> ROYSTON TOWN YOUTH (U13 EAGLES) 5-2 HARVESTERS (U13 SOUTH)
> HERTS U13 CHALLENGE CUP, SUNDAY 13th DECEMBER
> CRYSTAL PALACE ARE not the only Eagles making a name for themselves.
> A committed and composed team performance, plus some good finishing at the right times, earned Royston Town Under-13 Eagles a place in the last eight of the County Cup.
> The team had stunned Royston Crow division leaders Hormead Hares in the previous round but faced an unknown quantity in Harvesters (South), a side from a Watford-based league renowned for its strength.
> Not that you would have thought that in the opening stages as the Eagles, who have sometimes infuriated their coaches with slow starts, scored twice.
> Archie MacLeod seemed to have earned a penalty in the first minute when he was tripped just inside the area, but while everyone else waited for the referee to point to the spot, Anthony Georgiou tucked in the opener.
> Soon afterwards the lead was doubled when Cameron King broke inside the box and Kian Harness made sure the ball ended up in the net.
> The Harvesters coach was giving it the full Ray Winstone on the touchline but his team fought their way back into the game.
> They pulled one back with a superb shot from distance and although Eagles had some chances of their own, the visitors started to have the better of the game and probably deserved the equaliser which arrived just before half time.
> But they had their fair share of fortune, as Owen Maslen’s attempt to head a dangerous cross clear found its way into Jacob McGlynn’s net.
> The next goal was always going to be important and King claimed it with a cool turn and shot in the box not long into the second half.
> Georgiou’s return to fitness has been a big boost to the Eagles and he soon made it 4-2 with an emphatic finish.
> With 20 minutes still to go, there were some nervous moments as well as some excellent defending by the Eagles.
> But the victory was sealed by Logan Downie, who gave yet another tireless and selfless display down the left.
> The Harvesters goalkeeper had made some good saves but he could do nothing when King found space again and his effort – which he later confessed was a shot – reached Downie. Hetucked it calmly back across goal and into the side-netting to make it 5-2.
> It was a fittingly professional end to an excellent team performance. MacLeod fully deserved the man of the match award for an all-action display in central midfield where he won plenty of tackles and headers as well as making the right decisions about how to use the ball when he had won it.
> But just as against Hormead, every single player played his heart out and contributed to an impressive victory.
> The reward for the Eagles is a home tie against either long-time local rivals Stotfold or the mighty Maccabi Lions (White).
> Eat your heart out, Alan Pardew.
> Team: Jacob McGlynn, Owen Maslen, Sean Blois, Jacob Schroeder, George Palmer, Sam Fage, Will Hamblin, Archie MacLeod, Coner Caughtry, Logan Downie, Kian Harness, Cameron King, Anthony Georgiou.
> CRYSTAL PALACE ARE not the only Eagles making a name for themselves.
> A committed and composed team performance, plus some good finishing at the right times, earned Royston Town Under-13 Eagles a place in the last eight of the County Cup.
> The team had stunned Royston Crow division leaders Hormead Hares in the previous round but faced an unknown quantity in Harvesters (South), a side from a Watford-based league renowned for its strength.
> Not that you would have thought that in the opening stages as the Eagles, who have sometimes infuriated their coaches with slow starts, scored twice.
> Archie MacLeod seemed to have earned a penalty in the first minute when he was tripped just inside the area, but while everyone else waited for the referee to point to the spot, Anthony Georgiou tucked in the opener.
> Soon afterwards the lead was doubled when Cameron King broke inside the box and Kian Harness made sure the ball ended up in the net.
> The Harvesters coach was giving it the full Ray Winstone on the touchline but his team fought their way back into the game.
> They pulled one back with a superb shot from distance and although Eagles had some chances of their own, the visitors started to have the better of the game and probably deserved the equaliser which arrived just before half time.
> But they had their fair share of fortune, as Owen Maslen’s attempt to head a dangerous cross clear found its way into Jacob McGlynn’s net.
> The next goal was always going to be important and King claimed it with a cool turn and shot in the box not long into the second half.
> Georgiou’s return to fitness has been a big boost to the Eagles and he soon made it 4-2 with an emphatic finish.
> With 20 minutes still to go, there were some nervous moments as well as some excellent defending by the Eagles.
> But the victory was sealed by Logan Downie, who gave yet another tireless and selfless display down the left.
> The Harvesters goalkeeper had made some good saves but he could do nothing when King found space again and his effort – which he later confessed was a shot – reached Downie. Hetucked it calmly back across goal and into the side-netting to make it 5-2.
> It was a fittingly professional end to an excellent team performance. MacLeod fully deserved the man of the match award for an all-action display in central midfield where he won plenty of tackles and headers as well as making the right decisions about how to use the ball when he had won it.
> But just as against Hormead, every single player played his heart out and contributed to an impressive victory.
> The reward for the Eagles is a home tie against either long-time local rivals Stotfold or the mighty Maccabi Lions (White).
> Eat your heart out, Alan Pardew.
> Team: Jacob McGlynn, Owen Maslen, Sean Blois, Jacob Schroeder, George Palmer, Sam Fage, Will Hamblin, Archie MacLeod, Coner Caughtry, Logan Downie, Kian Harness, Cameron King, Anthony Georgiou.