Post by slush on Dec 6, 2006 13:02:14 GMT
Reckitts left Lapping up penalty gift
Reckitts AFC 2 – 2 Easington United
For the second time this season, the Eastenders left Inglemire Lane without the full reward their efforts deserved. And although this result (which, as with the 1-6 home defeat by Reckitts a month ago, mirrored last season’s meeting) was creditable enough, it would have been even better but for fifteen minutes of madness prompted by an appalling penalty decision that gifted the reigning champions a foothold in the game.
Easington arrived at the scene of their recent narrow defeat by Ferriby Reserves minus Campbell, Richardson and Metcalf from the side that had won at Hedon last time out.
With resources stretched and Walmsley still troubled by sore ribs, manager Mack was forced to polish his boots while there was a first start since his return for striker Paul Wilkinson. New signing Craig Sharpless joined Ollie Musgrove and the boss on the bench.
Reckitts included two new signings in their starting eleven – goalkeeper Paul Cooper and striker Glen Morfit, back with the Club after a couple of years at East Hull Amateurs.
It was Morfit who had the first clear sight of goal on 7mins, his shot striking the outside of Appleyard’s left hand post after a rare lapse in the Eastenders’ rearguard.
As for Cooper, his first contribution was somewhat less auspicious – losing the ball’s flight in the sun he could only palm John Batch’s free kick from inside the Easington half into his own net.
If that goal had a touch of fortune about it, the second had the home defence seething – although their complaints were unfounded. Kevin Milner was rightfully allowed to race through onto a long ball despite an assistant’s flag being raised against the “inactive” Wilks coming back in the middle. The left back’s resulting cross was swept home by Steve Harrod (via a deflection) from 20 yards for his third goal in as many games, cueing protests in the home ranks and celebration among the visitors.
The champions were rocking and after Gareth Bairstow slid their only other clear shooting opportunity of the half wide of the far post, Easington could really have had things tied up by the break.
Wilkinson cleverly worked space for himself only to shoot straight at Cooper before the Reckitts keeper did extremely well to tip Nicholson’s goal-bound effort onto the post following excellent approach play down the Eastenders’ right.
Craig Smalley shot into the side-netting after combining with Barrow to cut another swathe through a suspect looking defence and Easington also had strong penalty claims for handball rejected.
The interval saw manager Mack forced to reshuffle, following injuries to Milner and Wilkinson, but the locals soon took up where they left off and Barrow came within a whisker of applying what would surely have been a scoring finish after Musgrove had beaten ex-team mate Hunt down the left.
But a minute later came the turning point. Steve Lapping went down easily under a “nothing challenge” from Batch in the box and to the chagrin of the visitors the referee pointed to the spot.
Bairstow sent Appleyard the wrong way. No matter that Lapping admitted he’d “slipped” and that Reckitts boss Dave Start later said it was “never a penalty”; the decision and the goal stood and Reckitts were right back in it.
The incident momentarily knocked the stuffing out of the locals and it was no surprise when Lapping added insult to injury on the hour mark by levelling matters from a corner – Easington’s marking conspicuous by its absence.
At this point, the Eastenders were in danger of throwing away all their good first half work but, gradually, calm was restored and they finished the game the stronger.
With Sharpless settling in seamlessly at left back, allowing Musgrove plenty of opportunities to give both Hunt and Botham the run-around down the left and Barrow ensuring Goldie had a torrid time at left back, Easington always looked capable of snatching all three points. And they should have.
In the last ten minutes Barrow again dispossessed Goldie to seemingly put the goal on a plate for Musgrove, only for the youngster to completely slice wide from eight yards out.
Reckitts: P Cooper, D Botham, P Goldie, S Lapping, T Hunt, K Blake, T Randle, G Bairstow, G Morfit (C Clinton, 75), L Power (M Baker, 77), I Fenton (Subs: A Crane, M Dean, P Geraghty)
Easington: K Appleyard, C Smalley, K Milner (C Sharpless, 40), D Potts, J Batch, A Graham, I Barrow, M Nicholson, P Wilkinson (O Musgrove, 45), D Medforth, S Harod (Sub: D Mackay-Dundas)
Referee: Mr. S. Porter
Att: 31
Reckitts AFC 2 – 2 Easington United
For the second time this season, the Eastenders left Inglemire Lane without the full reward their efforts deserved. And although this result (which, as with the 1-6 home defeat by Reckitts a month ago, mirrored last season’s meeting) was creditable enough, it would have been even better but for fifteen minutes of madness prompted by an appalling penalty decision that gifted the reigning champions a foothold in the game.
Easington arrived at the scene of their recent narrow defeat by Ferriby Reserves minus Campbell, Richardson and Metcalf from the side that had won at Hedon last time out.
With resources stretched and Walmsley still troubled by sore ribs, manager Mack was forced to polish his boots while there was a first start since his return for striker Paul Wilkinson. New signing Craig Sharpless joined Ollie Musgrove and the boss on the bench.
Reckitts included two new signings in their starting eleven – goalkeeper Paul Cooper and striker Glen Morfit, back with the Club after a couple of years at East Hull Amateurs.
It was Morfit who had the first clear sight of goal on 7mins, his shot striking the outside of Appleyard’s left hand post after a rare lapse in the Eastenders’ rearguard.
As for Cooper, his first contribution was somewhat less auspicious – losing the ball’s flight in the sun he could only palm John Batch’s free kick from inside the Easington half into his own net.
If that goal had a touch of fortune about it, the second had the home defence seething – although their complaints were unfounded. Kevin Milner was rightfully allowed to race through onto a long ball despite an assistant’s flag being raised against the “inactive” Wilks coming back in the middle. The left back’s resulting cross was swept home by Steve Harrod (via a deflection) from 20 yards for his third goal in as many games, cueing protests in the home ranks and celebration among the visitors.
The champions were rocking and after Gareth Bairstow slid their only other clear shooting opportunity of the half wide of the far post, Easington could really have had things tied up by the break.
Wilkinson cleverly worked space for himself only to shoot straight at Cooper before the Reckitts keeper did extremely well to tip Nicholson’s goal-bound effort onto the post following excellent approach play down the Eastenders’ right.
Craig Smalley shot into the side-netting after combining with Barrow to cut another swathe through a suspect looking defence and Easington also had strong penalty claims for handball rejected.
The interval saw manager Mack forced to reshuffle, following injuries to Milner and Wilkinson, but the locals soon took up where they left off and Barrow came within a whisker of applying what would surely have been a scoring finish after Musgrove had beaten ex-team mate Hunt down the left.
But a minute later came the turning point. Steve Lapping went down easily under a “nothing challenge” from Batch in the box and to the chagrin of the visitors the referee pointed to the spot.
Bairstow sent Appleyard the wrong way. No matter that Lapping admitted he’d “slipped” and that Reckitts boss Dave Start later said it was “never a penalty”; the decision and the goal stood and Reckitts were right back in it.
The incident momentarily knocked the stuffing out of the locals and it was no surprise when Lapping added insult to injury on the hour mark by levelling matters from a corner – Easington’s marking conspicuous by its absence.
At this point, the Eastenders were in danger of throwing away all their good first half work but, gradually, calm was restored and they finished the game the stronger.
With Sharpless settling in seamlessly at left back, allowing Musgrove plenty of opportunities to give both Hunt and Botham the run-around down the left and Barrow ensuring Goldie had a torrid time at left back, Easington always looked capable of snatching all three points. And they should have.
In the last ten minutes Barrow again dispossessed Goldie to seemingly put the goal on a plate for Musgrove, only for the youngster to completely slice wide from eight yards out.
Reckitts: P Cooper, D Botham, P Goldie, S Lapping, T Hunt, K Blake, T Randle, G Bairstow, G Morfit (C Clinton, 75), L Power (M Baker, 77), I Fenton (Subs: A Crane, M Dean, P Geraghty)
Easington: K Appleyard, C Smalley, K Milner (C Sharpless, 40), D Potts, J Batch, A Graham, I Barrow, M Nicholson, P Wilkinson (O Musgrove, 45), D Medforth, S Harod (Sub: D Mackay-Dundas)
Referee: Mr. S. Porter
Att: 31