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BASFORD UNITED 2-2 LONG EATON UNITED
BY ROB MCNEIL

Blues fought back against a combatant Basford United to claim their first draw of pre-season at Greenwich Avenue on Tuesday evening. Anthony Dwyer’s bullet free-kick gave the Lions a sustained one-goal lead at the break, however, their lead did not last long as Alex Marshall levelled just minutes into the second half. Brad McGowan regained the hosts' lead mid-way through the second half, although a neat finish by a trialist helped the Blues cling on for a draw.

Ian Deakin looked to rotate the side that started against Kimberley Miners Welfare last week. Reco Fyfe returned from vacation and was thrown straight into the squad with Rod Orlando-Young absent, Jamie Walker began in left-back ahead of Sam Parker (also absent) and Tyreece Robinson, Danny Gordon and Alex Marshall, all earned themselves starts.

The Blues began with confidence and registered several shots of their own in the opening ten minutes, sadly to no avail, with the first from Kameron Campbell who struck wide and the second from Jamie Walker who struck over the bar. Both sides earned free kicks on the edge of the box after late challenges from opposing markers. The first came to Long Eaton, but Jamie Walker could not quite find the target with his effort. The Lions had the second through Dwyer, although in identical fashion as Walker’s, the ball dipped far too late and flew just over the bar. An even start made it seem as if the first half would end level; however, after James Taylor brought down a Basford player on the edge of the box, Dwyer had a second attempt at a set-piece – he stepped up to take the free-kick and superbly dipped a strike over the wall and into the back of the net.

The second half began much like the first for the Blues – brimming with confidence – and this time they made it count as it took just four minutes for Alex Marshall to calmly head in the leveller. Although, moments later, a defensive mishap and confusion inside the box allowed McGowan to latch onto a loose cross and simply prod the ball home from close to regain the hosts’ lead. Seven minutes after the restart, the Blues managed to level the scoreline once again through a trialist. Bartosz Korzeniewski displayed great vision to find a pass onto the run of a trialist who simply slotted the ball past the Basford keeper. With around ten minutes left to play, Jamie Walker believed he had netted the winner with a looping header sent towards goal, but unfortunately, the effort fell onto the roof of the net.

A respectable draw came to its conclusion after 90 minutes and now the Blues look ahead to Saturday when they travel to Mickleover FC for their fourth pre-season friendly (3 pm kick-off).