Post by slush on Aug 17, 2006 11:21:46 GMT
Spot-on Stiffs head off Hedon fight-back
Melvin Douglas Memorial Trophy
Easington United 3 – 3 Hedon United
(Easington win 3 – 1 on penalties)
JUST three days ahead of the Humber Premier League campaign, the members of John Clarke’s second-string squad were given the chance to force themselves into the plans of watching first team boss Dave Mack.
And to a man they didn’t disappoint as a well-taken “Bezza” hat-trick and coolly converted penalties from Campbell, Ratcliffe and the “Wingco” eventually proved enough to wrest back the Melvin Douglas trophy from Dave Gatti’s fledgling Hedon team.
The visitors arrived at Low Farm in some turmoil following the resignation of first team boss Gavin Kenny and the departure of all but a handful of last season’s squad.
Thus Gatti’s reserve team, which had been facing up to another season in County League 2, suddenly finds itself thrust into the HPL, while the manager is faced with some frantic last-minute recruitment.
According to the Hedon boss, five of the players were playing their first games for four years or more, eight were introduced to each other before game and only one (Andy Watson) survived from last year’s HPL first team
Ex-East Ender Craig Palmer is one player to have been lured back to Draper Lane, along with former Keyingham duo Gav & Mike Batty. And all three were prominent as Hedon opened up their hosts with ease to take a 3rd minute lead through Mark Fordham.
The early goal sparked ten minutes of end-to-end action.
First it was the Hedon keeper’s turn; tipping over Craig Foster’s awkward free kick from halfway before getting down well to block Mark Thurkettle’s near post shot. Then Glen Ratcliffe – deputising in place of the late arriving Chris Walmsley – did well to prevent Mike Batty doubling Hedon’s lead.
After this initial spate of excitement, however, the game became somewhat scrappy until Clarke introduced the aforementioned Walmsley, which allowed Ratcliffe to move up front.
Suddenly, the Hedon defence were put under pressure and from Tom McLaughlin’s well-delivered corner, “Bezza” Barnett stole in to head home a 32nd minute equaliser.
That was just the start for the youngster and after Hedon had gone close with a swift counter-attack, Barnett struck his second right on the stroke of half-time – and what a second. Ratcliffe and the outstanding Pasha Brown forged the opening, the ball ran free to Barnett and, without hesitation, he stonked it home via the underside of the bar from 25 yards out.
The goal provided the perfect fillip for the locals and they started the second half in confident mood, helped by the introduction of Ollie Musgrove and Stu Campbell, both given a run following a lack of recent action.
On 65mins they appeared to have settled matters when handball in the box allowed Barnett the chance to complete his second successive hat-trick; a chance coolly taken; 3-1.
Within minutes, however, Hedon were back in it. After Campbell’s fine goal-line clearance had kept out one threat, “Wingco” was adjudged to have won his defensive header unfairly at the resulting corner. Palmer duly converted the spot kick.
Still Easington had chances to finish matters. Darren Dawson headed over a Ratcliffe cross, while “Bezza” twice failed to make the most of further good opportunities.
Punishment came in stoppage time when the Stiffs failed to clear their lines at a free kick and Palmer struck his second of the game to take the game into extra-time.
Therein things remained goalless – a Dawson shot and a Darren Thompson header providing the best of the home chances – and so to penalties.
Now Walmsley excelled, superbly saving the first, making a more routine save for the second, being beaten only by the power on the third before watching the decisive fourth go wide.
In the fading light, skipper Darren Dawson became the first East Ender to lift the cup since 2002, while “Bezza” and Hedon’s Watson took the respective man of the match awards.
Easington: G Ratcliffe, B Fisk, M Hooley, W Commander, D Campbell, M Thurkettle, T McLaughlin, D Dawson, P Brown, D Clubley, A Barnett
SUBS: C Walmsley (for Clubley, 32), D Thompson (for Thurkettle, 32), Musgrove (for McLaughlin, 46), Jeffery (for Fisk, 46), S Campbell (for D Campbell, 60), McLaughlin (for Dawson, 97), Clubley (for Barnett, 101)
Referee: Mr. S Barrett (Hull)
Att: 35
Melvin Douglas Memorial Trophy
Easington United 3 – 3 Hedon United
(Easington win 3 – 1 on penalties)
JUST three days ahead of the Humber Premier League campaign, the members of John Clarke’s second-string squad were given the chance to force themselves into the plans of watching first team boss Dave Mack.
And to a man they didn’t disappoint as a well-taken “Bezza” hat-trick and coolly converted penalties from Campbell, Ratcliffe and the “Wingco” eventually proved enough to wrest back the Melvin Douglas trophy from Dave Gatti’s fledgling Hedon team.
The visitors arrived at Low Farm in some turmoil following the resignation of first team boss Gavin Kenny and the departure of all but a handful of last season’s squad.
Thus Gatti’s reserve team, which had been facing up to another season in County League 2, suddenly finds itself thrust into the HPL, while the manager is faced with some frantic last-minute recruitment.
According to the Hedon boss, five of the players were playing their first games for four years or more, eight were introduced to each other before game and only one (Andy Watson) survived from last year’s HPL first team
Ex-East Ender Craig Palmer is one player to have been lured back to Draper Lane, along with former Keyingham duo Gav & Mike Batty. And all three were prominent as Hedon opened up their hosts with ease to take a 3rd minute lead through Mark Fordham.
The early goal sparked ten minutes of end-to-end action.
First it was the Hedon keeper’s turn; tipping over Craig Foster’s awkward free kick from halfway before getting down well to block Mark Thurkettle’s near post shot. Then Glen Ratcliffe – deputising in place of the late arriving Chris Walmsley – did well to prevent Mike Batty doubling Hedon’s lead.
After this initial spate of excitement, however, the game became somewhat scrappy until Clarke introduced the aforementioned Walmsley, which allowed Ratcliffe to move up front.
Suddenly, the Hedon defence were put under pressure and from Tom McLaughlin’s well-delivered corner, “Bezza” Barnett stole in to head home a 32nd minute equaliser.
That was just the start for the youngster and after Hedon had gone close with a swift counter-attack, Barnett struck his second right on the stroke of half-time – and what a second. Ratcliffe and the outstanding Pasha Brown forged the opening, the ball ran free to Barnett and, without hesitation, he stonked it home via the underside of the bar from 25 yards out.
The goal provided the perfect fillip for the locals and they started the second half in confident mood, helped by the introduction of Ollie Musgrove and Stu Campbell, both given a run following a lack of recent action.
On 65mins they appeared to have settled matters when handball in the box allowed Barnett the chance to complete his second successive hat-trick; a chance coolly taken; 3-1.
Within minutes, however, Hedon were back in it. After Campbell’s fine goal-line clearance had kept out one threat, “Wingco” was adjudged to have won his defensive header unfairly at the resulting corner. Palmer duly converted the spot kick.
Still Easington had chances to finish matters. Darren Dawson headed over a Ratcliffe cross, while “Bezza” twice failed to make the most of further good opportunities.
Punishment came in stoppage time when the Stiffs failed to clear their lines at a free kick and Palmer struck his second of the game to take the game into extra-time.
Therein things remained goalless – a Dawson shot and a Darren Thompson header providing the best of the home chances – and so to penalties.
Now Walmsley excelled, superbly saving the first, making a more routine save for the second, being beaten only by the power on the third before watching the decisive fourth go wide.
In the fading light, skipper Darren Dawson became the first East Ender to lift the cup since 2002, while “Bezza” and Hedon’s Watson took the respective man of the match awards.
Easington: G Ratcliffe, B Fisk, M Hooley, W Commander, D Campbell, M Thurkettle, T McLaughlin, D Dawson, P Brown, D Clubley, A Barnett
SUBS: C Walmsley (for Clubley, 32), D Thompson (for Thurkettle, 32), Musgrove (for McLaughlin, 46), Jeffery (for Fisk, 46), S Campbell (for D Campbell, 60), McLaughlin (for Dawson, 97), Clubley (for Barnett, 101)
Referee: Mr. S Barrett (Hull)
Att: 35