With a ground frost overnight the match was put back half an hour and started at 10.30am. Unfortunately this mean that Tabs and Ria could only play the first half today.
The match started at a fast pace with both teams battling for possession in the middle of the pitch. The Eagles midfield of Cassidy, Ella and Ria gradually started to dominate and set the tone for the first half. The Eagles had been focussed on moving the ball wide in training and this was evident throughout the first 35 minutes as Ella, Tabs, Lyla, Heidi and Cassidy constantly won possession and moved it to Freya and Ria to run down the wings. With crosses coming in from both flanks and shots narrowly missing the target or finding their way into the keeper’s hands it felt that a breakthrough was imminent. With 20 minutes played and Livs now on up front , another sweeping move down the right hand side saw the ball crossed low into the box for Ella to poke into the corner of the net.
The pattern continued for the rest of the half – strong challenges at the back by Tabs, Ruby and Heidi ensured the Albury goal wasn’t threatened and with Molly now on in midfield the Eagles continued to dominate possession. Bonnie had two attempts that went just wide of the goal, Freya continued to cause havoc with her pace and her new found ability to pass and shoot on her left foot as well as her right! But the half ended 1-0 and the coaches felt that another goal would have been just reward for the efforts in the first half but it wasn't to be.
With Tabs and Ria now leaving the team a few adjustments were made throughout the second half - Stella came on in goal and Lyla showed her versatility as she moved to play in defence then midfield and finally back as a striker. The changes did have an impact as suddenly the |Eagles looked a little less assured and the skillful wing play of the first half was not quite as prevalent. The opposition started to gain more control and a slight muddle in defence saw them pounce and score. But the eagles are resilient and they came back strongly with their own attacks. Seren, now in midfield, shot just wide, Cassidy blasted a close range shot just over and Ruby saw a free kick go close. Ella made frequent runs into the penalty area, along with Freya and Livs' but they couldn’t find the back of the net. However, after more Eagles dominance the ball was fired across the area and Livs' shot low into the back of the net.
To their credit Walton rallied strongly and with a powerful shot hitting an Eagles arm a penalty was awarded. The Walton player struck it against the crossbar and it was scrambled away to safety. Yet minutes later the opposition broke from their half and a through ball split the Eagles defence and the Walton centre forward ran through to equalise.
Although the game ended as a draw, it was a fantastically competitive match played in great spirits by both teams . Despite not winning the Eagles girls played their best game of the season so far – they were calm in possession and passed it accurately for large periods of the match, working the ball out wide repeatedly for the wings to run and get crosses into the box. They have come a long way this season

Star Player : Freya