12 Nov LETCHWORTH GC EAGLES 1 AFC WELWYN 3

HERTS FA SENIOR CENTENARY TROPHY.

Eagles made a bright start but 2 quick goals shortly after half time were enough to end their  hopes for success in this cup competition.

They nearly went behind after the first quarter when Welwyn won a series of corners, and after  the latest there was a scramble in the goal area before the ball was cleared off the line by  covering defenders. Welwyn claimed that the ball had crossed the goal line, but their appeals were waved aside by the referee.

Welwyn did take the lead after 38 minutes. Eagles conceded a free kick some 20 yards out and it was struck fiercely past the defensive wall and into top of the net giving keeper Sonny May no chance of saving. Rod Agyeman-Duah tried his luck with a low shot from 25 yards which was comfortably held by the Welwyn keeper, and after a fairly even first half Eagles went into the dressing room at half time 1-0 down.

Within 5 minutes of the restart Welwyn got a second goal with a fast break down the centre of the field. May made a great save at full stretch to push away a low shot from the edge of the penalty area, but the rebound was picked up by a Welwyn forward close to the penalty spot, who passed the ball into a gaping goal.

Shortly after Welwyn again threatened Eagles goal but this time the shot flashed just wide. Relief was short lived because minutes later they scored with a fierce shot from the edge of the penalty area. A spectacular goal which left Eagles with an impossible task to win the game.

More goals looked likely as a Welwyn corner was headed just wide at Eagles far post and at the other end Max Smith blasted a free kick over the cross bar from 25 yards out. Eagles continued to press and forced a series of free kicks and corners without testing the keeper. They did eventually get a consolation reward in stoppage time when an Eagles attack was halted by a foul in the penalty area. Smith hit the ball hard down the centre of the goal as the keeper dived to his  right.