Post by slush on Aug 22, 2006 6:41:49 GMT
Hobson’s choice rescues ‘Ella
Easington United 1 – 1 Westella & Willerby
GARY Hobson denied Easington United a win in the Humber Premier League opener at Low Farm.
The former Hull City and Brighton defender curled in a 76th minute free kick to cancel out Ollie Musgrove’s first half opener and rescue a point for Westella & Willerby.
The equaliser prompted protests from Eastenders goalkeeper Kevin Appleyard that eventually led to his dismissal and clouded an otherwise impressive first day showing by the hosts.
In front of a large Low Farm crowd, Easington started strongly and were gifted an excellent early opportunity when Westella goalkeeper Adam Nicklin handled a back pass from the aforementioned Hobson. Unfortunately, Phil Jackman drilled the resulting free kick wide.
The Eastenders’ promising opening was rewarded on 14 minutes. Jackman played Musgrove in with an excellent crossfield pass and the youngster took a touch before slamming the ball into the roof of the net from 18 yards.
Three minutes later Easington went agonisingly close to doubling their lead; Mike Nicholson’s persistence releasing Ian Barrow round the back and his whipped cross just eluded the onrushing Gavin Thurkettle.
The locals suffered a setback on 22mins when Tony Hunt was forced to retire with a recurrence of his troublesome Achilles injury. This allowed Adam Metcalf to make his HPL debut with Kev Milner slotting in alongside skipper Andy Graham at the heart of the defence.
Still the momentum remained with the home side. Jackman headed a Thurkettle cross straight at Nicklin on 27mins and Craig Smalley’s volley was comfortably saved ten minutes later.
Just before the break Easington thought they’d doubled their lead when Musgrove was played in on the left and crossed for Barrow to convert. The asst-referee’s flag halted the celebrations.
Aside from one routine save to deny Matt Fyvie, Appleyard had had very little to do in the first half and despite Westella starting in more purposeful fashion, the same remained true after the break.
Indeed, it was Easington who carved out another great chance to make it 2-0 on 47mins,; Thurkettle haring away down the left but his cross for Jackman was just too high for the header to be kept down.
On 62mins it was the industrious Stu Campbell creating the opening, winning the ball well on the left before drilling a cross that Barrow just couldn’t get on the end of.
Two minutes later Westella had their first real chance when a cross into the Eastenders box somehow eluded two waiting players. And on 67mins the warning signs were there again when Mike Pecora was allowed space to turn in the box. Luckily he pulled his shot wide.
Westella made the first of three quick-fire changes on 73 minutes but it was Easington who again went close moments later.
Barrow broke the offside trap to race clear down the right but from his pull back Nicholson lifted his shot over the top with the goal seemingly beckoning.
Then came Hobson’s equaliser, his free kick from the right eluding everybody before dropping in at the far post with Appleyard feeling Chris Plummer had impeded him.
Still, even down to ten men, it was Easington who went close to snatching the game in the dying minutes but Barrow and Walmsley were just unable to convert late opportunities.
Afterwards, Westella manager Dave Anderson conceded his side had played their “get out of jail” card. Meanwhile, Dave Mackay-Dundas expressed immense satisfaction at the performance of his depleted squad, although he was naturally disappointed not to have taken all three points.
“When you dominate a team of Westella’s quality for long periods of the game as we did today, I’ve got to be happy. It’s just disappointing that we couldn’t kill the game off at 1-0 and we paid the price.”
Easington: K Appleyard, C Smalley, K Milner, S Campbell, T Hunt (A Metcalf, 22), A Graham, I Barrow, M Nicholson, G Thurkettle, P Jackman (D Walmsley, 80), O Musgrove (O Camara, 84)
Westella: A Nicklin, J Tomlinson, G Hobson (A Smith, 80), C Plummer, P Kirby, A Taylor, M Bartlett, E Turay, M Fyvie (S Taylor, 75), M Pecora, T Dent (O Robinson, 73) (Subs not used: L Taylor (GK), M Trotter)
Referee: Mr. C. A. Hitchcock (Cottingham)
Att: 70
Easington United 1 – 1 Westella & Willerby
GARY Hobson denied Easington United a win in the Humber Premier League opener at Low Farm.
The former Hull City and Brighton defender curled in a 76th minute free kick to cancel out Ollie Musgrove’s first half opener and rescue a point for Westella & Willerby.
The equaliser prompted protests from Eastenders goalkeeper Kevin Appleyard that eventually led to his dismissal and clouded an otherwise impressive first day showing by the hosts.
In front of a large Low Farm crowd, Easington started strongly and were gifted an excellent early opportunity when Westella goalkeeper Adam Nicklin handled a back pass from the aforementioned Hobson. Unfortunately, Phil Jackman drilled the resulting free kick wide.
The Eastenders’ promising opening was rewarded on 14 minutes. Jackman played Musgrove in with an excellent crossfield pass and the youngster took a touch before slamming the ball into the roof of the net from 18 yards.
Three minutes later Easington went agonisingly close to doubling their lead; Mike Nicholson’s persistence releasing Ian Barrow round the back and his whipped cross just eluded the onrushing Gavin Thurkettle.
The locals suffered a setback on 22mins when Tony Hunt was forced to retire with a recurrence of his troublesome Achilles injury. This allowed Adam Metcalf to make his HPL debut with Kev Milner slotting in alongside skipper Andy Graham at the heart of the defence.
Still the momentum remained with the home side. Jackman headed a Thurkettle cross straight at Nicklin on 27mins and Craig Smalley’s volley was comfortably saved ten minutes later.
Just before the break Easington thought they’d doubled their lead when Musgrove was played in on the left and crossed for Barrow to convert. The asst-referee’s flag halted the celebrations.
Aside from one routine save to deny Matt Fyvie, Appleyard had had very little to do in the first half and despite Westella starting in more purposeful fashion, the same remained true after the break.
Indeed, it was Easington who carved out another great chance to make it 2-0 on 47mins,; Thurkettle haring away down the left but his cross for Jackman was just too high for the header to be kept down.
On 62mins it was the industrious Stu Campbell creating the opening, winning the ball well on the left before drilling a cross that Barrow just couldn’t get on the end of.
Two minutes later Westella had their first real chance when a cross into the Eastenders box somehow eluded two waiting players. And on 67mins the warning signs were there again when Mike Pecora was allowed space to turn in the box. Luckily he pulled his shot wide.
Westella made the first of three quick-fire changes on 73 minutes but it was Easington who again went close moments later.
Barrow broke the offside trap to race clear down the right but from his pull back Nicholson lifted his shot over the top with the goal seemingly beckoning.
Then came Hobson’s equaliser, his free kick from the right eluding everybody before dropping in at the far post with Appleyard feeling Chris Plummer had impeded him.
Still, even down to ten men, it was Easington who went close to snatching the game in the dying minutes but Barrow and Walmsley were just unable to convert late opportunities.
Afterwards, Westella manager Dave Anderson conceded his side had played their “get out of jail” card. Meanwhile, Dave Mackay-Dundas expressed immense satisfaction at the performance of his depleted squad, although he was naturally disappointed not to have taken all three points.
“When you dominate a team of Westella’s quality for long periods of the game as we did today, I’ve got to be happy. It’s just disappointing that we couldn’t kill the game off at 1-0 and we paid the price.”
Easington: K Appleyard, C Smalley, K Milner, S Campbell, T Hunt (A Metcalf, 22), A Graham, I Barrow, M Nicholson, G Thurkettle, P Jackman (D Walmsley, 80), O Musgrove (O Camara, 84)
Westella: A Nicklin, J Tomlinson, G Hobson (A Smith, 80), C Plummer, P Kirby, A Taylor, M Bartlett, E Turay, M Fyvie (S Taylor, 75), M Pecora, T Dent (O Robinson, 73) (Subs not used: L Taylor (GK), M Trotter)
Referee: Mr. C. A. Hitchcock (Cottingham)
Att: 70