MATCH REPORT SAT 5 SEPTEMBER 2026
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE DIV 1
LETCHWORTH GC EAGLES 3 RUSHDEN AND HIGHAM 0
Eagles first goal threat came after 15 minutes when Rushden defence failed to clear the ball and the keeper had to save a close range shot at his near post. Rushden responded with a shot over Eagles cross bar as play swung from end to end. After 21 minutes a long ball down the centre of the field was chased by an Eagles forward but his shot facing only the keeper to beat went over the Rushden cross bar. At the other end Rushden missed a great chance to score when a low cross passed across the Eagles goal area but was put over the cross bar from just a few yards from goal at the far post. A couple of minutes later another Rushden low cross into the penalty area was put wide of goal as Eagles struggled to contain Rushden attacks.
Just before the half hour mark it was Eagles who went ahead, A long ball out of defence reached Ryan Lamond who chased down the centre outrunning defenders and placing a lobbed shot over the advancing keeper and into an empty goal from over 20 yads from goal.
Eagles then dominated play for the remaining period before half time creating several chances to score. A shot from the edge of the penalty area went straight to the Rushden keeper and another low shot goes just wide of the far post from the edge of the goal area. With 42 minutes gone the Rushden keeper had to make a fine save to push wide a shot from the edge of the penalty area which was heading for the top corner of the net. A Ryan Morgan cross was headed just over the Rushden cross bar from near the penalty spot and a low shot heading for the far corner of the net was deflected just wide of goal by a covering defender.
Rushden tried to respond and just before half time a long throw into Eagles penalty area was not cleared by the defence and an overhead kick from the edge of the goal area passed just over the cross bar,
The second half opened with both sides creating chances to score. A long throw into the Rushden penalty area produced a low shot which went just wide of the Rushden goal and then a shot was sent high over the visitor’s cross bar. Rushden defence began to wobble and an Eagles corner to the far post was put over his own cross bar by a defender. The keeper failed to deal with the resulting corner, but an Eagles shot went into the side netting at the near post.
Rushden counter attacked heading a cross just wide of Eagles goal and a cross was put wide from inside the penalty area, but Eagles gained a penalty when a Rushden defender was judged to have tripped an Eagles forward in the penalty area. Jan Maertins sent the keeper the wrong way and the penalty cleanly into the centre of the goal.
Rushden headed a cross just over Eagles cross bar from near the penalty spot, but Eagles were dominating the final stages of the game. With the last kick of the game Eagles got a third goal when a low cross into a crowded area was at first blocked but then sent into the far corner of the net by Lamond.
