MATCH REPORT SAT 26 SEPTEMBER 2026
FA SENIOR CENTENARY TROPHY 1ST ROUND
LETCHWORTH GC EAGLES 3 BISHOPS STORTFORD SWIFTS 1
In an all-action cup game, the Eagles were too strong for their opponents from the Premier Division of the Essex Olympian League and scored some fine goals to win the game.
The visitors were first to threaten a goal when the ball was chased down the centre of the field by a Swifts forward who cut inside a defender a fired a low shot n goal from inside the penalty area which Eagles keeper Jordan Hudson saved at his near post. A few minutes later a long throw into Eagles penalty area led to a shot which went just wide of goal.
Eagles counter attacked and on18 minutes their number 11 ran through a static Swifts defence and released a low shot from just outside the goal area which was well blocked by the keeper. Play switched from end to end with shots from both sides going high and wide of goal before the Swifts keeper made another good blocking save after 23 minutes to a low shot from inside the penalty area. The subsequent Eagles corner into a crowded goal area caused a goalmouth scramble before the shot was sent high over the Swifts cross bar.
On the half hour hour Eagles scored a fine goal by Max Smith who collected the ball outside the penalty area and moved forward a few steps before releasing an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the Swifts net. Almost on the stroke of half time Eagles got a second goal when they dispossessed a Swifts defender mid-way into the Swifts half, The ball was taken forward by Lawrence Burton into the penalty area and he smashed the ball into the top corner of the net in similar fashion to the first goal.
Minutes into the second half Swifts got back into the game with a penalty following a foul tackle in the penalty area, and the ball was firmly directed low into the far corner of the net. Their joy was short-lived because less than 10 minutes later Eagles restored their 2 goal advantage with another magnificent strike. Ryan Morgan took the ball down the left side of the penalty area and released a scorching shot into the far top corner of the net.
Eagles continued to seek another goal and, on the hour mark a low cross flashed across the Swifts goal area with no Eagles forward able to apply the finishing touch at the far post. Play continued to swing from end to end and a Swifts free kick in a central position about 20 yards from goal was sent wide. Another free kick deep into Eagles penalty area caused Hudson to make a save at full stretch standing on his goal line. At the other end an Eagles free kick from the half way line into Swifts penalty area was headed straight at the keeper, and Austin Christie sent a shot from 25 yards wide of goal.
As the game entered its final stages Eagles defence was put under constant pressure and a free kick into their penalty area was just wide of goal. In a rare Eagles attack a low shot was pushed wide of goal by the Swifts keeper at the foot of his post and a corner was headed over the cross bar from the edge of the goal area. It was a similar result at the other end as Swifts forced two late corners.
