The gaffer made three changes from the side that drew with 433 Academy. Josh Lewis, Kian Hughes and Zakai Walters were all unavailable, meaning Marley Sutton-Watkin, Brendan McRae and Matas Lukjanoves came in to start.

Eastwood started on the front foot and took control early. The opening goal came through excellent work down the right as Brendan McRae released Toby Woodward, whose low cross was met by Roche Rijssel, calmly stroking the ball home from close range to give the hosts a deserved lead.

Eastwood pushed for a second, with Reuben Clowes, Rijssel, and Atkinson all going close as the hosts looked firmly in control. However, against the run of play, Strachan found an equaliser just one minute before the break. Thomas Hodgkinson was caught in possession, allowing Strachan’s number nine to race through and fire a low driven strike from distance into the bottom corner.

Half-time: 1–1 — a scoreline that hardly reflected Eastwood’s dominance.

The visitors completed the turnaround just two minutes after the restart. The same striker broke through the Eastwood defence and squeezed his effort through the legs of Sam Tyler to put Strachan ahead.

Eastwood responded with renewed intent, and a half-time change almost paid immediate dividends. Substitute Osaro Divine was brought down in the box, but the midfielder’s penalty was comfortably saved by the visiting goalkeeper.

Undeterred, Eastwood continued to press and were rewarded when a long kick from Tyler was misjudged by the Strachan back line. Hodgkinson reacted quickest, racing through to redeem himself and finishing smartly to level the scores at 2–2.

As the match entered the closing stages, Eastwood pushed for a winner and found it in dramatic fashion in the 88th minute. Leo Robinson surged down the right and pulled the ball back perfectly for Clowes, who took a touch before calmly finishing to seal a vital 3–2 victory.

Full-time: Eastwood CFC 3–2 Strachan FF

A huge win for Eastwood that keeps them top of the league and showcased the side’s resilience and belief, turning a game that had briefly slipped away into another memorable home success.

Eastwood CFC Lineup;
1. Sam Tyler (c)
2. Brendan McRae
3. Marley Sutton-Watkin
4. Alfie Upton
5. Owen Hayes
6. Matas Lukjanoves
7. Shiloh Atkinson (Robinson 69)
8. Toby Woodward (Divine 46)
9. Roche Rijssel (27) (Bykou 79)
10. Reuben Clowes (88)
11. Thomas Hodgkinson (69)

Subs
12. Osaro Divine
14. Khy-Zjae Grant
15. Dionysis Bykou
17. Leo Robinson

Man Of The Match: Alfie Upton