On Thursday 9 May a working lunch attended by teaching staff, pupils, sponsors, and representatives of nearby Letchworth Garden City Eagles and Hertfordshire Football Association , was held at Brandles  School  Baldock to celebrate the launch of a new football based initiative to encourage pupils at the school develop personal skills through football. The school was the grateful recipient of a new football strip presented by Letchworth Eagles Youth Football club, who have a strong connexion with the school,  funded  by a number of local businesses including KLM Trophies, J C Parker Installations, Herts Advanced Development Centre, and Bar Amigo.

Brandles is a small school that caters for pupils with social, emotional and behavioural problems, drawn from across Hertfordshire. For many of these youngsters sport is an excellent vehicle that teaches them the solid values of team work, self- control and respect for others.

Head teacher David Vickery expressed his thanks to all those involved in the project.  “ When the chance presented itself to work even closer with Letchworth Eagles, the school jumped at the opportunity.  Using Letchworth Eagle’s facilities was great but when they presented a new strip complete with our school badge we were overwhelmed with joy. In particular Brandles would like to thank all the sponsors who provided the funding for the new strip.

We are hoping that our partnership will extend even further, with pupils able to play for local teams, potentially share resources and assist with coaching.”

The project was started by Vince Paige, Life President of the Eagles, who has a lifetime experience of working with children with special needs. Vince said that “ I am delighted to be associated with Brandles School and I really believe that the children will benefit greatly from playing organised football  using the facilities at the Eagles, which itself was founded to provide sport for residents of the old Briar Patch Childrens’ Home”.

The Eagles have agreed to allow the school to use its facilities for games against other similar schools across Hertfordshire and neighbouring Counties.

The picture shows the pupils of Brandles proudly wearing their new strip.

Letchworth Herts.

8 P.M.. Start

Everyone to attend, or send a representative

Eagles did however, pick up momentum and went ahead after 23 minutes when Shane Carthy rode tackles through the Bovingdon rearguard and passed to Mitch Cox, who  calmly put the ball into the net from 15 yards.

After missing a decent chance to score a few minutes later Bovingdon soon got an equalising goal with a low shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area . They nearly repeated  the goal 10 minutes later but the teams went in all square at half time.

That did not last long after the restart. Within 5 minutes eagles were again a goal down, when a speculative long  shot from the right whistled into the top corner with Goad given no chance. Eagles struggled to recover but almost succeeded after 67 minutes  when a low cross from Carthy  on the right found an unmarked Cox. He placed the ball well for the bottom corner but the Bovingdon keeper got down well to push the ball round the post.

Eagles really stepped up the pressure in the final quarter. A direct free kick from just outside the penalty area by Sam Williams went straight into the arms of the keeper having beaten the defensive wall, and sub Christian Grindal wandered upfield to almost score with a goal bound shot  being blocked by covering defenders. After 80 minutes Eagles finally got their reward for some excellent play when Jamie Platt scored from a cross by Jan Genesis, touched on by Cox.

Another Grindal shot from the edge of the penalty area was pushed wide of the post by the keeper, and from the resulting corner Grindal  headed wide.. Platt broke clear of a retreating defence  but put the ball wide of the keeper and a post , and 5 minutes from the end Bovingdon  missed a golden chance to snatch the winner  when the ball bobbled around the goal area dangerously close to the Eagles line before being finally hacked away.

Neither side really deserved to lose so a draw was probably a fair result from a game strongly contested by both sides.

As a result of being in the final Eagles donated to “Joshua Battling Cancer” by purchasing a wrist band for each player and coach.  Joshua (a Liverpool FC supporter) was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in 2007 and finished his treatment in 2010.  He was then in remission for two years but unfortunately in October of 2012 relapsed, you can read his story and donate via  www.joshuabattlingcancer.co.uk.  The Reds got to know of Joshua through former model and TV Presenter Kathy Lloyd, Kathy who couldn’t make the final (but sent the boys a good luck card) had joined the Coaching Staff for Eagles via Twitter,  where Gary Williams (Manager) and Leon Brooker (Coach) would often discuss tactics and have light heart fun, Kathy even got a mention in the Cup Final Programme and a banner made in her honour!  On hearing of the donation the Eagles had made The Royston Crow League also supported the good cause, Gary said “What a great day for the all the boys involved, the League have done a fantastic job of making the day memorable.  I’m overwhelmed with their generosity and I’m sure Joshua will be made up when I tell his family the news!  This has all resulted through Twitter and Kathy, it’s been good light hearted fun and for a cause – exactly what Youth Football should be full off!”.

The Eagles would like to thank their sponsors Wentworth Kitchens Trade, ACO and EBS.

Eagles made a good start to the game scoring after only 8 minutes when  a deep cross from the corner flag by Luke Shimell was headed into the net from a few yards out by Krystian Malachak.

Chipperfield were themselves unlucky not to score after 15 minutes when a ball over the top of the eagles defence was latched on to by a Chipperfield forward who put the ball wide of a post from 15 yards .. The Eagles goal had a couple more scares before Mitch Cox almost found Jamie Platt clear with a 30 yard free kick only for the offside flag to be raised. Just before half time the Chipperfield keeper pushed a Shane Carthy daisy cutter shot from 20 yards just wide of the post, and Shimell just failed to connect with a high cross from the right.

After half time eagles lost concentration and on 50 minutes conceded an equalising goal, when the ball was scrambled over the line from a corner though a group of players standing in the goal area. A few minutes later a Jamie Platt shot rattled the underside of the bar and looked as if it had crossed the line before being hacked away. Unfortunately, the match officials did not agree.

On 60 minutes  Eagles were caught on the counter  and in another breakaway Chipperfield scored a second goal with a crisp shot just inside a post from 15 yards..Eagles responded well with a Cox shot flashing narrowly wide but Eagles were lucky not to go further behind when a shot from 30 yards crashed into a crowd of players  to fall at the feet of an unmarked Chipperfield player who was flagged offside. Chipperfield made loud claims for handball, which were ignored by the referee.

Cox put another long range free kick just wide  before Chipperfield scored a third when  the ball was hammered into the roof of the net from 10 yards following  good work by a team mate on the left of the penalty who dribbled past several static eagles defenders before crossing the ball into the path of the scorer.

After 74 minutes eagles pulled a goal back when a Cox free kick from the right was headed into the net from 6 yards by Ian West at the far post. This spurred eagles into a spell of almost constant pressure for the last quarter of the game. Another Cox free kick  from 25 yards out flashed over the bar  and the same player almost scored a few minutes later when he ran clear of the Chipperfield defence  and just failed to chip the ball over the on rushing keeper on the edge of his penalty area.. Cox had a final chance in the last minute but his free kick from the edge of the penalty area was hit just too hard and went wide of the post instead of curling in.

On a beautiful sunny evening a young Eagles side produced one of their best footballing performances of the season to beat high flying Baldock, who are already assured of a second place position in the league table.

Eagles once again fell behind to an early goal. This time in the 6^th minute when they conceded a ‘ soft goal’ A cross from the right was only partially cleared and straight to an opponent who banged it into the net from just inside the penalty area.

After 15 minutes Baldock nearly scored again  when another cross from the right was put just wide of the post, but Eagles raced up field and almost scored themselves when a  cross by Luke Shimell  was headed over the bar by Mitch Cox from a few yards out and with the goal gaping.

Play swung from end to end with Baldock relying on the long ball over the top and eagles trying to play more measured football on the ground. Eagles got their reward after 25 minutes when Cox scored the equaliser with a free kick 25 yards out which whistled into the top corner of the net with keeper Stilwell well beaten .

After 30 minutes Taylor Rhiney  broke clear on the right but his shot from 20 yards was straight at Stilwell. Sam Williams then had a shot cleared off the line by a Baldock defender and Eagles were a shade unlucky not to go into half time a goal ahead.

In the second half Eagles continued to harry and press and got their reward after 52 minutes when Baldock failed to clear their lines and Shane Carthy collected the ball from 20 yards and beat the keeper with a low shot into the bottom corner of the net. Eagles then went 3-1 up after 70 minutes when Krystian Malachak  gained possession of the ball from a Carthy pass just inside the Baldock half and ran almost to the edge of the Baldock penalty area before unleashing a fierce low shot into the net giving Stilwell no chance.

Eagles continued to look for another goal with a lively Taylor Rhiney firing just wide of a post and after 85 minutes Cox was unlucky not to score again when  his goal bound shot was headed off the Baldock line. A follow up shot from Rhiney was also hacked off the line  before the danger was cleared.

Baldock continued to press forward  and were a shade unlucky with the run of the ball after 85 minutes forcing Dan Goad to make a dash out of goal to collect, and shortly after  to save a goal bound header.

Final action of the game came in the 90th minute when Eagles Rhiney, who had been causing Baldock problems all evening with his speed,  raced clear of a tiring Baldock defence  and lifted the ball over the advancing Stilwell only for the ball to pass agonisingly past the post.

Eagles failed to maintain a recent run of decent results when they failed to break down a determined Wormley defence and then lost to a sucker goal in the second half.

Wormley applied much of the early pressure without producing any threat to the eagles goal before  following a flowing move a cross from the right By Jaz Genesis was blasted over the bar from Eagles’ Taylor Rhiney 15 yards out. A few minutes later a direct free kick by Mitch Cox from 25 yards out was tipped over the bar by the Wormley keeper.. Play swung from end to end and Dan Goad had to be alert to block a close range effort following a corner that looked as if it might find the net.

After 25 minutes a Rhiney shot was comfortably saved by the Wormley keeper to his right and the same player  shot wide from 18 yards just before half time  after dribbling around several defenders.

The last couple of minutes of the first half produced a useful save by Goad from a direct free kick and a Jamie Platt shot for the Eagles from 25 yards was tipped over by the Wormley keeper. From the resulting corner Shane Carthy shot from close range straight at the keeper.

In the second half neither team seemed to carry any real goal threat. Long range efforts for the Eagles from Carthy and Hunter Diack flashed wide but after 65 minutes Wormley finally broke the deadlock with a soft goal. A cross was headed gently over the head of Goad and into the top of the net.

Eagles tried to raise their game. Cox shot just wide of a post from 12 yards but the ball just could not find the target and Wormley safely played out the last quarter of the game.

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The old cliché of a ‘ game of two halves’ is well suited to this game  with Eagles first to settle and a good first half performance, followed by a stronger Whitwell recovery late in the second half  as the Eagles brought on their subs to freshen up the team.

Within the first 5 minutes eagles had a strong shout for a penalty for a heavy challenge on Shane Carthy in the penalty area, but claims were waved away by the match official.

After 6 minutes Whitwell almost got the first goal with a long ball over the top of the Eagles defence which keeper Dan Goad was quickly out of his goal to collect from the onrushing  forward.

It was then eagles turn to threaten and after 8 minutes they scored an excellent goal when a Jamie Platt shot  hit a defender and came to Krystian Michalak, who drove the ball along the ground into the corner of the net from 18 yards.

Eagles continued to press and after 15 minutes Taylor Rhiney had a goal bound shot  deflected by a defender just wide of the post. After 30 minutes it was 2-0 to eagles  when a cross from Platt was banged in from 15 yards by Sam Gittings. Eagles could have added to their lead when Scott Berry blasted high over the bar after being well placed from a Rhiney knock down, and Whitwell seemed limited to the long ball over the top which seldom troubled the Eagles defence. They did get a clear chance just on half time but the Whitwell forward was too slow to react and was bundled off the ball just as he was about to pull the trigger from 15 yards out.

Whitwell came out second half with greater intent and within 10 minutes  had forced eagles keeper Goad to make a good save, which came back to a Whitwell player who placed the ball wide of an open goal.

Whitwell continued to press, particularly on the left flank, and after  58 minutes almost got their reward when Jenhal Mullings misjudged another long ball over the top of the Eagles defence , and was forced to concede a corner that was headed just over the bar.. Michalak forced the Whitwell keeper to save well at the foot of his post  but immediately Whitwell raced down the middle of the field  and scored.

A few minutes later Den Crook fouled an opponent in the penalty area, and the penalty was hammered high into the net to make the score 2-2..

Both sides pressed for the winner in the final minutes with Whitwell clearly getting the better of an eagles side unable to make any impact in the final third of the field.