MATCH REPORT SAT 4 OCTOBER 2025

SPATAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE DIV 1

LETCHWORTH GC EAGLES 3 ROTHWELL CORINTHIANS 2

After a flying start the Eagles faded in the second half and struggled to get a win over the line against limited opposition.

 Eagles almost went ahead within the first 5 minutes when Rod Agyeman-Duah forced the keeper to make a save at his near post. Eagles were buzzing and a couple of minutes later Olly Humphreyes shot from 20 odd yards out but straight at the keeper. The goal did come after 8 minutes when Agyeman-Duah wriggled clear of defenders and pulled the ball back from the goal line to an unmarked Stan Clare, who scored into an open goal from near the penalty spot. A few minutes later it was 2-0 when Ellis Coker scored with a direct free kick past the defensive wall from about 20 yards from goal, after Agyeman-Duah had been fouled.

They nearly added another goal after 20 minutes with a shot from inside the penalty area by Agyeman-Duah which was straight at the keeper after the ball ran loose from earlier play. Eagles dominated the first half hour and claimed loudly for a penalty after a direct free kick into the Rothwell penalty area struck the hands of a defender, but the referee waved play on.

Goerge Coomes in the Eagles goal was largely a spectator but after 38 minutes he had to push away at full stretch a direct free kick in a central position about 20 yards from goal. Relief was shortlived when a minute later Eagles defence failed to clear a corner. There was a scramble in the area, Coomes managed to push out a goal bound shot, but the rebound was pushed into the net from close range.

Rothwell picked up momentum and just before half time a Rothwell in swinging corner just failed to creep into the top corner of the net at the far post. Eagles missed a great chance to score after carving a way through the Rothwell defence but the final cross failed to reach an Eagles forward waiting to score and instead went straight to a waiting defender. Rothwell then went close with a low shot from inside the penalty area which was deflected wide for a corner that came to nothing.

Neither side created a clear goalscoring chance in the second half until 20 odd minutes into the half but Eagles then broke forward down the centre of the field. Humphreyes picked up the ball well outside the Rothwell penalty area and forced his way through a group of defenders before going past the keeper and placing the ball into an empty net.

Eagles then sent a shot just wide of the top corner from the edge of the goal area and a long range shot was deflected over the cross bar. The following corner was sent low to the near post but was pushed just wide of the goal. Frantic action continued by both sides in the final minutes of the game when Rothwell scored a second goal. A long punt downfield from the Rothwell half caught the Eagles defence out of position. A clearing header was missed timed by a defender, giving the pursuing Rothwell forward a clear run on goal, and he firmly placed the ball wide of Coomes and into the Eagles goal.

The same move was almost repeated at the other end but this time a covering defender managed to get a foot in and save the day.