Eagley 3 Blackpool Wren Rovers 3
When high flyers Blackpool scored 3 first half goals, the half time team talk must of been not for the faint hearted as Eagley clawed their way back into the game, and then could of nicked it in the last minute!
The Eagles seemed to be slow out of the blocks and when a defensive error let Blackpool’s Gary Pett in after only ten minutes, things went from bad to worse. It was a similar mistake where an Eagley header back to Tom Macdonald didn’t quite make it and Pett was there again to round Macdonald for 2 nil. Eagley tried to get back into the game and were starting to make in- roads after impressive striker Taylor Jones came on for the injured Mike Ashton. But then just before half time another mistake at the back allowed Blackpool to slot a third goal in and the Eagles went into the break with a mountain to climb.
Whatever was said it did the trick, as the Eagles came out stronger in the second half and pushing Blackpool for the goal. Then from a corner, a loose ball fell to the big centre half Simon Neary who fired it home for 3-1, and some belief started to come back. But then from a Blackpool corner the referee judged a foul in the Eagley box and awarded the visitors a penalty. But with Tom Macdonald between the sticks, you’re never guaranteed to score, and Tom guessed it bang on, and a great save to his right stopped a fourth Blackpool goal. Eagley had the bit between their teeth and won another corner after some great work by Eagley youngster Jack Cowen. Up went Si Neary again to smash the resulting header into the back of the net and 3-2, and could they do it??
Blackpool were feeling the pressure now as Eagley threw all they could at the visitors, and it was man of the match Si Neary who was felled to the floor in the Blackpool box, and a penalty was awarded to the home side! Up stepped player/manager Simon Whaley who calmly slotted it in the left corner for a miraculous come back, and 3-3. Then in the dying seconds of the game, Eagley substitute Matty Swailes had the chance to put it past the Blackpool keeper but just found his shot wide of the post, and it finished honors even. It was a great game to watch, and whilst the Eagley Beer Festival was on in the clubhouse it really added to the atmosphere around the ground and made for a great afternoon’s entertainment.
Manager Whaley after the game said, ‘ What a game that was, but we certainly know how to make it hard for ourselves. I told the lads at half time not to concede again, be strong, and throw everything they had into defending our box and we’ll get chances. They did that and were terrific in the second half, and the chances fell to Nero (Neary), who took them brilliantly and got us back into the game. I’m proud of all the lads today, and yet again we’ve taken a point from a top side who’ll challenge for the league title. The lads just have to believe in themselves and cut out the errors and we’ll be fine.’
Meanwhile the reserves’ winning run came to an end away at local rivals CMB. They too found themselves 3 nil down at the interval but clawed it back to 4-2 after 2 second half goals from Reece Robinson. Manager Craig Coote after the game said ‘We were up against a good side today but I was pleased with the lads second half performance and reaction from going 3 down.’