Fledglings end the year with a home win against a determined Eastcote side

Leighton Buzzard Fledglings 6 - 1 Eastcote 8s

The Fledglings earned a home win with a solid team performance against a determined Eastcote side.

Eastcote were late arriving and started the game with eight players. The Fledglings were clinical in the first 10 minutes of the game, using the numerical advantage to create and score chances. The first goal came when Andrew Barton fired in a cross from the right for Peter Gale to open the scoring from close in. Shortly afterwards Gale deflected a Stuart Retford pass towards the back post, where, player of the match Fraser Retford deftly flicked the ball into the goal to make the score two nil. Leighton completed their first half scoring when Stuart Retford fired in an unstoppable shot that smacked against the backboard before the keeper could react.

The remainder of the half was more even, as the AWOL Eastcote players turned up and entered the fray. The Fledglings still created chances but were unable to add to their goal tally.

The second half was also keenly contested. Andrew Barton continued to be a threat with purposeful attacking runs down the right. Leighton made the breakthrough mid way through the half. It was great work by Connor Rowson, who drove the ball into the "D" winning a short corner that led to the fourth goal. Joshua Wavish slid the ball back to Stuart Retford whose strike across the goal was deflected into the net by Peter Gale.

Eastcote then showed their true colours and took the fight to Leighton, pulling a goal back with an unstoppable shot of their own. At this stage it looked like the Fledglings might tire but that impression was soon changed. Samuel Gale seized control of the midfield back for Leighton, setting up Joshua Wavish whose powerful drive was well saved. Then neat interplay between Fraser Retford and Peter Gale resulted in Gale taking the ball around the on rushing keeper and calmly push the ball into an unguarded goal, completing his hat trick. It was then down to Samuel Gale to finish the scoring. While Eastcote kicked the ball around in their "D", the umpires allowed a great advantage to ensue, Gale stripped the ball from the Eastcote defence and “lashed” it into the far side of the goal, from a tight angle, making the final score six - one to the Fledglings.

This was the Fledglings best team performance so far, built on an excellent defensive platform which allowed midfield and attack to fluidly join together better than in previous games. Overall it was a coordinated attacking display and a great way for the Fledglings team to end the year.

Final score 6 - 1 (Fledglings win)
Player of the Match: Fraser Retford