Dunston slipped to a disappointing defeat at home to Long Eaton United, going down 2-0 at the UTS Stadium.

Centre-back Reice Bertram put the visitors ahead on 22 minutes from a corner, before the game was wrapped up in injury time when substitute Ashiah Fearon struck with almost the last play of the game to seal the points.

Will Jenkins and Carl Finnigan both missed out through injuries picked up in the midweek win over Shildon, with Sadó Djaló, Ursene Mouanda, Michael Pearson and Jack Elliott all gaining starts.

The visitors came out the fastest and asserted their dominance on the match early. Callum Minkley blazed over from close range after being found unmarked in the box, before Tom Cursons drove forward after picking the ball up in midfield, only to see his effort whisker wide of the post.

Dunston’s first chance came when Liam Thear shot over after being laid off by Mouanda in the box, but they were soon behind after a Jamie Walker corner was planted home by the head of imperious centre-back Bertram.

Dunston tried to respond and on 38 minutes there was a shout for a penalty after Richard Coulson’s strike appeared to hit the arm of a defender, but despite the protests a corner was given. Shortly after, Craig Scott headed just wide from a corner as Dunston continued to apply the pressure.

Sam Wilson, who had been quiet in the Long Eaton goal, was called into action on 41 minutes after tenacious work from Michael Pearson saw the ball find the feet of Jack Elliott, who forced the shot stopper into a smart save to keep his sides lead in-tact.

Dunston grew into the game in the second half and continued to apply the pressure, but it was almost 2-0 when Cursons capitalised on some sloppy defending to lift a shot over Anderson – but it trickled agonisingly wide.

Djaló had his best chance of the afternoon when he had the chance to connect with a Pearson cross, but he mistimed his header and it flew wide.

Dunston kept going, and Elliott twice had a chance to score, but on both occasions, he couldn’t find the target. Djaló also had the ball in the net after following in a Thear shot, but he was deemed to have been offside.

It should have been game over on 78 minutes as Jebbinson skied a glorious opportunity for the visitors from just two yards out.

And any hope of a Dunston fightback was ended in injury time as Craig Scott was sent off for a second bookable offence, hauling down an opponent on the counter attack as Long Eaton looked to make the game safe.

Not content with seeing the game out, they did indeed make it safe deep in injury time when Fearon charged through on goal to slot past James Anderson on what was a highly disappointing afternoon for Dunston.