Fledglings frustrated as experienced Eastcote prosper

Eastcote Eagles 6 - 1 Leighton Buzzard Fledglings

The Fledglings endured a difficult afternoon and were beaten by a very strong opposition.

Leighton started brightly and were very unlucky not to be awarded a goal when Adrian Gotzheim’s short corner strike looked to have crossed the line, before somehow being scrambled away by Easctote.

However that scare pushed Eastcote into action and a break away run and a cool finish opened the scoring for the home team. Leighton’s attacking play was good, but luck eluded them, gaining neither the goals nor the short corners, which their play had deserved. Eastcote were the more composed and experienced side and cool finishing allowed them to double their lead. Leighton changed shape and Matt Carter moving to an unaccustomed defensive role helped Leighton become more solid.

But put under pressure Leighton lost possession and missed their passes and either side of half time they conceded to go four nil down. Though up against it the Fledglings kept battling. Joint player of the match, Jordan Field, in particular stepped up. He tackled with great determination and showed composure in taking the ball away from danger. Though experience was beating youth, Joseph Giltrow and Joshua Gale also stepped up; they showed great character in taking the fight back to Eastcote.

Gale and Gotzheim’s efforts eventually saw Leighton get awarded another short corner. From the injection, Gotzheim controlled the ball and passed to, joint player of the match, Hugh Hatt-Lipscomb, who fired the ball into the Eastcote goal. The Fledglings sensed an opportunity to get back into the game and Reece Cook and Peter Gale both went close to scoring. Cruelly though Leighton were punished when a yellow card was given for a mistimed tackle in the final third. It felt very harsh and frustration showed. However credit then to an expert Eastcote side: they then scored two more goals in the closing minutes to seal their win.

Well done to Eascote, a strengthened side compared to when we last played them, they took their chances well and deserved their win. However the Fledglings should take heart from the desire shown in difficult circumstances, with better luck they would have had more goals to show for their efforts and this young team will continue to progress as they play more games together.

Final score: 6 - 1 Eastcote win, Leighton lose
Player(s) of the Match: Jordan Field, Hugh Hatt-Lipscomb