After Eccleshall’s win against Stockport Georgians, they moved on to meet Abbey Hulton United for a midweek local derby, hoping to continue the unbeaten run during March. Liam Kelly brought in Tom Winkle to replace the injured Mark Groom and Callum Feeney and Ryan Pickup were on the bench. Former Eagle, Jack Flanaghan, was in the home line-up.
Eagles went close very quickly with only three minutes gone as Ryan Malbon fired over after a mistake in the Abbey back line. In reply, Jack Gumbley received the ball on the edge of the box, but his effort was also over. Home keeper Dominic Kurasik then had to race out to clear as Lewis Dunn ran through on goal. Kurasik then saved a power drive from Mitch Glover. With the first twenty minutes gone, it was nip and tuck, with both sides looking for the opening goal. Then, a cross for Glover found Carl Dickinson and his header was held by Kurasik, before Malbon had another effort held by the keeper. It was Abbey who drew first blood on 36 minutes when a through ball found Matthew Ward on the edge of the box and his low drive fizzed past Eagles keeper Alex Atton to find the bottom corner with no chance of saving. Eccleshall went on the attack immediately and the Abbey defence was forced to clear to prevent an equaliser.
HT: Abbey Hulton United 1 Eccleshall 0

Both sides had chances with the second half under way and Glover’s free kick was blocked after a foul on Joshua Waite outside the box. Flanaghan ran clear in an Abbey attack, but his shot was well over the bar. Kurasik was forced to tip over following a cross by Dunn and Eagles were building up the pressure with 25 minutes to go. Feeney and Pickup were brought on and the pressure paid off on 71 minutes when Winkle found Jordan Benton on the right and his low cross into the box was touched home by Waite. Eccleshall were now looking to add to this and Glover, spotting Kurasik off his line, shot from the halfway line, but the ball hit the post and bounced clear with the keeper scrambling. They did not have to wait long, however, as they went ahead on 75 minutes with a well-crafted goal. Dickinson threaded an inch perfect defence splitting pass into the box to find Dunn and his low cross into the six-yard box found Waite again and he slotted the ball home. It was his third goal in two games. Abbey’s Lee Cropper missed a good chance with a header and Kelly used his remaining subs as time ticked down. On their second half performance, Eagles were good value for the three points and the result lifted them up to ninth place in the league, their highest position for a good while.
FT: Abbey Hulton United 1 Eccleshall 2

Eccleshall remained unbeaten during March, but, with the turn of the month, they now faced a trip to Manchester to meet league leaders Wythenshawe Amateurs on Saturday, which would be a true test of the progress they have made this season.

Eagles: Atton, Darlington (Pickup), Dunn, Flattley, Winkle (Woodroffe), Dickinson, Glover (Taylor), Benton, Waite (Downs), Stanton, Malbon (Feeney)

Referee: Mr Ewan Patrick
Attendance: 131