Post by slush on Nov 14, 2006 12:58:07 GMT
Battling Stiffs complete Holme double
Holme Rovers 0 – 1 Easington Utd Reserves
DARREN Thompson’s eighth goal of the season helped the Reserves to complete their first ‘double’ of the Premier Division campaign courtesy of a hard-earned success at a bleak Holme-on-Spalding Moor.
Thommo seized on a piece of defensive hesitancy midway through the first half to race on and beat the keeper for the game’s only goal.
In a match ruined as a spectacle by strong cross-field winds and driving rain, the Stiffs just about deserved their victory.
With Steve Eldon on holiday and new signing Andy Collins working, “Nige The Cat” Rutter was drafted into goalkeeping action for the second time in a month. Meanwhile, Mark Richardson replaced Chris Senior in the only other change as manager Clarke employed a 3-5-2 formation.
Youngsters Barnett, Jeffery and McLaughlin made up the bench.
The aforementioned Richardson showed up well, also going close from a couple of set-piece situations, but the real plaudits in a hard-working midfield quintet went to Jamie Cousins.
The youngster was a bundle of energy, constantly demanding the ball and driving his team-mates on. He almost capped a ‘Man of the Match’ display with a goal when making himself a one-on-one opportunity midway through the second half, only to shoot wide.
‘Bezza’ Barnett got his chance to impress, replacing Luke Smith early in the second half, and didn’t disappoint with some effective work closing down defenders and trying to relieve the mounting Holme pressure.
But for all their possession after the break the home side rarely looked like levelling matters.
Craig Foster enjoyed another authoritative role at the heart of the Easington defence and, along with ‘Biff’ McNaught and Daniel Campbell, ensured that Rutter was left pretty much redundant.
Aside from one routine save from a header on 75mins, the only other time Rovers really threatened was five minutes from time when a cross from the left was directed back across goal but Foster effected an excellent goal-line clearance with “The Cat” for once flapping!
A second Easington goal would have made things so much easier but never really looked like coming although the aforementioned Rutter highlighted one such moment, when Ricky Biglin put himself into a great position just ten minutes from time. In an extract from his soon-to-be-published ‘Memoirs of an Eastend Cat’ Rutter recalls: “…….as he passed the second would-be tackler, giving himself time and space, I suddenly remembered how powerfully and accurately Ricky struck the ball when we were kids. Slightly right of the target, with his right foot cocked ready to unleash a thunderbolt into the top-corner, I could feel myself fill with confidence as Biglin set himself to unleash a shot from yesteryear………… only the fierce cross-field wind prevented his effort from going out for a throw-in and, on hearing Clarkey’s laughter, I realised what a silly, optimistic cat I am at times.”
No matter; the points were safe and the Reserves are starting to find the Premier Division a bit more to their liking.
Easington: N Rutter, A McNaught, D Campbell, P Brown, C Foster, M Richardson, A Metcalf, R Biglin, D Thompson, L Smith (A Barnett), J Cousins (Subs not used: T McLaughlin, L Jeffery)
Holme Rovers 0 – 1 Easington Utd Reserves
DARREN Thompson’s eighth goal of the season helped the Reserves to complete their first ‘double’ of the Premier Division campaign courtesy of a hard-earned success at a bleak Holme-on-Spalding Moor.
Thommo seized on a piece of defensive hesitancy midway through the first half to race on and beat the keeper for the game’s only goal.
In a match ruined as a spectacle by strong cross-field winds and driving rain, the Stiffs just about deserved their victory.
With Steve Eldon on holiday and new signing Andy Collins working, “Nige The Cat” Rutter was drafted into goalkeeping action for the second time in a month. Meanwhile, Mark Richardson replaced Chris Senior in the only other change as manager Clarke employed a 3-5-2 formation.
Youngsters Barnett, Jeffery and McLaughlin made up the bench.
The aforementioned Richardson showed up well, also going close from a couple of set-piece situations, but the real plaudits in a hard-working midfield quintet went to Jamie Cousins.
The youngster was a bundle of energy, constantly demanding the ball and driving his team-mates on. He almost capped a ‘Man of the Match’ display with a goal when making himself a one-on-one opportunity midway through the second half, only to shoot wide.
‘Bezza’ Barnett got his chance to impress, replacing Luke Smith early in the second half, and didn’t disappoint with some effective work closing down defenders and trying to relieve the mounting Holme pressure.
But for all their possession after the break the home side rarely looked like levelling matters.
Craig Foster enjoyed another authoritative role at the heart of the Easington defence and, along with ‘Biff’ McNaught and Daniel Campbell, ensured that Rutter was left pretty much redundant.
Aside from one routine save from a header on 75mins, the only other time Rovers really threatened was five minutes from time when a cross from the left was directed back across goal but Foster effected an excellent goal-line clearance with “The Cat” for once flapping!
A second Easington goal would have made things so much easier but never really looked like coming although the aforementioned Rutter highlighted one such moment, when Ricky Biglin put himself into a great position just ten minutes from time. In an extract from his soon-to-be-published ‘Memoirs of an Eastend Cat’ Rutter recalls: “…….as he passed the second would-be tackler, giving himself time and space, I suddenly remembered how powerfully and accurately Ricky struck the ball when we were kids. Slightly right of the target, with his right foot cocked ready to unleash a thunderbolt into the top-corner, I could feel myself fill with confidence as Biglin set himself to unleash a shot from yesteryear………… only the fierce cross-field wind prevented his effort from going out for a throw-in and, on hearing Clarkey’s laughter, I realised what a silly, optimistic cat I am at times.”
No matter; the points were safe and the Reserves are starting to find the Premier Division a bit more to their liking.
Easington: N Rutter, A McNaught, D Campbell, P Brown, C Foster, M Richardson, A Metcalf, R Biglin, D Thompson, L Smith (A Barnett), J Cousins (Subs not used: T McLaughlin, L Jeffery)