets into the box and cuts inside to shoot… Good save! Long Eaton clear and that will be the last action of the half with the Belles 3 goals to the good.
Second half, 48 minutes played and Belles play down the right, it’s crossed in and it comes for Holly Housley who must score… She does! Lovely calm finish and it is 4 now! 0-4!
56th minute and Belles play down the left with Sophie Scargill, she does well and plays it across for Nadia Khan… OH! Just wide! Just a little too much pace on the ball from Scargill there.
3 minutes later and Belles play forward with Scargill, a lovely through ball to Sophie Brown who’s through on goal here, she’s around the keeper and she shoots… She’s hit the post! She just can’t score today can she?
66th minute and the Belles win a free kick just outside the left of the box from about 30 yards out, Jess Andrew steps up, she shoots… SHE SCORES!! What a free kick!! It’s FIVE for the Belles! 0-5!
70th minute and the Belles come forward down the left again, it’s played across to Eliza Bedford who sets up Shannon Durkin to shoot… She’s hit the post!! So unlucky there!
74 minutes now and a through ball from Jess Andrew sees Shannon Durkin through on goal here, keeper comes out, Durkin goes for the lob… It’s 6 of the best from the Belles today!! 0-6! Good finish!!
1 minute later and the Belles come down the left yet again, the cross comes in, but it’s headed away but only to Chloe Dean who goes for the volley from the edge of the box… AND SHE SCORES!! The keeper couldn’t keep it out! What a goal!!! Belles are in seventh heaven!! 0-7!
78 minutes now and Lindsey Tugby charges forward for the Belles, she plays it through to Shannon Durkin who rounds the keeper and she shoots… OFF THE LINE! Corner, in it comes… It falls for Izzy Gigg tp shoot… OFF THE LINE AGAIN!! Long Eaton clear.
83 minutes on the clock and the Belles have the ball with Sophie Scargill, it’s another brilliant ball played forward and Shannon Durkin is in again… ANNNNNDDDDDDDDD she scores again!! Good finish again!! 0-8!
87th minute and Belles play a through ball to Shannon Durkin, she’s charges into the box and she rounds the keeper and she shoots… It’s in off the post!! It’s NINE!!! 0-9!!
90th minute and Belles play down the right, they want 10! The cross comes in and it’s fallen to Eliza Bedford who brings it down and she shoots… Is this the moment…? NO! It’s over! Sitter! Play goes on… The Belles will not be getting double figures here today! A show of appreciation from the fans to the players once again here! What did the manager think of the game?
FT: Long Eaton United Ladies 0-9 Doncaster Rovers Belles
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 3/10 – Brilliant from the Belles fans once again! Not many from Long Eaton in today sadly.
- The Ground: 8/10 – Still the same brilliant ground I saw the first time.
- Expense: 10/10 – Only £20 for fuel! Thank you!
- Overall Experience: 8/10 – Loved being on commentary again and it was a great game!! Brilliant!!
29/40