EAGLES comfortably progressed to the third round of the Aubrey Cup, which they have won for the past two years, by hammering first division basement side Croxley Guild.
Several first team regulars were missing, so it was a good opportunity for Eagles to use the depth of their squad – an opportunity that was grabbed with both hands.
Eagles could have been a few goals up by the time Jas Genesis headed them into the lead after 15 minutes when he attacked Billy Sewell’s corner. Guild boldly held out for the next 20 minutes, but Connor Pennery curled a great second just before the break to break their resilience.
Eagles stormed out of the traps in the second half with Jay Drackford getting the first of a hat trick by tapping home Sewell’s cross at the far post. The striker then got his second in some style, chipping over the keeper with his left foot from just inside the box. Guild were reduced to ten men when their midfielder was given two yellows for rash challenges of Joe Tyler and Pennery. By now the game had turned into a training match for Eagles, as they stroked the ball around and created chances at ease. Sewell got in on the act by shooting home at the third attempt following a corner, and Drackford drilled his hat-trick goal when given acres of space in the box. The goal of the game was saved until the closing stages, when Sewell’s overhead kick found the net after Paul McGennity’s cross.
Team – Goad; McGennity, Garwood, Brown, Mitchell; Sewell, Tyler, Pennery, Locke; Genesis, Drackford.
Meanwhile, Eagles have no game next week due to the Herts Rep team game against the Essex Olympian League. The team is led by Eagles managers Roy Boon and Jason Valentine, and players Markus Brown, Paul McGennity, Harry Holland, Rob Groves and Joe Tyler are included in the squad.
