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The Golden Eagle had reached round four by previously beating Ansdell and receiving a home walk over past the Victory. This morning they were bottom of the Premier Division. Opponents Reform Health Club were in second. To get this far they'd had to overcome the Saddle and St Annes Ex Service. Both sides are yet to meet in top flight league action.
Referee Dave Wolfenden sporting a yellow ensemble today in order to avoid clashing with the Golden Eagle's black kit.
The Reform management team look on. Stand in manager Mick Horsfall dropping himself to the bench this morning.
The last thing underdogs Golden Eagle needed was a poor start but after only ten seconds they were 1-0 down. Reform swept forward from the kick off and Andy Hill rounded off some good passing by cutting inside and beating Eagle keeper Steve Brown with a long range left footed curler. 0-1. Five minutes later and it was 1-1. A great saving tackle from Reform's Dougie Shaw forced the ball out for a corner. The kick from John Davies was met by Graham Oates who equalised from close range. 1-1
After having a goal ruled out for offside (Good decision) Reform pushed forward again. This time the flag stayed down as the marauding Leon Pritchard hit the bye line and his deflected cross was met by the head of Scott Waters who found the top corner. 1-2
Five minutes later and Waters added to his tally when his corner kick was badly misjudged by Brown who allowed it to fly into the far top corner. 1-3
Waters (Centre) is congratulated by his team mates.
The Eagle were still pushing forward and their persistence was rewarded with one of the best goals of the day. A perceptive cross field ball flew over the heads of the defenders and found Sean Lomax who's first time clever lob went over the head of the advancing Pritchard and into the net. 2-3
Despite there being two important Cup ties being played there was only one moment of real controversy and it came in this game. The Eagle forward above was receiving treatment for an injury when the Reform player (Far right) couldn't help making a comment which the prone player took great exception to. A mixture of his manager and the referee had to restrain him.
The rolling maul.
“Calm down or I'll have to take you off”
Let's get on with the game.
Reform keeper Paul Pritchard.
At half time Reform Health Club lead 3-2. Despite going close towards an equaliser just before the break the Eagle struggled to cope defensively with Reform in the second period. A Matty Muscroft free kick went over the head of Brown who'd enjoyed better days. Waters scored his hat – trick and even keeper Pritchard got on the score sheet after coming up the pitch to take a free kick. In the end Reform ran out comfortable 7-2 winners and now meet the winners of the Wyre Villa v Talbot Cons game that was postponed this morning.
In the other game Poulton Seniors were away at Bispham Juniors. Both sides are also yet to meet in league action. After an unbeaten October Bispham were in sixth place two points behind opponents Poulton who were in fifth. In reaching round four Bispham had previously accounted for Kingsfield Matrix and Birkdale United. Poulton had beaten Brannigans Reserves and Layton Institute but only after a replay. In the above picture referee Colin Brownsell tosses the coin prior to kick off.
The half time score was 0-0. It was a good game of football with very few clear cut chances. Cottam went close for Bispham but blazed over when clean through. Poulton were getting crosses into the box but nobody on the end of them.
Poulton Senior's keeper.
Bispham manager Gary Briggs putting in a second half appearance today.
Midway through the half Bispham looked the more like scoring. Numerous half chances were created and David Dean went extremely close when his diving header from a Cottam cross come shot just went into the side netting. However, Poulton rode out the pressure and came more and more into it.
Poulton's Ben Hopes (Right)
On eighty minutes with the game looking as though it was heading for extra time Poulton made the breakthrough. A break down the right resulted in a cross from Morris that found in-form striker Chris Apaloo relatively unmarked at the far post. He took full advantage by guiding a powerful header far beyond the reach of the Bispham keeper. 0-1
A Bispham defender stands with head in hands as Apaloos' header finds the back of the net.
Injured Poulton midfielder Carl Spedding (Centre) watches from the sidelines alongside brother Jordan and Dad Mark. The Quilligan's game a late victim of the rain at Moor Park this morning.
It wasn't long until they saw another goal. It was Apaloo again. He picked up the ball on the edge of the box, swivelled, and lashed it low and hard into the corner. The Bispham defender (Above) having to work hard to retrieve the ball from the back of the net. 0-2.
Poulton's two goal hero Chris Apaloo gets the bucket of cold water treatment from his team mates at the end of the match. Poulton go through to the quarter finals where they'll meet Fylde Coast Gates at Commonedge Road. A great win for Gates today over previously ubeaten Christ the King who fell victim to the fyldesport.com manager of the month award.
Sportspy 2005/06
bfsfa.com/fyldesport
The fyldesport.com overall and divisional 'Manager of the Month' awards for October 2005. These awards are unofficial, just for fun and totally separate from any awards the league itself may wish to bestow. 
The predicted cold snap continued but with some leeway being given by the referees on kick off times many of the games at Commonedge Road went ahead as planned. 
New referee for the Alliance Mr Hartshorn just moved up here from the Midlands.
The Abram keeper receives treatment after a brave save at the feet of a Highbury opponent.
