EAGLES unbeaten record was shattered by Met Police Bushey on Saturday, after they failed to recover from going 3-0 down at half time.
Despite good wins over Wormley and Codicote in their two most recent games, they were made to pay for their slow start against their fellow title challengers. Bushey’s first sustained spell of pressure led to the opening goal after 15 minutes. A corner was not cleared sufficiently, and a dangerous in-swinging cross was glanced into the net by the onrushing Archer. It was 2-0 soon after when a speculative long range effort from Butler found the net, despite keeper Dan Goade getting a hand to the ball.
John Coley had Eagles’ only real chance of the first half when he drifted in from the right flank to latch onto Rob Groves’ through ball, but his header was excellently saved. Bushey began to gain a foothold in the game, and grabbed a crucial third just before the break. Eagles’ David Locke saw his pass intercepted on the halfway line, and a through ball was tucked away by Bushey’s Shorto.
After a few words from the management team at half time, Eagles’ second half performance was much improved.
They pinned Bushey back into their own third and began to win more tackles and create chances. Joe Tyler nodded Groves’ free kick into the net ten minutes after the break to give Eagles hope. The comeback was well and truly on when an own goal from another Groves’ delivery made it 3-2 after an hour. Bushey somehow survived a flurry of Eagles chances, including Jack Gregson’s double effort being saved, with Tyler unable to scramble in the rebound. Groves then strode through the centre, but his half volley was straight at the keeper, and Coley’s fierce turn and shot from inside the box was saved at the near post. With ten minutes remaining Harry Holland brilliantly controlled Groves’ cross, but his volley was uncharacteristically skied over the bar. That was to be Eagles last chance, and they were made to pay. With two minutes remaining, Bushey counter attacked down the right and a cut back was hammered into the roof of the net by Sterry to make it 4-2.
Eagles have a break from league action next week when they travel to division one side Croxley Guild in the first round of the Aubrey Cup, which they have won for two seasons running.
Team – Goade; McGennity, Locke, Garwood, Mitchell (Pennery); Pateman (Genesis), Tyler, Groves; Coley, Holland, Gregson.
