GU14 Eagles Edge Guildford in 8 Goal Thriller

GU14 Eagles 5 - 3 Guildford (A)

National Supra League Round 3

It was the kind of match that had more drama than an entire season of the Traitors. The tension was palpable, the music louder than the actual gameplay, and the stakes high enough to make even the most seasoned player sweat. In a headline last seen at a 1980s music festival, Eagles v Eagles was the main act with Guildford Eagles hosting Surbiton Eagles at the Broadwater, and the only thing more intense than the match was the pre-game fanfare. If you’d told they players they were about to take the stage at the World Cup, they would’ve believed you — that’s how hyped the atmosphere was - with the players’ names announced over the tannoy just before pushback. 

Both teams started with determination. Guildford came out the gates firing, pushing Surbiton back into their own half. The visitors' full-backs, Saffron and Leia, spent the first few minutes coming under relentless attack. But they stood tall (ish), repelling wave after wave of Guildford sorties, proving their worth and keeping the score at 0-0.

Then, something magical happened. As if struck by some sort of midfield wizardry, Becca took charge. With some deft touches and mind-blowing passes, she turned the tide for Surbiton, and soon enough, Sylvie and Gemma started showing off their silky skills. And there, at the back post, was Maya — ready, poised, and completely in the zone. She sent the ball into the net like a pro, and just like that, Surbiton was 1-0 up. Cue a massive cheer from the Surbiton supporters and a justified sense of disbelief from Guildford.

From there, it was end-to-end madness. Taylor worked her magic with passes that defied logic, while Sofia dashed down the wing with the speed of someone who’d just seen the halftime snacks. But the home team weren’t backing down. A few well-timed shots from Guildford, along with some crafty moves, kept the match on a knife’s edge. But as the first half came to a close, our Eagles were ahead 1-0, with their supporters still recovering from the heart-stopping action.

Half time arrived, and what was meant to be a moment of respite quickly became a mini crisis, the half-time watermelon went missing. Luckily, after a mini- treasure hunt, the watermelon was located, and normality was restored. Surbiton quickly refocused - all talk of a players strike dissipated - ready to finish what they’d started.

Then came the second half. Guildford, seemingly fueled by some sort of supercharge, came out with a vengeance. But Cesca was everywhere, intercepting passes like a human radar, and five minutes in, Surbiton struck again. Seren sent a beautiful ball up the pitch, Charlie got on the end of it, and BOOM — 2-0 to Surbiton. A collective sigh of relief echoed from the Surbiton bench, but Guildford wasn’t about to roll over. A minute later, they broke through and scored — 2-1. Game on.

What followed was a blur of goals. Five minutes after Guildford’s goal, Surbiton pounced again, with Charlie bagging her second after a chaotic scramble in front of the Guildford goal. It was 3-1, and the crowd could finally breathe a little easier. But wait, Guildford hit back with another rapid counterattack, cutting the lead to 3-2. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a hockey stick.

Ebba, however, clearly didn’t read the memo that both teams had agreed to take turns scoring. A few minutes after Guildford’s second, she cracked the ball into the net from an impossible angle, making it 4-2. It was a goal that could only be described as Ebba-esque. Guildford wasn’t done, though. They continued to push, with one blistering shot on goal that had Emily pulling off a save so good, it should be in a highlight reel. Her outstretched stick pushed the ball wide, and the crowd went wild. At the back, Boo was in full-on defence mode, thwarting Guildford’s every attempt to break through. It was like watching a wall made of pure determination — and maybe a bit of watermelon energy.

The match dragged on, with spectators feeling the pressure. It seemed to go on for so long that the Surbiton supporters were starting to wonder if the players might be late for next week’s match. But Lyla, full of energy, kept the passes flowing, and Violet sealed the deal with a classy finish to make it 5-3. The game had finally come to an end, and Surbiton had done more than enough to keep their dreams of the Supra League finals alive. The supporters, exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster, promptly booked an appointment with a chiropractor. But in the end, Surbiton had claimed the victory — 5-3 — and more importantly, their position in the coveted top two places in the Supra League table was still intact.