Eaton hosted FC Vikings this week in the first round of the Pease Cup, looking to carry the good league form into the league cup.

Wanderers were forced into some squad changes this weekend after injuries have hit the squad in recent games, most recently in the 5-2 demolition of Scarning United last weekend. Ryan Smith was still unavailable, his hamstring strain still keeping him out of selection, Sam Mclaughlin missed out this week after a robust challenge rolled his ankle the week before and Tarren Denton has a groin strain which he rests this week. Also missing this week was Will Ringwood who celebrates his sisters graduation. Aron Norris starts for the first time this season after bagging a goal and an assist last weekend. Jack Barber moves to center back to pair with Tom Quinton with Oscar Millbank starting in right back and Ethen Daynes on the left. Dan Bonura, Jake Reeves and Dan Duchossoir all return to the squad but only manage to make the bench this week.

Both teams came out of the blocks fast this weekend, the game starting with a really high intensity which pretty much continued for 90 minutes. The first real chance came for the away side when their number nine got a good shot away from the edge of the area which Mikey Ward saved well, the ball fell back to the striker who put his rebound over the bar. Eaton were forced into a change only 10 minutes in when Bradley Cullum pulled up with hamstring issue and to make things worse Jake Reeves was forced to withdraw around the half hour mark after he rolled his ankle.

Todays man in the middle stated from the start he was hot with his cards and wont stand for any back chat which Jordan Rial found out first hand. The referee missed a quite obvious foul on the winger which the player questioned, without aggression or any colourful language but any talking today wouldn't go unpunished and Jordan found himself sin binned for ten minutes leaving the Yellphants a man down. Eaton had a few half chances from set pieces, winning the initial header but the second ball dropped away from any man in yellow. Neither team had anything too clear cut in the first half with both sides defending well, this game was going to be tight.

Danny Bonura came on at half time but his day was cut short after a coming together forced him off with a potential knee injury after fives minutes, we hope it isn't too serious for the skipper. The second half started with the same intensity as the first but after a few tactical changes Eaton seemed to be slowly taking control. Around 55 minutes the man in black struck again, harshly sin binning Oscar Millbank after a Vikings player put the ball down quickly for a free kick and smashed it against him as he was walking away, with his back to the ball. The ten men of Eaton were not to be derailed though and took the lead, Aron Norris playing a beautiful through ball to Jordan Rial who tapped the ball into an empty net after a mix up between goalkeeper and defender.

As the game went on Eaton started to take more control and had a few good chances to extend their lead but didn't add the killing touch. The first good chance landed to Stevie Blake after good work out wide from Rial who's lobbed pass found Stevie wide open in the box but the striker couldn't keep his shot down. Blake had another good chance to create a goal with about ten minutes left when he got on the end of a Millbank through ball and drilled a shot towards the back post from a tight angle but couldn't quite direct it goalward, a cross to the open Rial at the back post might have been a better option to take. The game stayed tight right up till the 90th minute, Eaton defending resolutely and Vikings throwing everything at it but the Yellaphants held on to the 1-0 win.

A really tight game between two good sides ended with an Eaton win, progressing to the second round. A couple questionable sin bins wasn't enough to stop the Yellaphants continuing their good form making it 6 wins from 7 games in all competitions. Can Eaton continue their winning ways next weekend when they face division one side Hockering in the Ben Smith Memorial Cup?

Garden House Man of the Match
Our midfield warrior, Matthew Self, takes the Man of the match award this week after a phenomenal midfield performance. Selfy was tackling everything in sight and topped his defensive masterclass off with some fantastic ball distribution. The ginger Gattuso was at full pelt this weekend, winning the vote by one over runner up Aron Norris who was also brilliant today.

Starting XI
M. Ward, O. Millbank, J. Barber, T. Quinton, E. Daynes, B. Cullum, M. Self, S. Blake, J. Rial, A. Norris, J. Reeves. Subs: D. Bonura, D. Duchossoir, C. Enver