Eagle Sports 3 Pilkington 2

TEN-man Eagle Sports snatched a late winner against Pilkington to continue their excellent start to the new Cheshire Football League Premier Division campaign.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men after Nathan Williams was shown a red card as he was deemed to have handled the ball on the goal line resulting in a penalty, which was converted by the visitors to tie the match up at 2-2 with 20 minutes to play.

The match had started brighter for Eagle as they took the lead early on when Williams curled an excellent free kick into the top corner, leaving the keeper stranded.

This was cancelled out 10 minutes later when the visitors were allowed too much time on the ball and this lea to a move in which the winger finished at the back post.

With the low sun causing problems for both sides, it was Eagle who were to take the initiative and regain the lead.

A quick corner saw Williams whip in a low cross which Ged McAllister finished well at the near post.

Pilkington were by far the better side in the second period as Eagle's performance levels seemed to drop.

With the equaliser coming the away side must have fancied their chances of taking all three points against the hosts’ 10 men.

However, Eagle had other ideas and from a free kick on the halfway line Lee Boardman found Richard Chinn with a fantastic cross and the big centre back finished well into the bottom corner to give Rob Hope's side the three points.

Eagle: McDermott, Coleman, Hall(c), Chinn, N.Williams, Hope, C.Bishop, L.Boardman, Burthem, McAllister, Waldron. Subs: R.Bishop, Lees, Shakeshaft, S.Robinson, Wellstead