Eaton were looking to bounce back after a couple of defeats in previous weeks, hosting Rocklands reserves in our tenth home game of the season so far.

The squad was hit by the festivities this weekend with NINE players unavailable for a variety of reasons. Eaton had an extremely make shift back four, Sam Mclaughlin, the only recognised defender, was paired with the gaffer Michael Cullum at center half, Jordan Rial and Bradley Cullum the full backs either side of them. Ryan Smith and Tarren Denton continued their partnership in the midfield, either side of them was Aron Norris and Luke Hall. Stevie Blake returned in attack, teaming up with Will Ringwood which left our two young star boys Jack Soffe and Robbie Ashwell on the bench.

Eaton started well and were ahead in the first five minutes, Hall's perfectly timed run saw him latch on to the end of Norris' fantastic trivela pass and slot the ball past the oncoming goalkeeper to take the lead. That lead was soon doubled, Smith passing the ball forward to Blake, who spun beautifully around the center back and charged into the box, squaring the ball to Ringwood who won the tussle with the defender and tapped the ball in from close range. Around fifteen minutes played and Denton decided to pop up on the scoresheet. Originally Tarren taking a deep corner which was headed clear to the opposite flank, B. Cullum kept it in play, laid it back to Rial who crossed it deep into the box finding Denton who poked it cleverly past the goalkeeper. It was four shortly after when the gaffer got himself on the scoresheet, a long Blake throw into the box was touched down by Smith, Cullum took a touch, fouled in the process but whilst on the ground his grit and determination saw him throw a foot at the ball which found the back of the net for his third goal in his third appearance. Eaton at this point were in full control and grabbed a fifth, Rial dribbling inwards with the ball beating four men then finding Will in the box who slotted the ball past the keeper for his second of the day and eighth of the season in his pursuit of the golden boot. With five minutes of the half left, Eaton's over exuberance going forward cost them a clean sheet as Rocklands caught them on a counter attack, a sloppy goal to concede in a very easy game. The wrongs of the goal were put right just before half time though when Blake was put through on goal, charging forward and slotting the ball past the keeper for 6-1 at half time.

At the interval Eaton introduced the two substitutes into the game, Ashwell found himself up front for Ringwood and Soffe out on the wing for Norris. The games competitiveness had been sucked from the game with the Eaton back four doing very little and the team taking the foot off the gas a little, focusing more on keeping the ball with ease than bombarding the oppositions goal. History was made when Ashwell pounced on a Blake flick on in the box, scoring his first ever goal for the Yellaphants, becoming the clubs youngest ever goal scorer. Eaton took full advantage of the roll on roll off subs, changing their players every ten minutes and giving everyone good run outs in a variety of positions. Jordan Rial went close to scoring when Bradley Cullum's pinpoint cross found him two yards out but the Rocklands keeper pulled off a fantastic save to deny him and Blake was denied, what we feel was a clear penalty when he dribbled the ball through two Rocklands defenders who sandwiched the striker but was deemed no foul by the referee, who had got everything else absolutely spot on all game. Stevie wasn't to be denied his second goal though when he was fouled about thirty yards from goal. He stepped up and took the resulting freekick, bending it into the far bottom corner out of the keepers reach.

The Yellaphants ended a dominant display with an easy 8-1 victory giving them three points in the final league game of 2024. A brace from captain Blake and Ringwood plus goals from Denton, Hall, Ashwell and the gaffer Cullum ensured a fantastic final league result keeping them in fourth place and the hunt for promotion well in their control.

Garden House Man of the Match
A fantastic defensive display, dominating in the air and delivering some of the best balls I've seen in amateur football, all whilst playing out of position. Bradley Cullum ran away with the votes this week for his second MOM award this season after a brilliant full back performance.

Starting XI
M. Ward, J. Rial, S. Mclaughlin, M. Cullum, B. Cullum, A. Norris, R. Smith, T. Denton, L. Hall, S. Blake, W. Ringwood Subs: R. Ashwell, J. Soffe