Whaley Bridge 3 Eagle Sports 1

EAGLE Sports surrendered their grip on the JB Parker Cup after crashing out to an organised Whaley Bridge side in Derbyshire.

Coming into the game on the back of a winless December, a change in form was needed but did not quite materialise.

They fell behind to a short corner early on, but the visitors responded well and were unlucky not to restore parity before half time after a brace of chances hit the woodwork, with Owen Ellis and Stephen Cross’ headers both being denied by the post.

Unfortunately the writing was on the wall from early in the second half, Whaley doubling their lead once McDermott had brought down the home striker and conceded a penalty that ended up in the bottom corner.

A change in pace suited Eagle as they desperately tried to make amends, with Ged McAllister, Chris Quirk and Lee Boardman all introduced from the bench to provide a spark which had been lacking.

McAllister got Eagle back into the game when he tapped home, but that was to be as good as it got for the two-time defending title holders.

Pushing bodies forward in search of an equaliser, Eagle were finally defeated when Whaley’s number 10 twisted the knife with a counter attacking goal in the final moments.

Eagle need to bounce back when they travel to Middlewich Town on Saturday, kick off 2pm.

Eagle: McDermott, Hickman, Cross, Hall, Chinn, Roberts, Hope, Walker, Waldron, Ellis, N Williams. Subs: Burthem, Boardman, McAllister, Quirk.