SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE DIV 1

LETCHWORTH GC EAGLES 2  IRCHESTER UTD 2

Despite going ahead to a very early goal and the visitors reduced to 10 men in the first half Eagles struggled to overcome very physical opponents and had to settle for a draw after equalising late in the game.

Eagles started off well and within less than 5 minutes went ahead with a long ball downfield which was picked up by Wlll Blair, who sped away from defenders and sent a low shot from inside the penalty area into the far corner of the Irchester net.

That lead did not last long and Irchester equalised after 13 minutes. A long ball from the away penalty area caught Eagles defenders upfield and the Irchester forward ran from half way into Eagles penalty area before placing a low into the corner of the net. This was nearly repeated a few minutes later but after cutting inside defenders the low shot was straight at Eagles keeper Sonny May.

At the other end a long throw from the right touchline into the Irchester penalty area was only cleared to the edge of the penalty area and Shay Kelly shot straight at the keeper, but after 27 minutes Irchester went ahead with a goal very similar to their first. Irchester then piled on the pressure with a corner headed wide of the far post after 31 minutes and then 5 minutes later  Eagles defence was unable to close down an Irchester forward who managed to squeeze a shot through a crowd of players, which hit a post and rebounded into play. A follow up shot was deflected away from goal by a defender. Then more drama after 35 minutes when the visitors went down to 10 men for what the referee deemed to be a dangerous challenge. Despite this on 41 minutes an Irchester forward was put clear on goal, but his low shot from near the penalty spot was well saved by May with his body behind the ball.

Eagles nearly scored a few minutes into the second half when a break down the right side and low cross found Mark Summers at the near post, but his goal attempt hit a post and bounced out of play. Despite having 10 men Irchester continued to threaten. After 50 minutes May held a low shot and after 58 minutes a shot from outside the Eagles penalty area went wide of goal.

Eagles responded but struggled to break down a physical defence with Irchester conceding a string of fouls and yellow cards. Blair made a great run down the right side, but his low cross was well held by the keeper, and the keeper at his near post blocked a shot from a tight angle by Summers.

Eagles defence lived dangerously at times and May dropped a header from a corner before the ball was cleared upfield by a defender. Rod Agyeman-Duah headed a cross by Kain Brown just over the Irchester crossbar from less than 10 yards out and after 75 minutes a shot by Adam Branch from well outside the penalty area forced the keeper to make a full length save to push the ball wide of goal for a corner. The equalising goal finally game after 80 minutes when Agyeman-Duah bundled a high cross into the net from a few yards out.

Both sides had their chances to win the game. Close to full time a shot by Irchester from the edge of the penalty area flashed over the Eagles crossbar and at the other end a cross from the right side was headed over the away crossbar by Jacob Skelly. The game finished with Irchester shooting straight at May from inside the penalty area and the spoils were shared.

COYE