Eaton were back in cup action again this week facing division one's Hingham in the Ben Smith Memorial Cup. After beating Hockering in the first round, Eaton were on the hunt for another huge scalp.

This week we saw a few changes to the squad after a depleted side travelled to Wymondham Wanderers last weekend. The gaffer and Jordan Rial dropped out of the squad and we saw four new players replace them. Ceyhan Enver, Daniel Duchossoir and Aron Norris all returned to the squad and new signing Temitope Odofin made his first appearance for the club. Eaton changed tactics this week starting with a back three of Mclaughlin, Blake and Barber, with Cullum and Daynes taking up the wingback roles. We started with a midfield four of Enver, Smith, Hall and Denton, Ringwood lead the line on his own. Duchossoir, Norris and Odofin all started on the bench.

Hingham came out of the traps fast, where as Eaton started awfully, trying to play a bit of football but barely stringing five passes together. Eaton were making mistake after mistake and after ten minutes Hingham would capitalise when Stevie Blake gave away a slightly soft penalty which Hingham converted. Another mistake would cost Eaton another goal just 3 minutes later when an overhit pass from Barber to Enver and then an underhit pass from Enver back to Ward in goal saw the Hingham striker take advantage burying the ball pass Mikey. Moments later it was three, a lovely volleyed finish from the Hingham player. Three nothing down at the fifteen minute mark the gaffer reverted the team back to a 4-3-3 which seemed to settle the side down slightly. Eaton started making some nice moves and had a couple half chances and started seeing a bit more positive possession. The change in formation seemed to be working and Eaton got themselves a goal back when Luke Hall found Ethen Daynes in behind with a wonderful ball, the adventurous full back charged through and scored his first goal of the season. Eaton had improved but Hingham were still by far the better team, wasting a few really good chances. Another flurry of Eaton mistakes, multiple players struggling to clear a ball on multiple attempts resulted in Bradley Cullum taking the brunt and giving Hingham their second penalty of the game and their fourth goal.

Halftime arrived and Eaton were 4-1 down, the game looked done and dusted. After a poor first half Jack Barber and Ceyhan Enver made way for Aron Norris and Timmy Odofin to come on to try and influence an improved second half. Eaton started the second a little bit shaken but after five minutes started to play some really good stuff and created a few half chances. The Yellphants managed to grab a second goal when Norris held the ball up beautifully and played a fantastic cross pitch ball the the overlapping Cullum. Bradley whipped a lovely cross in towards Ringwood who couldn't quite connect but Hall came running in behind and smashed the ball past the keeper with a fantastic finish. Eaton were in full control for much of the second half but Hingham still looked dangerous on the counter, the defence seemed to be handling the threat well but Eaton knew no more mistakes could be made. The next mistake was made by the referee though when Tarren Denton hit a sudden shot from 30-40 yards which rattled the bar and bounced about two yards over the line which should have seen Eaton grab their third, however the referee couldn't be sure so correctly ruled no goal and the game continued. The third goal did come around the 70th minute though when Norris charged in behind, 1v1 with the keeper, a defender in his back, his shot was half blocked falling to Ryan Smith who smashed in his fifth of the campaign. With 20 minutes left it was game on and Eaton were pressing hard for that equaliser, Hingham cleverly trying to slow the game down at any opportunity. A few more half chances for Eaton, even throwing everyone including Mikey into the box in the dying moments but the home side just couldnt quite grab that desperately desired fourth goal.

Eaton bow out of the Ben Smith Memorial Cup, defeated by probably the favourites in the whole competition. A game of two halves where in the first a clinical Hingham made the most of Eaton's sloppy early mistakes with the hosts bouncing back in the second controlling much of the half but ultimately falling short to the division one giants. The two half time substitutes, Aron Norris and Timmy Odofin made immediate impacts, both players making concrete cases to start next week. Eaton are still in search of that first victory over old foes Hingham, however today was mighty close and Hingham will come away from that game over the moon they held on.

Garden House Man of the Match
A fantastic goal and assist today saw Luke Hall take man of the match. One of a few players who played well for the full 90, battling his socks off and causing a headache for the Hingham defence. Really showed his quality today and has had a fantastic start to life as a Yellaphant.

Starting XI
M. Ward, S. Blake, S. Mclaughlin, J. Barber, E. Daynes, C. Enver, R. Smith, B. Cullum, T. Denton, L. Hall, W. Ringwood Subs: T. Odofin, A. Norris, D. Duchossoir (unused)