Post by slush on Jul 25, 2006 9:34:29 GMT
Omar a star in Saturday matinee thriller
DESPITE conceding a last minute equaliser, John Clarke was delighted by the efforts of his Eastenders squad against a side plying their trade in HPL Division 1 this season.
On an oppressively humid afternoon at the Farm, two teams with suspect defences served up some entertaining fare for the crowd; the lead swapping hands five times in a twelve-goal thriller.
Without asst-mgr McNaught, Fisk, Foster, Campbell, Hooley and Smith from the previous week, Clarke included Dave Walmsley, Adam Metcalf and Ricky Biglin, the latter making a welcome return to the fold after injury.
In addition, Luke Hobson was given a chance in goal due to Rawlings’ shift the night before, while there were two new faces in the 17-man squad.
29-year-old Irish defender Cathal Coyle and Gambian midfielder Omar Camara (26) took up places in a 3-5-2 starting line-up.
More accustomed to right back, Coyle strove hard to come to terms with a demanding central role and did show up well in the air. But it was his fellow “debutant” whose performance had the crowd talking at the end.
Playing the holding role in midfield, the new boy soon assumed control of proceedings. In particular this involved taking every free kick – from the second of which Walmsley fired Easington into a 7th minute lead.
The visitors responded through the aptly named Rob Fowler and then scored again to take a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.
Seventeen minutes later, it was all square again thanks to that man Omar. A Billy Melton foul on Walmsley in the box earned a penalty, expertly converted by the man whose route to Low Farm has come via Düsseldorf, Triton Foods and one midweek training session at Rosemead Street!
Three minutes later it was 3-2; Melton guilty of handball and with Camara having taken a breather, Jamie Cousins curled an exquisite right foot free kick into the top corner.
Adam Metcalf almost made it four on the stroke of half-time, following a surging run and neat interchange with ‘Bezza’ Barnett.
St Andrews levelled again five minutes into the second half before taking the lead themselves for the second time with a deflected shot on 52mins.
Back came Easington; Biglin and Barnett combining for Cousins to double his tally on the hour.
4-4 should have become 5-4 moments later when Jeffrey, Barnett and Clubley linked to put Cousins in again but his delay allowed the keeper to save.
The visitors’ reprieve was not for long; a free-kick conceded 30 yards out and Metcalf’s resulting shot was dropped over the line to regain home advantage.
Matty Milnes replaced the injured Hobson on 65mins and his first action was to pick the ball out of the net following more comical defending; 5-5.
Ten minutes from time, a quality Walmsley finish edged Easington ahead again, following more good approach play involving Thompson and Barnett.
But after Omar had almost applied the coup de grace with a sweetly struck free-kick, which the keeper did well to palm over the top, the flat-footed Eastenders were again punished in the dying seconds.
While Omar’s performance entertained many, Clarke also highlighted Luke Jeffrey’s contribution at right back.
Easington: L Hobson, L Jeffrey, A Metcalf, C Coyle, O Camara, M Thurkettle, P Brown, D Dawson, J Cousins, D Walmsley, D Thompson
SUBS: D Campbell (for Thurkettle, 25), R Biglin (for Dawson, 25), Barnett (for Thompson, 25); T McLaughlin (for Brown, 38), M Milnes (for Camara, 38), D Clubley (for Walmsley, 38),; Dawson (for Hobson, 63), Walmsley (for Clubley, 75), Camara (for Coyle, 75), Thompson (for McLaughlin, 75), Brown (for Cousins, 75)
Referee: Mr. W Pharaoh (Hull)
Att: 41
DESPITE conceding a last minute equaliser, John Clarke was delighted by the efforts of his Eastenders squad against a side plying their trade in HPL Division 1 this season.
On an oppressively humid afternoon at the Farm, two teams with suspect defences served up some entertaining fare for the crowd; the lead swapping hands five times in a twelve-goal thriller.
Without asst-mgr McNaught, Fisk, Foster, Campbell, Hooley and Smith from the previous week, Clarke included Dave Walmsley, Adam Metcalf and Ricky Biglin, the latter making a welcome return to the fold after injury.
In addition, Luke Hobson was given a chance in goal due to Rawlings’ shift the night before, while there were two new faces in the 17-man squad.
29-year-old Irish defender Cathal Coyle and Gambian midfielder Omar Camara (26) took up places in a 3-5-2 starting line-up.
More accustomed to right back, Coyle strove hard to come to terms with a demanding central role and did show up well in the air. But it was his fellow “debutant” whose performance had the crowd talking at the end.
Playing the holding role in midfield, the new boy soon assumed control of proceedings. In particular this involved taking every free kick – from the second of which Walmsley fired Easington into a 7th minute lead.
The visitors responded through the aptly named Rob Fowler and then scored again to take a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.
Seventeen minutes later, it was all square again thanks to that man Omar. A Billy Melton foul on Walmsley in the box earned a penalty, expertly converted by the man whose route to Low Farm has come via Düsseldorf, Triton Foods and one midweek training session at Rosemead Street!
Three minutes later it was 3-2; Melton guilty of handball and with Camara having taken a breather, Jamie Cousins curled an exquisite right foot free kick into the top corner.
Adam Metcalf almost made it four on the stroke of half-time, following a surging run and neat interchange with ‘Bezza’ Barnett.
St Andrews levelled again five minutes into the second half before taking the lead themselves for the second time with a deflected shot on 52mins.
Back came Easington; Biglin and Barnett combining for Cousins to double his tally on the hour.
4-4 should have become 5-4 moments later when Jeffrey, Barnett and Clubley linked to put Cousins in again but his delay allowed the keeper to save.
The visitors’ reprieve was not for long; a free-kick conceded 30 yards out and Metcalf’s resulting shot was dropped over the line to regain home advantage.
Matty Milnes replaced the injured Hobson on 65mins and his first action was to pick the ball out of the net following more comical defending; 5-5.
Ten minutes from time, a quality Walmsley finish edged Easington ahead again, following more good approach play involving Thompson and Barnett.
But after Omar had almost applied the coup de grace with a sweetly struck free-kick, which the keeper did well to palm over the top, the flat-footed Eastenders were again punished in the dying seconds.
While Omar’s performance entertained many, Clarke also highlighted Luke Jeffrey’s contribution at right back.
Easington: L Hobson, L Jeffrey, A Metcalf, C Coyle, O Camara, M Thurkettle, P Brown, D Dawson, J Cousins, D Walmsley, D Thompson
SUBS: D Campbell (for Thurkettle, 25), R Biglin (for Dawson, 25), Barnett (for Thompson, 25); T McLaughlin (for Brown, 38), M Milnes (for Camara, 38), D Clubley (for Walmsley, 38),; Dawson (for Hobson, 63), Walmsley (for Clubley, 75), Camara (for Coyle, 75), Thompson (for McLaughlin, 75), Brown (for Cousins, 75)
Referee: Mr. W Pharaoh (Hull)
Att: 41