Eagles were the dominant team for the first 15 minutes of the game but despite an early goal were unable to contain Biggleswade’s rapid counter attacks and lost a hard fought battle against a team from a level above.
After 10 minutes Eagles created the first chance of the game when Rod Aygeman-Duah battled to get possession of the ball inside the Biggleswade half and fed Mark Summers a pass down the right side. He took the ball into the penalty area but his low shot towards the near post was blocked by the keeper’s legs. A few minutes later Eagles did go ahead with a superb free kick a few yards outside the Biggleswade penalty area by Ellis Coker, which flew into the roof of the net.
Biggleswade responded with a long shot from 25 yards which caused keeper Sonny May to scramble quickly across his goal but the ball went wide. May then had to block a close range shot with his body for a corner a minute later.
Eagles countered with a quick break down the right side but a low cross not the penalty area was missed by waiting Eagles forwards and defenders alike. Danny Charles then fired in a low shot from outside the penalty area, but straight at the keeper standing by his near post.
After 22 minutes Biggleswade drew level with a long ball downfield and rapid counterattack which caught defenders out of position and gave the Biggleswade forward time to take the ball towards an open goal and shoot past a helpless May. The visitors then turned on the pressure. A low cross from the right side just evaded the lunging leg of a Biggleswade forward at the far post, and after 25 minutes a low shot from 25 yards was just wide of the goal before a direct free kick from 20 yards out was held by May at the foot of his near post. Later another free kick was conceded 25 yards from Eagles goal. The ball was wide of the defensive wall and smacked against the post and out of play.
Eagles were on the ropes. Another low cross was slid wide of goal from close range, but relief was short lived as after 42 minutes Biggleswade scored a second goal with a rapid counterattack down the centre of the field, the low shot from just inside the penalty area giving May no chance of saving. He then had to make a good save at his near post to keep out a low shot from the edge of the penalty area after another rapid counterattack.
Play was less eventful second half as teams changed players and fought a midfield contest with mistakes made by both sides. Biggleswade passed up a good chance to add to their score on the hour mark when another low cross into Eagles penalty area found a Biggleswade forward, but his shot from near the penalty spot sailed well over the cross bar. They did get the ball in the net 12 minutes later but the low shot from the edge of the penalty area into the far corner of the net was ruled out for offside.
At the very end of the game Biggleswade threatened to get a third goal after a rapid move down the left side of the field, but the final shot from the edge of the penalty area was straight into the arms of Eagles replacement keeper Zack Vernon.
