We entered the Emirates FA Cup in the 1st Qualifying round yesterday, looking to reach the 2nd qualifying round for the first time in four seasons after being knocked out by Basford United, Stamford AFC, and Hanley Town at this stage in our three previous attempts!

The draw saw us placed away from home, travelling to league rivals Long Eaton United who, despite playing just 60 miles from Amblecote, we had never faced in a competitive fixture. Our hosts were promoted to the Southern League Central from the Northern Premier League East Division after beating Stockton Town on penalties in the playoffs. After parting ways with manager Ian Deakin, they saw a number of players leave during the weeks before the season started, meaning they’ve had a tough start to life in step 3, falling to defeat in all six of their league games so far however anything can happen in the FA Cup.

We got the game underway at a very sunny Grange Park, with our first chance coming not long into the first half as Dexter Walters won a corner from kick-off. This was sent into the box by Alex Prosser and he found Joel Shambrook who could only hook his effort over the bar.

Long Eaton responded quickly with Kieran Walker’s long throw causing problems in our box. We managed to clear it out for a corner and Jessy Bavanganga was on hand to block Marley Fearon's header on the line. Not long after we had another corner of our own, won again by Walters. Prosser would take again, finding Reece King at the back post but he could only aim his shot straight at the defender.

Throughout the opening 15 minutes, both defences were standing strong to limit their opposition's chances and it would take until the 20-minute mark for our next real opportunity to present itself as Walters danced past his fullback to send a cross towards King at the back post. He managed to bring it down and beat his man but his cross back across goal was claimed by Ross Durrant between the Long Eaton sticks.

We then had a freekick just outside the box which was taken by Prosser but this was header away without causing too many problems Long Eaton looked to counterattack with Jebbison and Nyahwema getting themselves forward, but we defended it well to prevent them advancing towards Charlie Price’s goal.

Nyahwema was involved again to create their first real opportunity of the game not long after when some good work down our right-hand side allowed him to send a cross towards Jebbison at the back post but he couldn’t jump high enough to send it goalwards.

This should have been a wake-up call but they went one better not long after with Fearon opening the scoring in the 33rd minute. They broke down our left-hand side and a good cross by Jebbison fell to Fearon who was under very little pressure in the box as he poked it past Price.

We brightened up following the opening goal with Aaron Forde sending a good cross into the box towards Luke Benbow who couldn’t get enough power onto his header before Walters and King combined well to allow Walters to send a cross into the box but there was too much on his cross and it looped over the bar.

Our breakthrough would come not long after as Niall Flint was pulled down in the box, and despite a lack of appeals, the referee pointed to the spot. It was no surprise that Benbow would be stood over the spot kick after his goal on Monday and he smashed it into the roof of the net, giving Durrant no chance of saving his strike!

That was the last real action of the half as we found ourselves level at the break against our Nottinghamshire hosts.

Long Eaton got the second half underway and they had the first action of the game as King was judged to have handled the ball as Reynolds tried an effort from outside the box. The freekick was taken by Cocks but his strike hit the wall and went out for a throw-in.

Walters had the next chance to help us take the lead after some good work from Forde saw him keep the ball in play near the corner flag and set Walters on his way as he danced his way past his marker to drive into the box, but his shot went narrowly wide at the far post.

The hosts began to grow into the half and saw an effort headed just wide by goal scorer Fearon who found himself with lots of space in the box after some more good work by Jebbison to pick him out.

Despite the Blues growing into the game, it would be us who broke through first! A long ball forwards reached Prosser on the halfway line who turned his man to play a lovely ball through to Flint who beat his man on the flank before cutting inside and stroking it into the net!

With Long Eaton pushing for an equaliser, and us looking to add more to our tally the game began to open up just after the hour mark. Shambrook and Forde combined well to allow Shambrook to play a brilliant cross into the penalty area but it evaded everyone in the box before Long Eaton had a chance of their own when they flashed an effort across the face of our goal, but Price was able to eventually collect the ball.

Flint then played a brilliant ball into the box, but Forde’s shot cannoned off a defender and went out for a corner, which nothing came from. More corners followed with Reece King heading just wide of the post before Durrant could relieve the pressure on his side with a long goal kick.

It wouldn’t take long for us to come knocking on the door again and it would be Alex Prosser’s turn to score as the clock hit the 90th minute! A deflected shot fell to our midfielder on the edge of the six-yard box and he hit a powerful shot hard and low which crept under Durrant, extending our lead for the final minutes of the game!

The final action of the game would come from yet another corner as Flint forced Durrant into a good save as he pushed his effort around the post. The ball would eventually fall to Joel Kettle but the less said about his effort that ended up near the corner flag, the better!

The referee brought an end to the action not long after, seeing us safely into the next round of the Emirates FA Cup. The draw for the next round will be published on Monday, with clubs from the National League North and South entering at this stage of the competition.

Our next action comes on Saturday when we face the long trip east to Needham Market as we return to league action!

Long Eaton United: Ross Durrant ©, Callum Cocks, Lucien Mahovo, Marley Fearon, Kieran Walker, Riece Bertram, Joseph Nyahwema, George Atwal, Zayn Hakeem, Ryley Reynolds, Micah Jebbison. Subs - Alans Voskresenskis, Adam Clark, Jack Rogers, Cameren Philip

Stourbridge FC: Charlie Price, Joel Shambrook, Harvey Portman, Alex Prosser, Jessy Bavanganga, Joel Kettle, Nial Flint, Reece King, Luke Benbow, Aaron Forde, Dexter Walters. Subs - Darryl Knights, Harry Lewis, Marvellous Onabirekhanlen, Leo Wood, Jack Fletcher, Brendon Daniels