With three lads out at the FAW session, 2 playing rugby and one injured the Eagles were short on numbers this morning. At 9.00am Mike Senior had only 6 lads to choose from so an early crises had to be solved! At least the pitch was unlikely to be in the same state as our last visit to Moorland Park when we all turned up and then went home due to the frozen surface. Remember to watch where to step! If you've been to this park before you'll know exactly what I mean! Welcome Steve! A Ton -yr-Ywen School connection meant that a back up in the form of Steve helped us out with numbers! Well at least Mike wouldn't have to worry about substitutions! On arriving at Moorland Park, it became evident that Pentyrch were even shorter staffed than us.......they had 0 players! So only two games to play, but both against formidable sides: Splott Albion and Lisvane Panthers A.

Our squad this morning is
(From the left):  Ross, Steve, Mike, Hassan, Declan, Leo and down in front Jonathan
Go on lads! Show what you're made of!

Results round up
Marlboro Eagles 1 Splott Albion 1
Marlboro Eagles 2 Lisvane Panthers A 1

I've been waiting three years to use that headline! Finally it became appropriate! Our heroes looked up against it with so short a squad and such strong sides in oppositon. However, our lads did not let us down and put in some extra fine performances to compensate for the loss of  players to the FAW.

Game one was against our old adverseries Splott Albion and a fine game soon developed. The photo at the top left shows an unfamilar line up at the back but they did us proud! Strong tackling kept Splott well away from the goal and our forays upfield were putting real pressure on the Splott defence. The pressure finally told when Hassan scored mid-way through the first half. The lads held the lead into half time. Splott came more into the game in the second half and were making regular inroads into the Eagles half.  In the last quarter Splott equalises with an excellent headed goal from a corner which shot into the net. No more goals meant the match finished 1-1 which was a reasonable reflection on play.

Leo, Steve and Declan line up at the start against Splott. (Click photo to enlarge)

The second game against Lisvane took place after the Eagles sat out for 30 minutes due to Pentyrch's absence. The lads kept warm by going hell for leather in a practise match on the other pitch! Lisvane had beaten Splott 2-0 so there was a real contest in prospect! The lads came out flying and it was immediately apparent that the lads were going to be extremely difficult to beat. Again the defence of Declan, Steve and Leo tackled like men possessed and the attacks by Mike, Hassan and Ross were cutting Lisvane to ribbons! And all the time we had Jonathan making it look easy between the sticks! Hassan finished off a superb move to take the game into half time with a narrow 1-0 lead. The second half was no less exhilarating with the Eagles well in control with the defence and attack now supporting each other well. It was no suprise when Hassan capped a fine mornings play with a third polished finish to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead. A quick break-out right at the death saw Lisvane hit one back but the lads finished deserved winners!.

What a fantastic morning we all had! The individual  performance of the lads was something to behold and it was gratifying to see the team gel into one solid unit!

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