Eagle’s fourth straight away victory

EAGLE Sports go into this week’s Liverpool CFA Challenge Cup semi final on the back of a fourth straight away victory after defeating Crewe 3-1 in the Cheshire Premier Division on Saturday.
In their first league game for six weeks, The Gulls were quick out of the blocks and took the lead after two minutes, when Lewis McEvatt cleverly switched the play to find Callum Burgess alone. Burgess kept his composure to calmly square the ball to Danny Hutchins, who finished into the goal from six yards.
Jack Mercer then doubled the lead 20 minutes later as he forced the home goalkeeper into a mistake, which allowed Mercer to take the ball and play the ball into the empty net.
The home side did half the deficit before the break, when Stef Sorenson headed home a corner at the Eagle near post, meaning the teams went in at 2-1 to the visitors at half time.
The second half saw Eagle have more control of the game and they settled the contest with 20 minutes remaining, as Callum Burgess fired a shot from the edge of the box, which flew in off the bar.
Afterwards, joint-manager Nixon said the victory was an important one in terms of the season.
‘Firstly, we challenged the lads to keep the momentum going in terms of winning matches and they have done that.
‘It wasn’t pretty at times, from both teams really, with Crewe working very hard to give us little time to play in the midfield. We’ve took the lead early on, then got the second but we were never really in control in that first half.
‘I’m disappointed with conceding from a set-piece. We are a big side so that is unacceptable and I told the lads at half time. We just needed to relax with the ball when we had it, it was too direct and little quality in the first 45 and we expect better than what was shown, despite being ahead.
‘Second half, it was a lot better I thought, more controlled and more in charge of the game. We defended well overall throughout but second half, other than a couple of free kicks, there wasn’t too much they created and then we got the goal we needed through Cal (Callum Burgess) with a superb finish.”
Six players returned to the squad after missing the previous week and Nixon highlighted the choices available to him and co-manager Richard Chinn ahead of next week’s Liverpool CFA Challenge Cup semi-final.
‘We’ve put a few lads in today who missed last week and managed to rest 2/3, so in terms of the squad, we are healthy and it gives me and Chinny a good headache for next week”.
On next week’s game, Nixon added that his side will be in for a tough test.
‘We’ve got through today unscathed and with a win, so we can now focus on next week, which is a big game. There will be a massive crowd at Thornton Road, most will be behind us, so we’ve got to prepare right this week and on the day, the lads will have to carry out the jobs we’ve asked them to a high level. It’s going to be a tough game and one we are all looking forward to.”
The Gulls take on Liverpool Premier League side BRNESC FC this coming Saturday at Thornton Road as they aim to reach their first cup final in eight years., Kick off 2pm, with a large crowd expected for the tie.
Team: Liam Marlow, Owen Duncan, Joe Murphy, Olly Fleming, Adam Coleman, Ed Shaw, Callum Burgess, Lewis McEvatt, Danny Hutchins, Owen Ellis, Jack Mercer
Subs: Luke Sutton, Henry Carver, Ed Burthem, Caleb Clegg