Both first team and reserves walked away with 3 points yesterday in a great afternoon for the Eagles.
The first team travelled to Slyne with Hest which always proves a tough encounter. Absentees were Nick Haynes (injury) and Jack Horan (suspended) which meant a rare start for assistant boss Scott Derbyshire to pair with Si Neary at the back. Scott was vocal from the off and after some great Eagley pressure the ball fell to Heath Ainscow who with only the keeper to beat made no mistake for 1 nil. Then true to form the Eagles missed 2 or 3 guilt edge chances to put the game to bed before half time. And that’s how the score remained where Eagley continued to defend admirably marshalled by the outstanding Derbyshire and Neary and saw out the game for a massively deserved 3 points.
Meanwhile at home the reserves were entertaining Stoneclough and again without a recognised keeper manager Neil Bebbington led by example and went between the sticks. But after only minutes we were behind and soon the deficit was 2 ! But after some good work we got one back thanks to Ashley Watson, but it was short lived as they scored again as we went in 3-1 down at the break.
Bebbington then took the brave decision to come out of the Nets and handed the gloves to Connor Williams and took to the outfield himself. This proved a great decision as the Eagles began to boss the game and fightback began.
Then the goals came and soon it was 3 each thanks to goals from Ashley Watson and Nathan Hatton. The Eagles continued great pressure and soon the comeback was complete with Nathon Hatton with two more to make the final score 5 – 3 for the Eagles. The only sad point was a leg injury thought to be ligaments to Watson, which will sideline him for sometime.
This moves the reserves up to a respectable fourth place and his hatrick puts Hatton top scorer in the division.
The first team hope to keep up the winning mentality when they take on Coppull at home on Tuesday evening with a 6.30pm KO