MATCH REPORT SAT 11 OCTOBER 2025

GLADWISH CHALLENGE TROPHY

LONDON COLNEY 1 LETCHWORTH GC EAGLES 3

After a weak first half performance Eagles extended their winning run in league and cup competitions. The turning point came on the hour mark when London Colney went down to 10 men and conceded two quick goals soon after.

Both sides threatened the opposition goal in the early stages of the first half. A London Colney corner was headed just wide of goal and at the other end Eagles took a short corner then played the ball into the area before forcing the home keeper to make a great save to tip over the crossbar a shot from near the penalty spot. A long-distance pot shot just cleared the Eagles crossbar and Eagles had a great escape after barely 10 minutes when the ball was carelessly passed to an opposition forward mid-way inside the Eagles half, opening a route down the centre of the field and the chance to score with only the keeper to beat. Fortunately, George Coomes came out of goal to make a great save to block the shot heading for the net.

Minutes later Kain Brown won a race against the home keeper down the right touchline but his low cross into the penalty area could only find a defender protecting the open goal. It was the home side who got the opening goal after 15 minutes after Eagles lost possession in their own half, with a low shot into the corner of the net from inside the penalty area. Shortly after the home keeper made a comfortable save from a Brown header and Coomes was called into action again to block a low shot from inside the penalty.

There was action at both ends with London Coley directing a free kick just wide of goal from 20 yards out and Eagles had a couple of shots straight at the keeper before taking an inswinging free kick near the corner flag which cleared all the players in a crowded goal area before dropping just wide of the far post. Just before half time Shay Kelly muscled his way through the home defence but his shot from just inside the penalty area went wide of goal.

Eagles started the second half strongly with a free kick 25 yards out just skimmimg the home crossbar and Kelly headed wide from near the penalty spot. Then on the hour mark the game changed. A London Colney defender was sent off for a rash challenge and a second yellow card and from the resultant free kick just inside the left touchline Olly Humphryes scored from inside the goal area after the ball had been headed back to him. A minute later worse was to befall Colney as Kelly headed in a cross at the far post to put Eagles ahead.

London Colney began to concede a series of free kicks and yellow cards, and Humphryes nearly got a second goal when another free kick was dropped into the penalty area and he shot wide of goal. The home keeper was forced to make a blocking save at his near post as Eagles started to dominate play. London Colney had to rely on the counter attack and after two Eagles players collided in midfield allowed a Colney forward a clear run on goal down the centre his shot on goal was blocked by the defender fast tracking back.

Eagles then got a third goal after 80 minutes to end the contest when a corner to Eagles flighted towards the near post was headed into the net by Humphryes.