After Saturday’s opening day victory against Cammell Laird 1907, Eccleshall went into the midweek meeting against Abbey Hulton United in good spirits. Manager Liam Kelly made a couple of changes to the line-up. Skipper Callum Feeney failed a pre-match fitness test on an injured ankle and Lewis Dunn took the armband. Anthony Malbon came into the starting eleven after missing Saturday’s match.
In front of a healthy attendance, the game was evenly balanced in the early stages before Eccleshall began to stamp their authority on the game. On 11 minutes, Mitch Glover hit the bar on the volley from twenty-five yards. Abbey ‘keeper Dominic Kurasik was then forced into a great save on 18 minutes from a point-blank header from Luke Lewis. Abbey Hulton were looking to the pace and trickery of Jonathan Kapend down the left flank as an attacking threat but the Eagles defence were keeping him in check. Eccleshall continued to press forward and a Malbon effort hit the bar before Dunn suffered the same fate with a header. However, Eagles were not to be denied and on 31 minutes, they took the lead. Malbon set up Jordan Flattley who drove the ball under the diving Kurasik from the edge of the box and found the bottom corner of the net. It was no more than the Eagles deserved as they were now dominating the game and should have had more goals to show for their efforts.

HT: Eccleshall 1 Abbey Hulton United 0

Eccleshall again missed chances in the early part of the second half and Green-Birch had an effort cleared off the line. One or two tackles on Eccleshall players resulted in yellow cards and Ben Chesters had to come on for the injured Green-Birch. Soon later, it was Glover who was forced to go off, with Jack Flanaghan replacing him. A very heavy challenge by Kurasik on Malbon led to a yellow card when referee Davies may have taken stronger action. Eagles really needed a second goal to show for their control of the match and it came on 79 minutes. A corner on the right found Mark Groom and his downward header bounced up to beat Kurasik and find the roof of the net. Eagles sub, Callum Middleton, then cut in from the left before finding George Woodroffe and Kurasik had to dive to save. With time ticking away, Abbey were now looking to pull a goal back and Sam Wytcherley turned in the box and fired just wide of the post.

FT: Eccleshall 2 Abbey Hulton United 0

Eccleshall were full value for their win and manager Kelly felt that his team had turned in one of their best performances since he returned as manager. Back-to-back wins were an ideal start to the Eagles season and left them top of the table after the game. They now face league newcomers Ashville in Wallasey on Saturday in the Edward Case First Division Cup and will look to take their early league form into the cup competition. They will be without Jordan Flattley who misses the game with a one match ban following his sending-off against Cammell Laird.

Eagles: Woolrich, Blaise, Woodroffe, Benton, Groom, Dunn, Lewis, Flattley, Malbon, Glover, Green-Birch.
Subs: Flanaghan, Middleton, Sutton, Clayton, Chesters.

Referee: Mr Ryan Davies
Attendance: 160