Post by slush on Aug 30, 2006 11:24:55 GMT
“King Harrod” rises to the occasion!
Hornsea Town 1 – 4 Easington United
IN his first start of the season Steve Harrod turned in a man of the match performance to help Easington United rise to second in the Humber Premier League.
Two goals from Mike Nicholson, a maiden strike from John Batch and an Ian Barrow header helped the Eastenders to a 4-1 victory at The Hollis Recreation Ground.
But it was Harrod’s performance that caught the eye. Asked to do an unaccustomed role in the middle of the park, the ex-Malet Lambert striker’s strength, ability in the air and, in particular, touch proved the difference on numerous occasions and left manager Mack with just the faintest hint of a self-satisfied smile at the close!
At kick-off, following the rain that had wiped out the Hornsea v Yorkshire cricket match and with dark clouds enveloping the Hollis Rec., conditions looked hardly conducive to good football.
Harrod in for Ollie Musgrove was the only change to the Eastenders starting line-up although asst-mgr Walmsley and the returning Chris Senior replaced youngsters Jeffery and McLaughlin on the bench.
The first half hour was very much a case of both midfields cancelling each other out with few chances being created at either end.
From one that was, Easington took the lead on 26mins. Andy Graham’s free kick picked out Mike Nicholson and his shot was fumbled into his own net by goalkeeper Stead.
Hornsea almost replied immediately when Dave Burnett made space for himself before shooting narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
On 34 minutes Town did level matters as Easington suffered a double blow. First, Dean Jennings’ fine cross was converted superbly by John Mill’s thumping far post header; then the Eastenders lost Craig Smalley, injured in making a clearance just prior to the equaliser.
The visitors regained the initiative and the lead with a quality goal just three minutes before the break.
Barrow’s searching pass down the right found Thurkettle whose neat lay-off released Jackman; he in turn showed strength before returning the ball to Thurkettle whose turn and shot was only parried by Stead into the path of Batch three yards out.
The second half began in similarly scrappy fashion to the first but Kite went close to equalising for Town ten minutes in, heading just over from Jennings’ free kick.
Easington gained breathing space on the hour; Thurkettle’s corner picking out Campbell at the far post and his header back was expertly converted by Barrow, to the delight of the travelling contingent.
To their credit Hornsea continued to search for a way back. And although most moves floundered on the solid back four of Metcalf, Graham, Hunt and Campbell, they did forge two good openings, both which fell to Mill.
On 61mins, immediately after Barrow’s goal, the Town striker “did well to miss” having left a couple of defenders for dead and with the goal at his mercy; five minutes later he was denied by an excellent stop from Appleyard who beat out a fierce drive.
Easington then passed up two chances to make the game safe. Barrow was first denied by Stead after racing clear of a by now flagging Town backline; then the same player put Musgrove in only for Stead to again save, with Jamie Cousins screwing the follow-up just wide of the far post.
The ‘killer’ fourth goal finally arrived two minutes from time. Excellent approach play again, this time down the left between Jackman, Barrow and Musgrove created the space for Nicholson to drill home his second of the night.
Afterwards, Mackay-Dundas said, “Although the score perhaps flattered us a little bit, this was an excellent win for us. Our second half performance was perhaps the best we’ve played this season and it was good to see three or four players asked to do different jobs on the night and all respond with strong displays.”
Hornsea: D Stead, D Kite, A Stride, J Black, T Gelsthorpe, D Burnett, J Kershaw, G Rushton, J Mill, D Jennings, R Silvestre (SUBS: S Ward, A Scott, C Langley, M O’Connell, R Dexter (GK))
Easington: K Appleyard, C Smalley (T Hunt, 35) A Metcalf, S Campbell, J Batch, A Graham, I Barrow, M Nicholson, G Thurkettle (O Musgrove, 67), P Jackman, S Harrod (J Cousins, 79) (SUBS not used: C Senior, D Walmsley)
Referee: Mr. S. P. Stevenson (Beverley)
Att: 40
Hornsea Town 1 – 4 Easington United
IN his first start of the season Steve Harrod turned in a man of the match performance to help Easington United rise to second in the Humber Premier League.
Two goals from Mike Nicholson, a maiden strike from John Batch and an Ian Barrow header helped the Eastenders to a 4-1 victory at The Hollis Recreation Ground.
But it was Harrod’s performance that caught the eye. Asked to do an unaccustomed role in the middle of the park, the ex-Malet Lambert striker’s strength, ability in the air and, in particular, touch proved the difference on numerous occasions and left manager Mack with just the faintest hint of a self-satisfied smile at the close!
At kick-off, following the rain that had wiped out the Hornsea v Yorkshire cricket match and with dark clouds enveloping the Hollis Rec., conditions looked hardly conducive to good football.
Harrod in for Ollie Musgrove was the only change to the Eastenders starting line-up although asst-mgr Walmsley and the returning Chris Senior replaced youngsters Jeffery and McLaughlin on the bench.
The first half hour was very much a case of both midfields cancelling each other out with few chances being created at either end.
From one that was, Easington took the lead on 26mins. Andy Graham’s free kick picked out Mike Nicholson and his shot was fumbled into his own net by goalkeeper Stead.
Hornsea almost replied immediately when Dave Burnett made space for himself before shooting narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
On 34 minutes Town did level matters as Easington suffered a double blow. First, Dean Jennings’ fine cross was converted superbly by John Mill’s thumping far post header; then the Eastenders lost Craig Smalley, injured in making a clearance just prior to the equaliser.
The visitors regained the initiative and the lead with a quality goal just three minutes before the break.
Barrow’s searching pass down the right found Thurkettle whose neat lay-off released Jackman; he in turn showed strength before returning the ball to Thurkettle whose turn and shot was only parried by Stead into the path of Batch three yards out.
The second half began in similarly scrappy fashion to the first but Kite went close to equalising for Town ten minutes in, heading just over from Jennings’ free kick.
Easington gained breathing space on the hour; Thurkettle’s corner picking out Campbell at the far post and his header back was expertly converted by Barrow, to the delight of the travelling contingent.
To their credit Hornsea continued to search for a way back. And although most moves floundered on the solid back four of Metcalf, Graham, Hunt and Campbell, they did forge two good openings, both which fell to Mill.
On 61mins, immediately after Barrow’s goal, the Town striker “did well to miss” having left a couple of defenders for dead and with the goal at his mercy; five minutes later he was denied by an excellent stop from Appleyard who beat out a fierce drive.
Easington then passed up two chances to make the game safe. Barrow was first denied by Stead after racing clear of a by now flagging Town backline; then the same player put Musgrove in only for Stead to again save, with Jamie Cousins screwing the follow-up just wide of the far post.
The ‘killer’ fourth goal finally arrived two minutes from time. Excellent approach play again, this time down the left between Jackman, Barrow and Musgrove created the space for Nicholson to drill home his second of the night.
Afterwards, Mackay-Dundas said, “Although the score perhaps flattered us a little bit, this was an excellent win for us. Our second half performance was perhaps the best we’ve played this season and it was good to see three or four players asked to do different jobs on the night and all respond with strong displays.”
Hornsea: D Stead, D Kite, A Stride, J Black, T Gelsthorpe, D Burnett, J Kershaw, G Rushton, J Mill, D Jennings, R Silvestre (SUBS: S Ward, A Scott, C Langley, M O’Connell, R Dexter (GK))
Easington: K Appleyard, C Smalley (T Hunt, 35) A Metcalf, S Campbell, J Batch, A Graham, I Barrow, M Nicholson, G Thurkettle (O Musgrove, 67), P Jackman, S Harrod (J Cousins, 79) (SUBS not used: C Senior, D Walmsley)
Referee: Mr. S. P. Stevenson (Beverley)
Att: 40