After two defeats, Eccleshall were looking to get back on track as they faced lowly Foley Meir at Pershall Park. Manager Liam Kelly was not underestimating the task as the visitors had picked up a couple of decent results recently and there was added spice as they had a number of ex-Eccleshall connections both on the playing side and committee-wise. Kelly shuffled the pack again for the match and Jordan Darlington, returning from injury, was on the bench.

Eagles were quickly out of the blocks and took the lead after only four minutes when Chris Boast side stepped a defender and fired home from 25 yards, finding the bottom corner of the net and giving Foley ‘keeper Andrew Walklate no chance. Moments later, Ryan Pickup headed just wide from a corner. Max Raine was next up with a chance after neat build up play across the edge of the box but fired wide. Eagles continued moving forward, looking to add to their lead and, with 30 minutes gone, had looked more likely to score. A run and cross by Ryan Malbon found Lucas Green-Birch and his downward header was held by Walklate. The striker will feel that he should have done better. He then had another effort saved by the keeper. However, on 37 minutes, Eagles did go two up when Boast’s initial shot was deflected past Walklate by Green-Birch. The visitors came back, and Eagles keeper Aaron Woolrich had to punch clear from a corner before Tristan Barker had a volley cleared off the line. Foley forced another corner, and it was Green-Birch who cleared. However, it was Eccleshall who added to their tally on 41 minutes. A Jordan Flattley free kick was headed back across goal and Boast reacted quickly to toe-poke the ball past Walklate. Two minutes later, ex-Eagle Dan Counter fired goalwards from 35 yards only for his shot to come back off the bar with Woolrich beaten. Eccleshall were well worth their half time lead.
HT: Eccleshall 3 Foley Meir 0

Eagles started the second period on the front foot and were looking for more goals. As the half moved on, Kelly brought on Mitch Glover for Malbon and Callum Feeney for Green-Birch. The home side continued to press and, on 73 minutes, made it 4-0 when Glover hit a drive from 20 yards which appeared to deceive Walklate and the ball nestled in the corner of the net. George Woodroffe came on for Raine in another change by Kelly. Eccleshall were now passing the ball around and looking for more but were given a reminder to keep things tight when Jayden Shepherd weaved his way through the home defence only to fire just wide of the post. Moments later, Shepherd again fired into the side netting from an angle. Further efforts from another ex-Eagle, Tom Wakefield, and Rahuf Mak were just wide of the mark. Darlington came on for Boast as Eagles were now happy to play out time with the job done and three points in the bag.
FT: Eccleshall 4 Foley Meir 0

This was a composed performance by Eccleshall in what could have been classed as a ‘banana skin’ fixture. Manager Kelly will be pleased with the win which keeps them in touch with teams higher up the league. Next up is a match against one of the form teams at the moment, as Eagles travel to Cheadle Heath Nomads on Tuesday evening before meeting Brocton in a tasty local derby at Silkmore Lane on Saturday.

Eagles: Woolrich, Blaise, Raine (Woodroffe), Flattley, Pickup, Dunn, Lewis, Stanton, Boast (Darlington), Malbon (Glover), Green-Birch (Feeney).
Unused sub: Groom

Referee: Mr James Owen