Eccleshall took a break from league action with their match against Spartan South Midlands League side, Rugby Borough, in the Isuzu FA Vase at Pershall Park. Manager Liam Kelly was forced to re-jig his starting line-up with a number of players unavailable due to holidays. With £550 prize money available to the winners, the match took on added significance.
In the early stages, both teams were getting the measure of each other and on 10 minutes, Anthony Malbon chested the ball down but his shot was wide of the post. Minutes later, he had another effort fired across the goal. Eagles took the lead on 19 minutes when Malbon laid the ball to Lucas Green-Birch and he stepped forward and curled a superb shot into the top corner of the net, giving Borough keeper Bobbie Biddle no chance. Soon after, Malbon, whose touches were giving the Borough defence some problems, fired just over while Biddle could only stand and watch. Eccleshall were now getting on top in the game and both Dan Taylor and Louis Downs went close with shots over the bar. Then a bad challenge on Malbon went unpunished by the referee. On 36 minutes, Eccleshall went two up when Mitchell Glover received the ball outside the box and his low shot fizzed into the far corner of the net past the diving Biddle. Borough looked to get back into the game and, while having some decent possession, didn’t really trouble the Eagles goal. With half time approaching, there were two heavy challenges on Green-Birch, but the home side kept the momentum to the interval.

HT: Eccleshall 2 Rugby Borough 0

Eagles were made to pay for first half missed chances when Rugby pulled a goal back from a set-piece within a minute of the re-start. A Tommy Glasscoe free kick into the box led to Tom Bishop heading past Eagles keeper Alex Atton at the near post. Questions will be asked about him being unmarked. The goal gave the visitors a lift and Eccleshall looked to take the initiative again. After a Glover shot was blocked, George Woodroffe fired the rebound wide of the post. Kelly brought on Max Raine for Glover on 72 minutes and Malbon put him through on goal, but he was shackled by the Borough defence. Within a minute, Raine was cautioned by referee Tonks for a pull-back. Worse was to follow when he received a second yellow for a foul a couple of minutes later and Eagles were reduced to ten men. Borough now saw their chance to get back into the game and Jack Flanaghan came on for Louis Downs. The game now started to get a bit niggly and Green-Birch was cautioned. Aaron Woolrich came on for Malbon in an unfamiliar outfield role before a Max Proudlock header from a Borough corner was held just under the bar by Atton. Eagles managed to see out the game after five minutes of added time to progress to the next round.

FT: Eccleshall 2 Rugby Borough 1

This was a good result for Eccleshall who remain unbeaten from the start of the season. Manager Kelly will be pleased with the battling performance from a side missing a number of regulars, but this shows the depth of his squad. Aside from the prize money, Eccleshall’s reward is an away tie against Hereford Lads Club in the next round on 24. September.

Eagles: Atton, Taylor, Woodroffe, Benton, Hickman, Feeney, Downs (Flanaghan), Flattley, Malbon (Woolrich), Glover (Raine), Green-Birch.
Unused sub: Chesters

Referee: Mr Bradley Tonks
Attendance: 53