A squad of 14 players were assembled, with a few injuries and vacations depleting the side. The starting line up saw Ben making his final Eagles appearance before a years travelling, line up in goal (mainly due to a stinking hangover!). The regular back three of Nick, Jarrod and Mark took to the field again, with Dave freshly back from holiday slotting into the defensive midfield role. Ahead of him were Matt and Gareth, with Alex and Shaun wide left and right. Up front saw the return of Pete Watson after months Empire building in South America and Mark Thomas looking to add to his already impressive tally. On the bench were Ryan, Masa and Pete Walsh.

 

The opening 10 minutes saw the Eagles on the defensive as the confident youth of Heath Harriers, looked to push down the right flank. For all their pace and pressure, the Eagles were not an easy wall to breakdown. Jarrod and Shaun combined well to deal with the pressure and when Harriers tried to switch the ball inside, neither Nick nor Mark was to be beaten. A few pot shots came in and a couple of through balls that Ben swept up, but by and large there was no end product from Harriers. However, the continuing pressure needed to be eased and a rallying call for a show to arms from Shaun, gave the Eagles a much needed vocal lift.

With the Eagles defence playing some nice passing football, it was only time before the midfield started to dictate the play.

A great run up the right wing from Shaun saw him take on and beat three Harriers players, before firing a cross into across the face of goal that a diving Mark T could not quite get on the end of. The Eagles were now starting to dominate and a lovely pass up the left wing from Mark R saw Alex set free and his cross in the box was just ahead of Mark, but Pete Watson coming in at the back post picked up the ball, skipped around the last defender, but his cut back couldn’t be converted.

There was only one team in it at this point and another great attack down the left saw Alex cross the ball in for Mark T. We all expected the first time shot, but instead Mark cut in on  his left and we still expected the net to burst, but the keeper managed to make a fine block and the chance was gone.

Another great attack forward started by the defence saw Jarrod, Gareth and Matt linking up well. Jarrod laid the ball off to Gareth, who knocked it inside to Matt. Gareth continued his run and received the return ball and pushed through a lovely pass to Mark T who was very harshly adjudged offside!!

The Harriers only real out ball at this point was up to the number 10, their best player, but every time he got the ball and Eagles defender was on him. Dave was revelling in the defensive midfield position, not giving anyone a sniff of the ball and with his usual tenacity, set about making a mark on the game, or the opposition. Dave was providing good cover for the defence and breaking up the oppositions attack when the ball was swept forward.

Ryan came on after half an hour in place of Matt and Pete Walsh replaced Pete Watson with 20 minutes to go. The shuffle of personnel did nothing to slow the Eagles attacking and once Ryan settled he was linking up well with Shaun on the right flank and providing some penetrating runs. Having take on and beaten two players on the edge of the box, Ryan cut in on his left foot, but his shot was never testing the keeper.

The first half ended with the Eagles very much in control, but no goals to show for their pressure.

 

A further change in the second half saw Masa on for Alex and almost immediately the Eagles pressure paid off. More great play from the defence saw the ball come forward into midfield. Shaun played the ball in to Ryan and then made his run down the right wing. Ryan chipped the ball perfectly into his run and Shaun’s chipped in cross, saw Mark T rise in the box and bury his header into the top corner to give the Eagles a deserved lead.

There would be plenty more chances for the Eagles to score too. Another great cross from Ryan saw Mark T almost add to his tally, but for a double save by a brave keeper.

Pete Watson was put through by an excellent ball from Shaun and he had a one on one with the keeper, which was saved and put out for a corner.

At this point, the gaffer on the side line foolishly commented that he could see us being punished if we didn’t get a second goal and almost 60 seconds later that would prove to be the case.

A very bizarre free kick was give against Masa, seemingly for jumping up in the air! The ball was played to the Harriers number 10, who had been forced to drop into midfield in search of the ball. He found himself in a lot of space in front of the Eagles defence. A 30 yard run where no Eagles challenge came until Dave attempted to trip him up, saw him get to the edge of the area before thumping in a shot that Ben was inches from getting a hand to. The score was 1-1 and a demoralised Heath Harriers were given a shot in the arm.

The Eagles soon set about getting the lead back. Ben was bought out of goal into midfield, with Mark R debutising in goal. The Eagles created some more good chances. A great bit of play down the left between Alex and Masa, saw the ball into the feet of Mark T. He laid it off to an advancing Ben whose smashed shot sailed inches past the post. A deep corner from Alex saw Matt rise at the back post but his header was just over.

On a rare break from the Harriers, Gareth who was now playing centre back, easily broke up the attack and passed the ball forward to Matt. With a shout of man on, made knocked the ball up and then volleyed it forward to Pete Watson, who ran forward for a one on one with the keeper. Unfortunately his left foot shot lacked the power to find the back of the net.

On the odd occasion Heath Harriers broke forward, the defence coped admirably and when Mark R was called in to action with a rare shot, he was done well to smother the ball and then looked to get things started quickly.

Then for the contentious moment of the match! With Ben and Matt S in the middle of the park, Matt found himself with the ball to feet. Looking forward he saw Pete Watson flirting with offside. Pete, looking along the line, took a big jump backwards, to get himself behind the defender giving Matt the perfect opportunity to play the pass. With the ball gone, Pete made his run and advanced on the keeper before hitting a good shot into the top corner. The ref though, had other ideas and had blown the whistle for offside, much to the disgust of the Eagles players and relief of the Harriers!

Then for the stupidest tackle of the game. With barely two minutes of the match left, the Harriers number 10 intercepted the ball midway into the Eagles half. Matt was chasing back with the number 10 and as they entered the box went in for the slide tackle. He may well have got a foot on the ball, but also got ALL of the player and the ref had no hesitation in giving the penalty. An unnecessary tackle when the basic rule should be to stay on your feet!!!!

The Harriers number 10 scored from the spot to make the score 2-1.

From the kick off Ben hit a shot that had the distance but not the direction to trouble the keeper and from the ensuing goal kick, the ref blew for full time.

The Eagles had lost a match they should have won at a canter, but the football played had once again been leagues ahead of the opposition. Chances were a plenty and more should have been buried, but we go in to the new season full of confidence.

There were outstanding performances from Jarrod, Mark Rowntree, Ryan and Shaun, but man of the match went to Dave who came in and showed how the defensive midfield position needs to be played. He created a lot more time and space for the more attacking midfielders and good cover for the defence.

With the season kicking off next week, all we need to do is finish some of the chances we are creating and the season WILL be successful!!