The conditions for the match were appalling, with the Eagles enraged that our actual pitch was taken over by another team with no prior warning, or any actual care by the groundsman, who could also not actually provide us with a broom to try and get the worst of the water of the pitch! A great help there!

The game kicked off with FC Morden flying out of the blocks. The Eagles struggled early on to get the ball under control and it was clear that condition of the pitch was going to hamper the Eagles passing style game.

The first real attack of note saw FC Morden score a fortuitous goal. A break down the left wing, so Mark R beaten to the ball and a toe punted shot from 10 yards skidded off the wet muddy surface and jumped over his outstretched palm and into the back of the net. Before the Eagles had even gotten started they were up against it.

This early goal gave FC Morden confidence and they started hitting long balls forward to there strikers, who all to often our defence found themselves one on one and only the slightest slip on the wet ground would cause panic amongst the Eagles. The second goal was again the result of an mistake by the Eagles. Failure to clear the ball saw the Morden striker with the easiest of tasks just to pass it passed Nathan, although he nearly made a mess of it, with the ball having to go in off the post. The Eagles were 2-0 down and were struggling to get out of first gear.

The next 10 minutes were about the Eagles trying to come to terms with the conditions and trying to get themselves going forward. Typically when the Eagles did get it right, it was a beautifully worked goal and a glorious finish. The ball was knocked forward to the Pete’s, who played a quick one two before Ryan was released out on the left wing. Leaving the defender for dead he raced to the edge of the penalty area, cut into the right and hit a lovely right foot curler into the bottom corner, to get the Eagles right back in it.

Just as it looked as though this might be the catalyst for the Eagles to start playing there game, disaster struck! A Morden attack was broken up and from the ensuing corner, the 6 ft 3” centre back was allowed a free run into the box to head the ball into the back of the net and to restore Mordens 2 goal lead.

Whilst defensively the Eagles were struggling to play against the long ball game, going forward the chances were being created. A good ball forward for Pete Walsh saw him in a race with the keeper! Pete got there first and tried to lift the ball over the keeper, but in doing so lifted it over the bar. The keeper bought Pete down with an outstretched leg and although penalties have been given for less it would have been harsh.

However not 5 mins later with a near repeat attack, Pete chased through with the keeper coming out and this time a disgusting two footed jumping tackle from the keeper clattered both ball and player and Pete was sent sprawling. An incensed Eagles expected justice from the referee! Surely the keeper has no excuse for a two footed tackle in the his own area, whether he wins a bit of the ball or not!! Let’s not forget, that sort of tackle put the gaffer in the hospital last season with a bad knee injury!!!

Shockingly the ref did nothing, deeming the tackle unworthy of note. He seemed to prefer to book 5 players for swearing rather than for any bad fouls, something that surely the authorities should be looking into!!

The half finished with nothing more of note happening. The Eagles defence had not settled, the midfield were wasting possession and the attacks were trying to find space, but nothing was coming off.

Half time was an opportunity for the Eagles to gather there thoughts and try to find a way back into the match. At the moment they were contributing to their own downfall.

Unfortunately the second half didn’t see much improvement. The game became a classic long ball match with the midfield often by passed by a big hoof upfront. The Eagles to their credit were trying to get the ball on the ground and pass it around, but the wrong pass selection, or poor control would all to often lead to the breakdown of an attack and the Eagles would find themselves on the back foot when the ball was pumped forward.

The Eagles defence was playing to high a game in terrible conditions, where turning to chase a through ball was a recipe for disaster. Allen was introduced in the second half to give the defence a bit of steel, but an oversight by the Eagles management failed to see Dave drop back in to centre back to add a bit of pace alongside the ball winning ability and it nearly cost the Eagles. Twice FC Morden could have extended their lead and only a great last ditch tackle from Mark Rowntree and a great run of his line from Nathan prevented further goals.

The Eagles continued to toil up front without creating many clear cut chances. With only 5 minutes to go Pete Walsh was chopped down in the box and a penalty was awarded. There was a glimmer of hope for the Eagles. Luke stepped up to take the penalty and a well struck shot was brilliantly saved by the Morden keeper. To the relief of the Eagles the penalty was ordered to be retaken due to encroachment, but the retaken penalty was blazed over the bar. That meant we’d missed 4 out of 5 penalties in two games and the only one that had gone in had been disallowed.

The last few minutes were played out with no real conviction and when the ref bought the game to an end, the Eagles players walked off the pitch knowing they had badly let themselves down. Could they raise it next week?