Post by slush on Sept 5, 2006 7:13:55 GMT
“Woeful” Easington go joint-top
Easington United 2 – 1 Beverley Town
“WE’VE won today but we’ve been woeful” was manager Dave Mack’s blunt assessment of his side’s display last Saturday.
The Eastenders came from a goal down to beat Beverley Town 2-1 at Low Farm and join North Ferriby United Reserves at the top of the Humber Premier League.
However, the boss certainly wasn’t getting carried away. He said, “Even allowing for the conditions today, we didn’t do the simple things well although I’ve got to say I was pleased with the response at half-time. I asked the lads to show some character in the second half and they did that. These are the type of games we’ve got to win if we’re to really challenge this season.”
On a day dominated by strong winds and sporadic showers, Easington’s disappointing first half showing was compounded by injuries to Steve Harrod (23mins) and Mike Nicholson (29mins) that led to both players’ replacement.
Harrod sustained a badly swollen ankle following Trevor Lynn’s lunging tackle at a free-kick, while Nicholson suffered a recurrence of his recent calf problem.
With Chris Senior in for the injured Smalley at right back being the only change to the side that had played for most of Tuesday’s win at Hornsea, Messrs. Mackay-Dundas and Walmsley had urged their players to build on their second half showing at the Hollis Rec.
Instead, they allowed a struggling Beverley outfit to seize the initiative. On 16mins Danny Cattle picked out Rich Metcalf on the edge of the penalty area and, with defenders standing off, the young striker fired past Appleyard into the corner.
Aside from a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions and a horrible slice in front of goal by the rotund figure of Matty Edeson, this was Town’s sole real threat on the home goal before half-time.
Having said that, things were not much livelier up the other end. Harrod, Senior and Campbell all shot high and wide from well-placed free-kicks before Barrow snatched horribly at the best chance of the half on 32mins; lifting the ball high over the bar after Jackman had played him in with a sublime pass inside the full back.
To be fair, in spite of a half time “bulling” from the management and a visibly improved level of performance, Easington didn’t really create any clear cut shooting opportunities after the break as Town doggedly held on to their lead.
Corners continued to be a source of threat, thanks to Thurkettle’s excellent deliveries, and on the odd occasion when Musgrove and Barrow got round the back, dangerous balls were played in but to no end result.
On 58mins, however, the locals got the break they needed. Having just seen one penalty appeal against him turned down, Town defender Shaun Gibson didn’t escape a second time when he hauled Thurkettle to the ground right in front of referee Greenwood.
Graham stepped up and thumped the ball past Sewell into the keeper’s bottom left corner.
Seven minutes later, Jackman’s pace took him clear of the defence down the right and his low cross found Barrow who struck the base of the post despite the attention of two defenders; attention that was deemed illegal by Mr. Greenwood.
Up stepped Graham again and despite a slightly more scuffed effort, Sewell was again beaten and Easington took what proved to be a decisive lead.
Despite a bit of huffing and puffing towards the end – and one particularly dangerous Edeson corner in the last minute – Town never really looked like finding a way back.
“It’s going to be a long hard season”, said the visitors’ general manager Stuart Akester afterwards.
In contrast, despite the “ugly” nature of the win, it could be an exciting campaign for Easington but the Mack knows performance levels will have to be improved upon if a real title challenge is to be sustained.
Easington: K Appleyard, C Senior, S Campbell, J Batch, T Hunt, A Graham, I Barrow, S Harrod (O Musgrove, 23), G Thurkettle (D Walmsley, 85), P Jackman, M Nicholson (K Milner, 29) (SUB not used: J Cousins)
Beverley: L Sewell, D Walton (S Aspin, 85), S Gibson (A Cavanagh, 86), M Hillary, T Lynn, J Custus, J Ricardo, R Jubb, R Metcalf, M Edeson, D Cattle (D Johnson, 53) (SUB not used: M Tarling)
Referee: Mr. J. R. Greenwood (Hull)
Att: 56
Easington United 2 – 1 Beverley Town
“WE’VE won today but we’ve been woeful” was manager Dave Mack’s blunt assessment of his side’s display last Saturday.
The Eastenders came from a goal down to beat Beverley Town 2-1 at Low Farm and join North Ferriby United Reserves at the top of the Humber Premier League.
However, the boss certainly wasn’t getting carried away. He said, “Even allowing for the conditions today, we didn’t do the simple things well although I’ve got to say I was pleased with the response at half-time. I asked the lads to show some character in the second half and they did that. These are the type of games we’ve got to win if we’re to really challenge this season.”
On a day dominated by strong winds and sporadic showers, Easington’s disappointing first half showing was compounded by injuries to Steve Harrod (23mins) and Mike Nicholson (29mins) that led to both players’ replacement.
Harrod sustained a badly swollen ankle following Trevor Lynn’s lunging tackle at a free-kick, while Nicholson suffered a recurrence of his recent calf problem.
With Chris Senior in for the injured Smalley at right back being the only change to the side that had played for most of Tuesday’s win at Hornsea, Messrs. Mackay-Dundas and Walmsley had urged their players to build on their second half showing at the Hollis Rec.
Instead, they allowed a struggling Beverley outfit to seize the initiative. On 16mins Danny Cattle picked out Rich Metcalf on the edge of the penalty area and, with defenders standing off, the young striker fired past Appleyard into the corner.
Aside from a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions and a horrible slice in front of goal by the rotund figure of Matty Edeson, this was Town’s sole real threat on the home goal before half-time.
Having said that, things were not much livelier up the other end. Harrod, Senior and Campbell all shot high and wide from well-placed free-kicks before Barrow snatched horribly at the best chance of the half on 32mins; lifting the ball high over the bar after Jackman had played him in with a sublime pass inside the full back.
To be fair, in spite of a half time “bulling” from the management and a visibly improved level of performance, Easington didn’t really create any clear cut shooting opportunities after the break as Town doggedly held on to their lead.
Corners continued to be a source of threat, thanks to Thurkettle’s excellent deliveries, and on the odd occasion when Musgrove and Barrow got round the back, dangerous balls were played in but to no end result.
On 58mins, however, the locals got the break they needed. Having just seen one penalty appeal against him turned down, Town defender Shaun Gibson didn’t escape a second time when he hauled Thurkettle to the ground right in front of referee Greenwood.
Graham stepped up and thumped the ball past Sewell into the keeper’s bottom left corner.
Seven minutes later, Jackman’s pace took him clear of the defence down the right and his low cross found Barrow who struck the base of the post despite the attention of two defenders; attention that was deemed illegal by Mr. Greenwood.
Up stepped Graham again and despite a slightly more scuffed effort, Sewell was again beaten and Easington took what proved to be a decisive lead.
Despite a bit of huffing and puffing towards the end – and one particularly dangerous Edeson corner in the last minute – Town never really looked like finding a way back.
“It’s going to be a long hard season”, said the visitors’ general manager Stuart Akester afterwards.
In contrast, despite the “ugly” nature of the win, it could be an exciting campaign for Easington but the Mack knows performance levels will have to be improved upon if a real title challenge is to be sustained.
Easington: K Appleyard, C Senior, S Campbell, J Batch, T Hunt, A Graham, I Barrow, S Harrod (O Musgrove, 23), G Thurkettle (D Walmsley, 85), P Jackman, M Nicholson (K Milner, 29) (SUB not used: J Cousins)
Beverley: L Sewell, D Walton (S Aspin, 85), S Gibson (A Cavanagh, 86), M Hillary, T Lynn, J Custus, J Ricardo, R Jubb, R Metcalf, M Edeson, D Cattle (D Johnson, 53) (SUB not used: M Tarling)
Referee: Mr. J. R. Greenwood (Hull)
Att: 56