GAWLER Eagles came from behind to defeat Eastern United 3-1 in State League 2 soccer on Saturday afternoon at Athelstone Recreation Reserve.

The Eagles, who had played a game midweek against Mount Barker United, looked sluggish early and trailed in the 35th minute after Omar Hassan scored for Eastern.

With the score 0-1 at half-time, Gawler went searching for answers.

Fortunately, it found them six minutes after the restart, as Iradi Baragomwa scored his first of two goals, taking his tally to 22 goals in 16 games.

The Eagles then snatched the lead in the 65th minute, as Pierre Ndayirata converted his fourth goal for the week.

Baragomwa sealed the deal in added time to ensure the Eagles have a seven-point gap between them and Vipers FC in third place on the table.

In the reserves, it was a one-sided result as Eastern United thumped Gawler 9-0.

Rick Iommazzo scored a hat-trick, while both Zac Crescitelli and Cristian Caperna netted braces in the rout.

In the under 18s, Gawler walked away with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Eastern United.

Earlier in the week, Gawler was forced to replay its game with Mount Barker United after it was called off due to a waterlogged pitch, and came away with a 4-2 win.

It looked as if the unthinkable was on the cards early, as the competition’s bottom side led 2-1 at half-time.

Ndayirata had scored the Eagles’ sole goal in the 12th minute.

However, Gawler broke the game open in the space of five minutes, as Ndayirata secured his brace in the 51st minute, Thierry Hatungimana converted a penalty in the 53rd minute, and Baragomwa scored in the 56th.

The Eagles didn’t look back from there, and secured the win.

Also mid-week, Gawler defeated Mount Barker United 3-2 in the reserves.

Igor Lino, Deng Malak and Ali Ramadan all scored in the victory.

Lastly, Gawler was also successful in the under 18s, knocking off Mount Barker United 2-1.

Rashidi Tambwe, and an own goal from Jaiden Crane, secured the three premiership points for the Eagles.