MATCH REPORT SAT 25 OCTOBER 2025
SPATAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE DIV 1
LETCHWORTH GC EAGLES 1 NEW BRADWELL ST PETER 2
The visitors completed a league double over the Eagles, but Eagles failed to take chances to win the game and had to play most of the second half with 10 men .
The first 15 minutes were dominated by the Eagles. As early as the 4th minute the New Bradwell keeper was called into action to save a shot from the edge of the penalty area at his near post. A few minutes later another shot following an Eagles free kick flashed wide of goal. The keeper was again tested after 15 minutes to make a decent save and New Bradwell did not threaten Eagles goal until 23 minutes were on the clock. A corner was headed towards goal from near the edge of the goal area and the ball was blocked by the feet of keeper George Coomes at the foot of his near post before he had to pull off a fine save to stop a further goal bound attempt.
Both sides lacked penetration in the final third but Shay Kelly raised hopes of an Eagles goal when he raced down the centre of the field fending off a chasing defender. The New Bradwell keeper ran out of goal and managed to clear the ball into touch before colliding with Kelly and causing him to leave the field injured.
Just before the interval New Bradwell went ahead. Coomes managed to finger tip away an inswinging corner on to his cross bar, then saved another goal attempt before the ball was scrambled into goal through a crowd of players close to the goal line at the far post.
Within a few minutes of the half time interval Eagles levelled the score. A Low cross into the penalty area was turned into the goal from near the penalty spot by Rory Gillham. Eagles joy was short lived because a couple of minutes later Luke Shimell was sent off after committing a bad foul tackle injuring his opponent.
Soon after an Eagles direct free kick from the right touchline was tipped over his cross bar by the visiting keeper under pressure at the far post but the corner was cleared upfield. At the other end on the hour mark a long ball down the centre of the field set up a chase between a forward and Austin Christie but the final shot was sent high over the goal from the edge of the penalty area.
Play swung to the other end and Gillham headed wide of goal from near the penalty spot and New Bradwell then did the same. Eagles goal led a charmed life after another break downfield by New Bradwell. The shot beat Coomes but lacked power and was cleared by a covering defender a few yards from goal
Eagles 10 men continued to press on the counter and a long throw was headed wide of goal by Christie before a shot from outside the penalty area went wide of the New Bradwell goal. Having missed an earlier chance by lifting the ball over the cross bar from the edge of the penalty area New Bradwell went ahead after 75 minutes with a low shot from outside the penalty area which passed under unsighted Coomes diving save and into the Eagles net.
Both sides threatened another goal in the final minutes, but neither was able put the ball in the net and the final score saw New Bradwell run out winners of this contest.
