Post by slush on Nov 21, 2006 7:24:51 GMT
Easing to victory
Hedon United 0 – 3 Easington United
When the opposing manager tells you how dominant your team was you know you’ve had a good day.
As such Eastenders boss Dave Mack – whose position has come under some amount of scrutiny this season – will have enjoyed his side’s third win in the past four games more than most.
The latest success, at Drapers Lane, was accompanied by further evidence of the locals’ growing confidence (and a third clean sheet).
However, Mack is keen to acknowledge there are still areas for improvement.
Coming into the game without assistant Dave Walmsley, Kevin Milner and Chris Senior, the boss included Mark Richardson and Adam Metcalf in a 14-man squad.
In addition, he resisted the temptation to reward striker Paul Wilkinson with a start following an impressive return at sub against Barton, instead opting for the straight swap at left back where Stu Campbell came in for Milner.
On a crisp afternoon and a surface that looked better than it was, the visitors kicked off into the bright sunshine against a Hedon team that have stumbled in recent weeks following a promising start.
Added ingredients to what is usually one of the keener contested derby games came with the inclusion of ex-Eastenders Craig Palmer and Glenn Ratcliffe in the Hedon ranks and the former St Andrews Sutton Wrightson brothers facing up to ex-team-mates Dan Potts and Steve Harrod.
Despite Easington taking an early grip on proceedings, chances came few and far between although both wingers, Ollie Musgrove and Ian Barrow, were giving full backs Crane and Staples a torrid time.
On 10mins Campbell went close to breaking the deadlock when his header from Danny Medforth’s corner was hacked off the line by a defender.
Easington’s reward for their efforts finally came on 21mins with a quality goal “made in Sutton” – Potts doing excellent work in midfield before finding Harrod whose turn and shot from 25 yards gave goalkeeper Mike Oliver no chance as it arrowed into the bottom corner.
This was the last real chance of note as both teams continued to get bogged down in midfield with passes going astray at regular intervals.
The prolific Mark Fordham and partner Ratcliffe were given little chance to shine by the locals’ back four, in particular central pairing Graham and Batch. Meanwhile, the Eastenders midfield quintet of Barrow, Medforth, Potts, Nicholson and Musgrove continued to enjoy the better of things, with Palmer in particular being given little room for manoeuvre.
The second half saw Easington take complete control but chances initially came and went.
Barrow passed up a glorious opening on 53mins, volleying just past the near post after Medforth had set him up with a trademark “ten minute step-over” and cross.
Two minutes later the roles were reversed, Barrow the provider only for Medforth to fire wide, and on 57mins Potts and Smalley combined down the right to set up Nicholson but his header was off-target.
Three good openings missed in six minutes – but Easington were not to pay for their profligacy.
Wilkinson replaced Potts, Richardson came on for Harrod, Musgrove made way for Metcalf and all three subs made significant contributions as the locals “closed out” proceedings.
‘Wilks’ fired wide before Metcalf finally settled matters on 82mins. In a goal reminiscent of Rooney’s midweek effort in Amsterdam, the youngster swept the ball home from close range after Smalley, Medforth and Wilkinson had combined well out wide.
Metcalf could have gone on to complete a hat-trick, only Oliver’s agility denying him twice, the second time after ‘Wilks’ had also seen his shot brilliantly blocked, and when Barrow stroked home the loose ball the referee’s assistant’s flag denied him.
But Easington were not to be denied a third; Nicholson capping another industrious display with his sixth goal of the campaign following more vain heroics from the Hedon keeper.
Hedon: M Oliver, M Staples, S Wrightson, G Dougal, A Watson, M Wrightson, P Farndale, M Fordham, G Ratcliffe, C Palmer, S Crane (Subs: P Bagshaw, D Gatti)
Easington: K Appleyard, C Smalley, S Campbell, D Potts (P Wilkinson, 63), J Batch, A Graham, I Barrow, M Nicholson, S Harrod (M Richardson, 69), D Medforth, O Musgrove (A Metcalf, 77)
Referee: Mr. S. Wade
Att: 37
Hedon United 0 – 3 Easington United
When the opposing manager tells you how dominant your team was you know you’ve had a good day.
As such Eastenders boss Dave Mack – whose position has come under some amount of scrutiny this season – will have enjoyed his side’s third win in the past four games more than most.
The latest success, at Drapers Lane, was accompanied by further evidence of the locals’ growing confidence (and a third clean sheet).
However, Mack is keen to acknowledge there are still areas for improvement.
Coming into the game without assistant Dave Walmsley, Kevin Milner and Chris Senior, the boss included Mark Richardson and Adam Metcalf in a 14-man squad.
In addition, he resisted the temptation to reward striker Paul Wilkinson with a start following an impressive return at sub against Barton, instead opting for the straight swap at left back where Stu Campbell came in for Milner.
On a crisp afternoon and a surface that looked better than it was, the visitors kicked off into the bright sunshine against a Hedon team that have stumbled in recent weeks following a promising start.
Added ingredients to what is usually one of the keener contested derby games came with the inclusion of ex-Eastenders Craig Palmer and Glenn Ratcliffe in the Hedon ranks and the former St Andrews Sutton Wrightson brothers facing up to ex-team-mates Dan Potts and Steve Harrod.
Despite Easington taking an early grip on proceedings, chances came few and far between although both wingers, Ollie Musgrove and Ian Barrow, were giving full backs Crane and Staples a torrid time.
On 10mins Campbell went close to breaking the deadlock when his header from Danny Medforth’s corner was hacked off the line by a defender.
Easington’s reward for their efforts finally came on 21mins with a quality goal “made in Sutton” – Potts doing excellent work in midfield before finding Harrod whose turn and shot from 25 yards gave goalkeeper Mike Oliver no chance as it arrowed into the bottom corner.
This was the last real chance of note as both teams continued to get bogged down in midfield with passes going astray at regular intervals.
The prolific Mark Fordham and partner Ratcliffe were given little chance to shine by the locals’ back four, in particular central pairing Graham and Batch. Meanwhile, the Eastenders midfield quintet of Barrow, Medforth, Potts, Nicholson and Musgrove continued to enjoy the better of things, with Palmer in particular being given little room for manoeuvre.
The second half saw Easington take complete control but chances initially came and went.
Barrow passed up a glorious opening on 53mins, volleying just past the near post after Medforth had set him up with a trademark “ten minute step-over” and cross.
Two minutes later the roles were reversed, Barrow the provider only for Medforth to fire wide, and on 57mins Potts and Smalley combined down the right to set up Nicholson but his header was off-target.
Three good openings missed in six minutes – but Easington were not to pay for their profligacy.
Wilkinson replaced Potts, Richardson came on for Harrod, Musgrove made way for Metcalf and all three subs made significant contributions as the locals “closed out” proceedings.
‘Wilks’ fired wide before Metcalf finally settled matters on 82mins. In a goal reminiscent of Rooney’s midweek effort in Amsterdam, the youngster swept the ball home from close range after Smalley, Medforth and Wilkinson had combined well out wide.
Metcalf could have gone on to complete a hat-trick, only Oliver’s agility denying him twice, the second time after ‘Wilks’ had also seen his shot brilliantly blocked, and when Barrow stroked home the loose ball the referee’s assistant’s flag denied him.
But Easington were not to be denied a third; Nicholson capping another industrious display with his sixth goal of the campaign following more vain heroics from the Hedon keeper.
Hedon: M Oliver, M Staples, S Wrightson, G Dougal, A Watson, M Wrightson, P Farndale, M Fordham, G Ratcliffe, C Palmer, S Crane (Subs: P Bagshaw, D Gatti)
Easington: K Appleyard, C Smalley, S Campbell, D Potts (P Wilkinson, 63), J Batch, A Graham, I Barrow, M Nicholson, S Harrod (M Richardson, 69), D Medforth, O Musgrove (A Metcalf, 77)
Referee: Mr. S. Wade
Att: 37