Post by slush on Sept 25, 2006 14:44:33 GMT
Holme comfort for birthday boss Clarke
Easington Utd Reserves 3 – 2 Holme Rovers
John Clarke received the perfect birthday present on Saturday when his depleted squad scrapped their way to a thoroughly deserved first win of the season against fellow promoted side Holme Rovers.
“This was more like the football I know we’re capable of”, said the boss afterwards, having seen his charges fight back from 2-1 down to clinch the points with two second half Danny Medforth penalties.
With Chris Rawlings out for a month following the dislocated shoulder sustained at Howden last week, the evergreen Steve Eldon came out of retirement to begin his third spell at Low Farm!
And aside from one error of judgement on the visitors’ second goal, the 48-year-old looked fairly comfortable behind a much-changed back four.
With Foster and Hooley absent and Ratcliffe and Thurkettle having departed for pastures new, there were other changes a-plenty.
Darren Dawson dropped in at centre-half and Jamie Cousins took up an unaccustomed role at left back, while Adam Metcalf and Danny Medforth were both given starts in midfield and Luke Smith gained a place up top. Meanwhile, there were welcome returns to the squad for asst-mgr McNaught and Ricky Biglin.
The Eastenders started well, with Darren Thompson in particular catching the eye. And it was no more than they deserved when Smith gave them the lead with a well-taken goal, latching onto a fine ball down the right before lobbing the advancing goalkeeper.
Rovers, 5-1 winners here in last season’s corresponding fixture, bounced back to turn the game on its head by half-time.
Smith retired, hampered by a knock on the ankle, to be replaced by Biglin with Medforth pushed up front to partner the lively Barnett.
However, it was the introduction of McNaught and McLaughlin that had an even greater effect as Easington suddenly scented a way back. Their reward came with two Medforth penalties after the same player had twice been fouled.
As Rovers desperately sought a way back, Eldon dealt superbly with a string of corners before the locals were given a huge helping hand near the end when referee McWatters failed to see what appeared to be a cast-iron Rovers penalty.
Easington: S Eldon, L Jeffery, J Cousins, P Brown (T McLaughlin), D Dawson, D Campbell (A McNaught), A Metcalf, D Medforth, D Thompson, L Smith (R Biglin), A Barnett
Easington Utd Reserves 3 – 2 Holme Rovers
John Clarke received the perfect birthday present on Saturday when his depleted squad scrapped their way to a thoroughly deserved first win of the season against fellow promoted side Holme Rovers.
“This was more like the football I know we’re capable of”, said the boss afterwards, having seen his charges fight back from 2-1 down to clinch the points with two second half Danny Medforth penalties.
With Chris Rawlings out for a month following the dislocated shoulder sustained at Howden last week, the evergreen Steve Eldon came out of retirement to begin his third spell at Low Farm!
And aside from one error of judgement on the visitors’ second goal, the 48-year-old looked fairly comfortable behind a much-changed back four.
With Foster and Hooley absent and Ratcliffe and Thurkettle having departed for pastures new, there were other changes a-plenty.
Darren Dawson dropped in at centre-half and Jamie Cousins took up an unaccustomed role at left back, while Adam Metcalf and Danny Medforth were both given starts in midfield and Luke Smith gained a place up top. Meanwhile, there were welcome returns to the squad for asst-mgr McNaught and Ricky Biglin.
The Eastenders started well, with Darren Thompson in particular catching the eye. And it was no more than they deserved when Smith gave them the lead with a well-taken goal, latching onto a fine ball down the right before lobbing the advancing goalkeeper.
Rovers, 5-1 winners here in last season’s corresponding fixture, bounced back to turn the game on its head by half-time.
Smith retired, hampered by a knock on the ankle, to be replaced by Biglin with Medforth pushed up front to partner the lively Barnett.
However, it was the introduction of McNaught and McLaughlin that had an even greater effect as Easington suddenly scented a way back. Their reward came with two Medforth penalties after the same player had twice been fouled.
As Rovers desperately sought a way back, Eldon dealt superbly with a string of corners before the locals were given a huge helping hand near the end when referee McWatters failed to see what appeared to be a cast-iron Rovers penalty.
Easington: S Eldon, L Jeffery, J Cousins, P Brown (T McLaughlin), D Dawson, D Campbell (A McNaught), A Metcalf, D Medforth, D Thompson, L Smith (R Biglin), A Barnett