Blake's late stunner seals FA Cup progress for the Red Badgers!

Eastwood left it late to secure a superb three points at Loughborough Students, claiming a 2-1 victory thanks to a stunning late winner from Tyler Blake.

After last weekend’s impressive 4-1 victory over Blackstones, Billy Bennett and Kieren Fenton were forced into one change to their starting XI. Tom Marshall wasn’t fit enough to start, with Harry Wood stepping into the back four and Connor Dimaio taking the captain’s armband.

Tony Gbopo and Rashaan Frances returned to the matchday squad, while new signing Callum Chettle was named among the substitutes.

The opening stages were played at a frantic pace, with both sides looking to attack from the off.

Robert March registered the hosts’ first effort after just three minutes, firing from distance, before Patrick Webb went close at the other end three minutes later with a long-range effort that narrowly cleared the crossbar.

Loughborough looked dangerous on the counter, with Ikegwuonu forcing Loach into a save from just outside the box. Eastwood responded with a clever short corner between Dimaio and James, with Dimaio’s resulting cross finding Fenton, who headed wide.

The game continued to swing from end to end.

On 25 minutes, a ball over the top found Webb in a promising position and Paddy forced a good save from Upstell. Moments later, the Students skipper tested Loach at the other end, stinging the Eastwood goalkeeper’s palms.

Eastwood then produced one of their best moves of the half. Thompson found himself in possession just outside the box following some excellent build-up play, but his attempted pass had too much on it and ran through to the goalkeeper.

The hosts finished the opening 45 minutes strongly and Eastwood had to defend resolutely.

With three minutes remaining in the half, Loughborough won a corner from the right. The ball was swung into a crowded penalty area and Walker produced an outstanding piece of defending, making three crucial blocks in quick succession — first from Kasukumya, then March, before Ikegwuonu got an effort away.

The resulting corner was once again met by a wall of Eastwood bodies as the Red Badgers stood firm to ensure the scores remained level at the break.

HALF TIME: Loughborough Students 0-0 Eastwood

Eastwood came flying out of the blocks after the restart and needed just two minutes to break the deadlock.

After a patient spell of possession, Sackey-Mensah picked out the run of Walker, who laid the ball into the path of James. The winger delivered an inch-perfect cross towards the back post, where Patrick Webb arrived at exactly the right moment to head home.
Three games, three goals.

0-1 EASTWOOD.

The lead, however, lasted just a matter of minutes.

Loughborough won a free kick from the left which was headed towards goal, but Loach produced another strong save. Eastwood cleared their lines, only for the hosts to recover possession and work the ball back into the box.

Bowman fired low, with Loach once again equal to the effort.

But the pressure eventually told.

The Students worked the ball across the pitch before finding Gilpin, who turned superbly on the edge of the area and found the bottom corner to bring the hosts level. 1-1.

Loughborough were now enjoying their best spell of the afternoon and began to pile pressure on the Eastwood defence.

Kyle broke through and saw his effort blocked, with the deflection falling kindly to substitute Underwood. The ball had wrong-footed Loach and it looked certain that Underwood would restore the hosts’ lead, but somehow Loach recovered to get across his goal and force the substitute wide, with the eventual effort dragged past the post.

Fenton then produced another important intervention to halt a Loughborough attack before Albert fired over.

Eastwood continued to threaten despite the pressure, with James coming close on two occasions.

First, Dimaio delivered a dangerous cross from the left, but James couldn’t quite get the required contact as Loughborough cleared.
Moments later, Nicholson’s deep cross dropped at James’ feet, but the goalkeeper and covering defender combined to prevent the Eastwood man from getting a clean shot away.

With ten minutes remaining, Loach was called upon once again.

Bowman stood over a free kick in a dangerous position and lifted the ball over the wall, but Loach reacted brilliantly to get a hand to the effort and push it around the post.

Then came the decisive moment.

A quick throw from Gbopo sent the ball into the box before it eventually found its way across to Dimaio, who had been set up brilliantly by Rawson. The skipper’s effort, however, flew narrowly wide.

With just three minutes remaining, Eastwood won a long throw deep in Loughborough territory.

Nicholson launched the ball into the box and chaos followed. The hosts managed to partially clear, but only as far as new signing Callum Chettle.
The substitute lifted the ball back into the danger area...
…and what happened next was special.
Tyler Blake threw himself at the ball and produced an outrageous acrobatic finish, lifting it over the goalkeeper and into the top corner.
A moment of pure quality.

1-2 EASTWOOD.

The Red Badgers had turned the game around.

There was still time for one final scare as Bowman stepped up for another free kick, but this time the Eastwood wall stood firm and blocked the effort.

The final whistle soon followed.

A huge win for Eastwood, who showed character, resilience and plenty of quality to withstand a strong spell from the hosts before producing a moment of magic at the other.

FT Loughborough Students 1-2 Eastwood

Loughborough Students Lineup:
1. Henry Upstell
2. Robert March
3. Matty Bowman
4. Josh Roddy
5. Myogo
6. Nat Salsby
7. Marcus Gilpin (52) (Albert 80)
8. Alfie Lee (Jones 62)
9. Kash Kasukumya (c) (Bertholon 62)
10. Stanley Kyle (Rennie 72)
11. Tobenna Ikegwuonu (Underwood 62)

Subs
12. Matt Rennie
13. Dominic James
14. Noah Halford
15. Archie Underwood
16. Alexander Bertholon
17. Luke Jones
18. Sonny Albert

Eastwood CFC Lineup:
1. Scott Loach
2. Theo Sackey-Mensah (Gbopo79)
3. Louis Nicholson
4. Kieren Fenton
5. Harry Wood
6. Connor Dimaio (c)
7. Revarnelle James
8. Curtis Thompson
9. Tyler Blake (87)
10. Jamie Walker (Chettle 72)
11. Patrick Webb (47) (Rawson 80)

Subs
12. Callum Chettle
13. Samuel O’Rioye
14. Rashaan Frances
15. L’Varn Brandy
16. Tony Gbopo
17. Luke Rawson
18. Thomas Marshall