MATCH REPORT SAT 11 JULY

VINCE PAIGE MEMORIAL TROPHY

LETCHWORTH GC EAGLES 1 BALDOCK TOWN 1

(BALDOCK WIN 6-5 ON PENS)

The most excitement in a largely dull game, in which the keepers had little to do, came at the end with the penalty shoot out.

Eagles made a great start going ahead after just 14 minutes. A long throw in landed near the penalty spot. The Baldock keeper failed to collect the ball in a crowd of players, and it ran loose to Olley Humphryes who shot low into an empty goal.

Baldock had a great chance to equalise after 23 minutes when a long ball downfield allowed a Baldock forward to create space for a shot, but with a clear sight of goal near the edge of the penalty area he scuffed a low shot straight at Eagles keeper.

Baldock pressed forward and after 37 minutes headed over the Eagles crossbar from a corner kick, but Eagles relief was short-lived when a defensive mistake cost them the equalising goal just before half time. A poor first touch by an Eagles defender after a throw out by Eagles keeper allowed a Baldock forward to bundle the defender off the ball near the edge of the penalty area and score with a low shot into goal.

Eagles then missed a golden to score shortly before half time when a longball was played downfield into the Baldock half. The Eagles forward raced clear on goal but his final touch as he approached the Baldock goal area was poor, allowing the keeper and covering defenders to clear the ball from danger.

Shortly after half time a long cross from the right touchline into Eagles penalty area was headed towards goal from the edge of the goal area but Eagles keeper George Coomes was able to make the save. A few minutes later a Baldock free kick from near the right touchline was floated into Eagles penalty area which Coomes was unable to gather, but the header passed just over the cross bar. Then a Baldock corner was headed well wide of goal.

At the other end a long pass downfield from inside the Eagles half was collected by Redha Zikri, who got away from Baldock defenders but a heavy touch near the edge of the penalty area stopped him from getting a shot on goal and allowed covering defenders to smother the ball clear.

Eagles were restricted to long shots on goal with efforts from Humphryes and Ollie Manning going straight at the keeper.  In the final quarter of an hour Baldock blasted well wide of goal   from just outside the penalty area and sent a couple more shots from distance high and wide. Eagles also had a shot wide of goal before the game had to be decided by penalties. Both sides scored with their first first 5 kicks but then Eagles missed two kicks and Baldock lifted the winner’s trophy.