Yr 9’s crashed out of the County Cup to a very good side from Brune Park. It was definitely a game of two halves as the eagles once again started poorly, and were unable to claw their way back into the game despite some good chances created in the second half. The first half saw Brune Park dominate the play and they created many goal scoring opportunities. It was evident from the the first few minutes that Brune Park were a talented side and it was no surprise when after a period of sustained pressure they scored their first goal. The eagles were having to play break away football, and although they created some chances themselves, it was Brune who scored a second goal to gain a 2-0 half time lead. It had been a fairly poor first half display from the eagles and it was evident that some heads were already sinking. After a few choice words at half time, the players responded well and put up a much better second half performance. The game was now much more equal and if captain Josh Barnett had shown a little more composure infront of goal the scoreline could have been far more interesting. With Matt Curtis now winning the ball in midfield, and the defence looking far more compact and organised under Josh Cave, the eagles were able to pressure their opponents far more. It was against the run of play that Brune scored their 3rd goal. The eagles to their credit responded well and James Redstone rifled home a fine goal to make the score 1-3 in Brune’s favour. It was Brune Park though who scored the final goal which enabled them to advance to the next round with a 4-1 result. Although obviously disappointed, the boys realised that they had played a very good football team, and they can take heart from their second half performance. The effort was there for all to see, and it’s now back to the training ground in the hope that they can retain their status as District Champions in the new year.

Man of the match – Josh Cave (stepped up a level second half, great defending)