Post by slush on Sept 12, 2006 11:19:35 GMT
Eastenders caught out by “Fogg”
Easington United 1 – 1 Bridlington Town Res
IT’S a bit too early to be talking about defining moments in a league season. However, if Easington United’s title challenge in the HPL eventually falters by just a handful of points, they will again be left to rue those dropped at home – and particularly in this match.
Saturday’s draw was the third in six games at Low Farm this season and easily the most disappointing. For while on their day Bridlington Town Reserves are capable of taking points off anybody, they should have been out of this encounter long before Daz Fogg took advantage of some poor defending to score his side’s 87th minute equaliser.
Manager Mack was understandably frustrated. He said afterwards, “We haven’t learnt the lessons of the Beverley game and today we’ve got punished. We struggled to make the most of good possession in dangerous areas and when we finally did take the lead, we failed to close the game out and got punished for errors at the back.”
The Eastenders had been looking for a third successive win and were boosted by the return of Adam Metcalf, Dan Potts and Danny Medforth; the latter two drafted in from the reserves following Steve Harrod and Mike Nicholson’s failure to recover from injury.
Town arrived at Low Farm having been stripped of players by first team call-ups and with 45-year-old manager Kevin Wardell forced to name himself as the only sub.
And the early indications were that Easington would have little difficulty seeing them off. With Ollie Musgrove, in particular, and Ian Barrow lively down the flanks, only the final delivery or the end product prevented the locals making early inroads.
Within the first eight minutes, Gavin Thurkettle had shot over from close range and seen Nick Tudor save another effort, while Phil Jackman’s dipping 35-yard effort just cleared the bar.
Thurkettle then struck a fierce half-volley over and Barrow headed straight at Tudor, before Jackman’s shot was deflected for a corner from which Stu Campbell found the side netting.
Thirty eight minutes had elapsed before the visitors launched their first serious attack – Stu Dickens breaking down the right to set up George Thompson who fired wide – but five minutes before the break only Kev Milner’s goal-line clearance preserved parity.
Easington began the second half brightly; Chris Senior’s throw prompting Jackman’s volley that Tudor beat out before Campbell’s looping header was denied by a rather less confident save.
Town’s threat on the break was illustrated again when Ben Denham fired over but the action soon moved back to the other end and Graham headed a Hunt free kick over the top.
Potts replaced Senior on 57mins and Medforth came on for the yellow-carded Campbell five minutes later, moments after the midfielder had headed a Thurkettle corner wide.
On 67mins only Appleyard’s fine block prevented Thompson scoring for Town. The save doubled in value a minute later when Barrow broke down the right and his cross was deflected back to Thurkettle who lashed home from six yards out.
Within two minutes the game should have been made safe. Barrow linked with Jackman down the right and looked certain to make it 2-0, only for Tudor to stick out a leg and divert the shot wide.
On 71mins Jackman picked up Hunt’s pass, “megged” his marker and curled a shot inches over the bar.
Seeing these chances go begging the home crowd must have feared the worst. And so it proved.
After Appleyard had again come to the rescue to beat out a Fogg strike, Town snatched a point in the 87th minute.
Batch and Graham were guilty of going for the same ball, Metcalf’s challenge wasn’t strong enough to clear and Fogg raced on to beat Appleyard and prompt scenes of delight amongst the visitors.
Thus the locals missed the chance to open up a gap at the top of the League. The result leaves them third on goal difference, behind Hutton Cranswick and North Ferriby Utd Reserves, with the latter visiting Low Farm this weekend in the first round of the Grays League Cup.
Easington: K Appleyard, C Senior (D Potts, 57), K Milner (A Metcalf, 81), J Batch, T Hunt, A Graham, I Barrow, S Campbell (D Medforth, 62), G Thurkettle, P Jackman, O Musgrove (SUB not used: D Walmsley)
Bridlington: N Tudor, C Dobson, J Jenkinson, S Dixey, D Pratt, L Franks, G Thompson (K Wardell, 80), A Ditchburn, S Dickens, B Denham
Referee: Mr. W. M. Pharaoh (Hull)
Att: 53
Easington United 1 – 1 Bridlington Town Res
IT’S a bit too early to be talking about defining moments in a league season. However, if Easington United’s title challenge in the HPL eventually falters by just a handful of points, they will again be left to rue those dropped at home – and particularly in this match.
Saturday’s draw was the third in six games at Low Farm this season and easily the most disappointing. For while on their day Bridlington Town Reserves are capable of taking points off anybody, they should have been out of this encounter long before Daz Fogg took advantage of some poor defending to score his side’s 87th minute equaliser.
Manager Mack was understandably frustrated. He said afterwards, “We haven’t learnt the lessons of the Beverley game and today we’ve got punished. We struggled to make the most of good possession in dangerous areas and when we finally did take the lead, we failed to close the game out and got punished for errors at the back.”
The Eastenders had been looking for a third successive win and were boosted by the return of Adam Metcalf, Dan Potts and Danny Medforth; the latter two drafted in from the reserves following Steve Harrod and Mike Nicholson’s failure to recover from injury.
Town arrived at Low Farm having been stripped of players by first team call-ups and with 45-year-old manager Kevin Wardell forced to name himself as the only sub.
And the early indications were that Easington would have little difficulty seeing them off. With Ollie Musgrove, in particular, and Ian Barrow lively down the flanks, only the final delivery or the end product prevented the locals making early inroads.
Within the first eight minutes, Gavin Thurkettle had shot over from close range and seen Nick Tudor save another effort, while Phil Jackman’s dipping 35-yard effort just cleared the bar.
Thurkettle then struck a fierce half-volley over and Barrow headed straight at Tudor, before Jackman’s shot was deflected for a corner from which Stu Campbell found the side netting.
Thirty eight minutes had elapsed before the visitors launched their first serious attack – Stu Dickens breaking down the right to set up George Thompson who fired wide – but five minutes before the break only Kev Milner’s goal-line clearance preserved parity.
Easington began the second half brightly; Chris Senior’s throw prompting Jackman’s volley that Tudor beat out before Campbell’s looping header was denied by a rather less confident save.
Town’s threat on the break was illustrated again when Ben Denham fired over but the action soon moved back to the other end and Graham headed a Hunt free kick over the top.
Potts replaced Senior on 57mins and Medforth came on for the yellow-carded Campbell five minutes later, moments after the midfielder had headed a Thurkettle corner wide.
On 67mins only Appleyard’s fine block prevented Thompson scoring for Town. The save doubled in value a minute later when Barrow broke down the right and his cross was deflected back to Thurkettle who lashed home from six yards out.
Within two minutes the game should have been made safe. Barrow linked with Jackman down the right and looked certain to make it 2-0, only for Tudor to stick out a leg and divert the shot wide.
On 71mins Jackman picked up Hunt’s pass, “megged” his marker and curled a shot inches over the bar.
Seeing these chances go begging the home crowd must have feared the worst. And so it proved.
After Appleyard had again come to the rescue to beat out a Fogg strike, Town snatched a point in the 87th minute.
Batch and Graham were guilty of going for the same ball, Metcalf’s challenge wasn’t strong enough to clear and Fogg raced on to beat Appleyard and prompt scenes of delight amongst the visitors.
Thus the locals missed the chance to open up a gap at the top of the League. The result leaves them third on goal difference, behind Hutton Cranswick and North Ferriby Utd Reserves, with the latter visiting Low Farm this weekend in the first round of the Grays League Cup.
Easington: K Appleyard, C Senior (D Potts, 57), K Milner (A Metcalf, 81), J Batch, T Hunt, A Graham, I Barrow, S Campbell (D Medforth, 62), G Thurkettle, P Jackman, O Musgrove (SUB not used: D Walmsley)
Bridlington: N Tudor, C Dobson, J Jenkinson, S Dixey, D Pratt, L Franks, G Thompson (K Wardell, 80), A Ditchburn, S Dickens, B Denham
Referee: Mr. W. M. Pharaoh (Hull)
Att: 53