Doughboys host Long Eaton United aiming to get play-off bid back on track

The Doughboys have been on a great run since the back end of 2025, and they went into last weekend's trip to Racing Club Warwick having lost just once in their previous 15 matches in the Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division.

The impressive run of results saw Jake Stone's side climb away from the lower reaches of the table and up to to sixth, just one place outside the play-offs.

But frustratingly for all concerned with the Doughboys, they seem to have hit a bit of a wall in the past few games.

Borough missed two chances to climb into the top five in recent weeks as they played out 1-1 draws with Sutton Coldfield Town and Corby Town, when a win in either would have seen them overtake fifth-placed Coleshill Town.

Then on Saturday they slipped to a first defeat since January 24, and only a second loss since the end of October, as they were beaten 2-1 at a Racing Club side that still have play-off ambitions of their own.

With Coleshill winning 1-0 at Sutton Coldfield, it means the gap between the Doughboys and the top five is now four points, while the likes of AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Shepshed Dynamo and Racing Club are applying severe pressure behind them, and have games in hand.

But with seven matches to go and still 21 points up for grabs, there is still everything for the Doughboys to play for, starting with Saturday's clash with Long Eaton, who sit five places and six points beneath Borough.

Their other remaining fixtures also include blockbuster clashes with play-off rivals Diamonds, Basford United, Shepshed and Anstey Nomads.

Their other two matches are against relegation-threatened Bourne Town and Rugby Town.

Last weekend, things looked to be going to plan for the Doughboys as top-scorer Will Jones fired the Doughboys into a 24th-minute lead, but they were pegged back in first-half stoppage time by an Aaron Opoku equaliser.

Cameron Ebbutt then netted a winner for Racing Club 15 minutes from time.