The hosts needed a point to secure their placein the play-offs, so a tough match was in prospect. Eagles welcomed back Aaron Woolrich in goal after injury and Liam Kelly had new signings Callum Besford (Port Vale) and James
Carvell (Hednesford) in the squad as he targeted a high place finish to the season.
Eagles almost conceded inside two minutes when a clearance by Woolrich was blocked by
Joe Bevan and his effort hit the post before being cleared. Then, in reply, a Kyle Diskin free
kick found Joe Minshall at the back post, but he was unable to steer the ball home. Besford,
on his debut, took a pass by Dan Shelley and showed neat feet before firing over. It was
end-to-end as Jake Dunford volleyed over the bar. On 21 minutes, a Mitch Glover free kick
tested Abbey keeper Oliver Culkin, who spilled the ball for a corner. Diskin’s inswinger was
held by the keeper. Woolrich then saved from William Shawcross with the Eagles defence
appealing for offside. Minutes later, the Eagles keeper saved again from the same player.
The raiding Besford fired in from 20 yards and Culkin tipped over for a corner. In added time,
Abbey’s Liam Delaney shot wide of the post. At the interval, Eagles were more than
matching their higher placed opponents.
HT: Abbey Hey 0 Eccleshall 0

Woolrich made an early save before Liam Hallam headed over the bar for Eccleshall. On 53
minutes, a Glover free kick was just over the bar before Woolrich made a good save from
Trey Turner’s effort. However, Eagles took the lead on 55 minutes when Hallam pounced on
a misplaced headed back pass to Culkin, and he steered the ball past the keeper. Jordan
Darlington was brought on for the injured Liam Tomlin before Eagles went further in front on
65 minutes. Josh Waite made a good run into the box before being pulled down. Referee
Connolly pointed to the spot and Glover sent Culkin the wrong way to find the net. The
stunned home management made immediate substitutions and Kelly introduced Carvell for
the injured Waite for his debut. A Joshua Dickin volley was well wide, and the Eagles
defence were repelling all of the home side’s attacking efforts as they were getting more
frustrated as time ticked down. It was Eccleshall though, who scored again on 87 minutes to
virtually put the game to bed. Hallam ran clear on to a through ball from Jay Ford and coolly
rounded Culkin to slide the ball into the net past a despairing defender. Harry Minshall and
Alex East were brought on for Ford and Diskin before Ashley Woods fired wide of the post.
The player was not to be denied though and he snatched a consolation for the hosts in
added time when Woolrich failed to deal with a high ball and he headed home. By then, it
was too little too late.
FT: Abbey Hey 1 Eccleshall 3

This was a superb result for Eagles who have had little luck on previous visits to the
Goredale Road stadium. The win lifted Eagles into sixth place, and the Eagles management
will reflect on dropped points earlier in the season which could have meant a place in the
play-offs. Next up is a tasty Easter Monday local derby against Abbey Hulton United.

Eagles: Woolrich, Tomlin (Darlington), Besford, Glover, Joe Minshall, Warren, Ford (Harry
Minshall), Shelley, Waite (Carvell), Hallam, Diskin (East).
Unused sub: Blease

Referee: Aaron Connolly
Attendance: 281