X-Roads 1 Somerset Eagles 1

Somerset Eagles continued their positive start to the Premier League campaign, as they were able to secure a draw on the road against X-Roads at Garrison field yesterday.

They were close to claiming all three points, but were undone by a late header from Tyrell Burgess, which cancelled out a Nathan Rego strike earlier in the half.

Eagles coach, Jenson Rogers, expressed mixed emotions with regard to the result.

“A draw away from home, at this stage of the campaign is always a positive thing, but we had a number of opportunities to seal the victory and, unfortunately, were unable to capitalise,” he said.

“However, four points after two matches is obviously a good start for us and we now need to focus on the upcoming derby against Trojans.”

Although scoreless, the first half produced a number of chances at both ends.

Eagles goalkeeper, Lorenzo Burch was called on twice in the first ten minutes. Once to push a first time effort from Donavon Thompson around the post after he latched on to a through ball, and then again to make a fingertip save from a well-struck Patrick Richardson volley from the corner of the box.

At the other end, Tahj Wade and Nathan Rego were combining nicely, with the latter finding the back of the net twice in the space of five minutes.

As the game progressed, Eagles looked the most likely to score, and it was no surprise, when they found the breakthrough immediately following the interval.

Rego put his team ahead with a calm finish from close range after receiving a reverse pass from Teniko Eve inside the box.

The goal seemed to put the visitors firmly in control as they continued to be dangerous on the attack.

Eve had a header from a corner come off the upright, Rego had two efforts go just over the bar, and substitute Josh Desilva could not find the final touch on a couple crosses that flashed across the box.

X-Roads spent much of the half on the back foot, but continued to fight and began to cause major problems from set pieces as they piled numbers into the box in search of an equaliser.

It would eventually come in the 85th through new signing Burgess, who rose highest to head a well-flighted free kick from Kijuan Wilkinson into the top corner earning new coach Larry Smith his first point.

“I thought the draw was well deserved in the end and it gives us something to build on,” he said. “The key for us right now is to work hard and be patient as I integrate my philosophy with that of the club.”

SCORERS

X-Roads

Burgess 85

Somerset Eagles

Rego 52

TEAMS

X-Roads (4-5-1): J Burrows — C McDowell, J Furbert, K Wilkinson, T Daniels — A Heyliger (sub D Baker 56), T Burgess, M Hill, R Beek (sub K Davis-Jones 50), P Richardson (sub T Perinchief 50)— D Thompson. Substitutes not used:

J Sanchez, C Hayward, D Cooper, D Ossett

Somerset Eagles (4-3-3): L Burch — A Morrissey, K Evans, M Iris Simmons E Fubler — (sub J Desliva 60), D Simmons,, T Eve L Lambert — A Telford (sub M Thomas 88), T Wade (sub R Ford 86), N Rego

Substitutes not used: A Butterfield, R Saggar, G Smith, M Wade

Referee: A Francis