Post by slush on Sept 25, 2006 14:43:37 GMT
First defeat leaves bitter aftertaste
Hutton Cranswick United 3 – 1 Easington United
First things first; the Eastenders got what they deserved at Rotsea Lane following a very disappointing second half performance.
After Stu Campbell had headed them into a third minute lead that may well have been extended on a couple of occasions prior to the break, they allowed their hosts to totally dominate the second 45 minutes.
Successive Tom Cooper penalties, on 48mins and 60mins, turned the game on its head before skipper Mark Pratley settled matters three minutes from time.
However, it was the performance of referee Simon Stevenson that had players and officials of both teams talking afterwards. With two crucial decisions causing particular debate in the Eastenders’ ranks.
The first of these came on Cooper’s first penalty. Chris Senior’s aerial challenge on the lively winger looked little more than innocuous and almost certainly outside the box. But without consulting his assistant, who was level with the offence, Mr. Stevenson pointed to the spot.
Then, with just five minutes left, Steve Harrod was fouled on the edge of the Cranswick penalty area but managed to stay on his feet and fire a superb drive low inside Bramley’s near post for what would have been an equaliser – only for Mr. Stevenson to pull back play for the free kick.
An angry Dave Mackay-Dundas said afterwards, “The referee’s played advantage all game and then fails to be consistent when it matters most.”
He added, “I’m not saying we deserved something out of the game. I think the lads thought ‘job done’ at half time and they simply didn’t perform after the break. But sometimes you play poorly and still come away with something, which we should have done, had the referee not made two crucial errors.”
His view found some sympathy with opposite number Mally Parker who admitted to being “surprised” at the outcome of both decisions.
Not surprisingly, though, Parker was more concerned with his own team’s performance, which left him delighted. Even prior to the break, the Eastenders had been indebted to Kev Appleyard who made three fine saves from Pratley, Andy Stabler and Cooper, while Kevin Milner’s excellent goal-line clearance denied another Cooper effort.
Stabler then missed an absolute sitter at 2-1 after livewire sub James Chadburn had stretched Easington down the right.
All this followed a superb start by the visitors. Having worked on set-piece routines beforehand, it was satisfying to see the first one pay dividends; Thurkettle’s hanging delivery to the back stick being met by Campbell’s thumping header.
Thurkettle himself then forced a fine save from Bramley within a minute and the home keeper was forced to move smartly to deny Phil Jackman’s 35-yarder later in the half.
Then came the turnaround. Cooper struck both penalties well (the second being awarded for Barrow’s clumsy ‘tackle’ on the same player) and the final nail was applied when Pratley received a throw-in on the left, turned and curled a looping cross-shot over the keeper inside the far post.
H/Cranswick: D Bramley, D Mackeyvich, C Reen, A Dixon, P Taylor, D Taylor, M Pratley, J Tomlinson, A Stabler (M Davies, 74), A Neill (J Chadburn, 61), T Cooper (Subs not used: S Skinns, S Young, P Stephenson)
Easington: K Appleyard, C Senior (D Walmsley, 75), S Campbell, D Potts, K Milner, A Graham (T Hunt, 74), I Barrow, J Batch, G Thurkettle (S Harrod, 67), P Jackman, M Nicholson (Subs not used: C Smalley, O Musgrove)
Referee: Mr. S. P. Stevenson (Beverley)
Att: 36
Hutton Cranswick United 3 – 1 Easington United
First things first; the Eastenders got what they deserved at Rotsea Lane following a very disappointing second half performance.
After Stu Campbell had headed them into a third minute lead that may well have been extended on a couple of occasions prior to the break, they allowed their hosts to totally dominate the second 45 minutes.
Successive Tom Cooper penalties, on 48mins and 60mins, turned the game on its head before skipper Mark Pratley settled matters three minutes from time.
However, it was the performance of referee Simon Stevenson that had players and officials of both teams talking afterwards. With two crucial decisions causing particular debate in the Eastenders’ ranks.
The first of these came on Cooper’s first penalty. Chris Senior’s aerial challenge on the lively winger looked little more than innocuous and almost certainly outside the box. But without consulting his assistant, who was level with the offence, Mr. Stevenson pointed to the spot.
Then, with just five minutes left, Steve Harrod was fouled on the edge of the Cranswick penalty area but managed to stay on his feet and fire a superb drive low inside Bramley’s near post for what would have been an equaliser – only for Mr. Stevenson to pull back play for the free kick.
An angry Dave Mackay-Dundas said afterwards, “The referee’s played advantage all game and then fails to be consistent when it matters most.”
He added, “I’m not saying we deserved something out of the game. I think the lads thought ‘job done’ at half time and they simply didn’t perform after the break. But sometimes you play poorly and still come away with something, which we should have done, had the referee not made two crucial errors.”
His view found some sympathy with opposite number Mally Parker who admitted to being “surprised” at the outcome of both decisions.
Not surprisingly, though, Parker was more concerned with his own team’s performance, which left him delighted. Even prior to the break, the Eastenders had been indebted to Kev Appleyard who made three fine saves from Pratley, Andy Stabler and Cooper, while Kevin Milner’s excellent goal-line clearance denied another Cooper effort.
Stabler then missed an absolute sitter at 2-1 after livewire sub James Chadburn had stretched Easington down the right.
All this followed a superb start by the visitors. Having worked on set-piece routines beforehand, it was satisfying to see the first one pay dividends; Thurkettle’s hanging delivery to the back stick being met by Campbell’s thumping header.
Thurkettle himself then forced a fine save from Bramley within a minute and the home keeper was forced to move smartly to deny Phil Jackman’s 35-yarder later in the half.
Then came the turnaround. Cooper struck both penalties well (the second being awarded for Barrow’s clumsy ‘tackle’ on the same player) and the final nail was applied when Pratley received a throw-in on the left, turned and curled a looping cross-shot over the keeper inside the far post.
H/Cranswick: D Bramley, D Mackeyvich, C Reen, A Dixon, P Taylor, D Taylor, M Pratley, J Tomlinson, A Stabler (M Davies, 74), A Neill (J Chadburn, 61), T Cooper (Subs not used: S Skinns, S Young, P Stephenson)
Easington: K Appleyard, C Senior (D Walmsley, 75), S Campbell, D Potts, K Milner, A Graham (T Hunt, 74), I Barrow, J Batch, G Thurkettle (S Harrod, 67), P Jackman, M Nicholson (Subs not used: C Smalley, O Musgrove)
Referee: Mr. S. P. Stevenson (Beverley)
Att: 36