Post by slush on Dec 13, 2006 12:14:27 GMT
Undisciplined Eastenders press self-destruct button
Easington United 3 – 4 Hutton Cranswick Utd
In a game that provided more talking points than could normally be found in a full season, Easington United passed up the chance to steal a march on one of their nearest rivals in the HPL table when losing a game that was seemingly there for the taking.
Having fought back twice to level matters at 2-2 early in the second half against a side that had lost its goalkeeper to injury at half-time, the Eastenders then saw their opponents reduced to ten men when captain Andy Dixon was dismissed following an off-the-ball incident.
But forgetting all the basics of how to see a game out – and ignoring the half-time words of manager Mack about ‘gung-ho’ chasing of games – the locals proceeded to commit football suicide.
Bridlington Town’s midweek demise and subsequent expunging of all results made the Eastenders’ position in the table look more promising at kick-off. A win over their visitors would therefore not only put six points between the two teams but place the locals almost within reach of the leading pack.
With Milner, Sharpless and Smalley missing, manager Mack included Adam Metcalf and Stu Campbell in a re-jigged back four, while Dave Walmsley and Jamie Cousins were added to the bench.
On a bright but increasingly cold afternoon, Cranswick struck first on 6mins when Mike Tate broke the offside trap to slot past Kevin Appleyard.
The Eastenders almost replied instantly but Barrow’s cross evaded the arriving Wilkinson and Nicholson. This set the tone for the remainder of the half with Easington putting the visitors’ goal under a fair amount of pressure.
Harrod latched on to a Wilks flick but sliced his shot wide; Potts saw a well-struck volley spooned away by keeper Bramley; Barrow’s volley was deflected over for a corner and Graham planted a free header from a Medforth free kick wide of the upright.
On 25mins the pressure paid off. Medforth’s corner was only cleared as far as the edge of the box where Nicholson rifled a superb half-volley back into the bottom corner.
But parity lasted just three minutes; Tom Cooper being ruled inactive from an offside position to force a corner from which Paul Taylor stabbed Cranswick back into the lead.
Five minutes before the break Taylor should have had a second but headed over from close range, while at the other end Barrow shot wide when a goal looked on.
The visitors replaced the injured Bramley at half-time with Tate going in goal and the stand-in keeper did well immediately in helping keep out two early goalmouth scrambles. However, there was nothing he could do to prevent the Easington equaliser on 63mins – Medforth volleying home spectacularly on the swivel from Wilks’ flick of a Harrod cross.
Easington keeper Appleyard was then a touch fortunate to only see yellow when adjudged to have handled outside the box; he made the most of his good fortune by getting down well to save the resulting free-kick from Ryan Cairns.
Having issued half-a-dozen cards already, referee Ingham then produced red for Dixon, after an incident in the Eastenders box, and the hosts scented the win was theirs.
Even more so when Steve Skinns was carried off and with second sub Stabler reluctant to come on, the visitors played for ten minutes with nine men.
However, Cairns gave warning of what might follow when he broke clear only to drag his shot wide. Surely the lesson would be learned?
At the other end, Tate denied Harrod with a fine tip-over save, while Campbell passed up a glorious far post chance but, still, Easington left the back door open. Cooper pounced to benefit first on 85mins, scoring at the second attempt after Appleyard had saved his initial strike. A minute later, Andy Graham saw red following a foul and from the resulting free kick Cairns headed home for 4-2.
Easington still had chances to respond. Tate somehow kept out Walmsley’s shot, the ball being pushed onto the post before rebounding across goal to Musgrove who could only hit the side netting. The stand-in keeper then got down well to parry a Stu Campbell free kick and when the ball was eventually returned into the box, Campbell blazed over from barely six yards out with the goal begging.
Deep into six minutes stoppage time, a long punt into the box was punched by Tate to the feet of Jamie Cousins who coolly steered it back between two defenders for 3-4. It was too little too late.
Afterwards, manager Mack could barely disguise his disappointment. “Full credit to Cranswick”, he said, “they wanted it more than we did in the end. But I’m disappointed with my players for the way they ignored all we said at the break about holding shape and keeping our discipline.
“We’ve had to work hard for all three goals today – all quality goals – which should be enough to win at home but we’ve gifted some pretty awful ones in return”
The boss also had harsh words for those players involved in an unseemly spat while play was going on. What with this, the ongoing injury list and the inevitable fallout to come from what can only be described as a dire refereeing performance, there is plenty to occupy the manager’s thoughts before this Saturday’s game at home to Pocklington Town.
Easington: K Appleyard, A Metcalf (D Walmsley, 85), S Campbell, D Potts (O Musgrove, 74), J Batch, A Graham (s/off 86), I Barrow, M Nicholson, P Wilkinson, D Medforth, S Harrod (J Cousins, 87)
H/Cranswick: D Bramley (S Gibson, 46), D Mackevych, M Nicholson, A Dixon (s/off 70), P Taylor, S Skinns (A Stabler, 83), M Davies, D Taylor, M Tate, R Cairns, T Cooper
Referee: Mr. D. M. Ingham
Att: 38
Easington United 3 – 4 Hutton Cranswick Utd
In a game that provided more talking points than could normally be found in a full season, Easington United passed up the chance to steal a march on one of their nearest rivals in the HPL table when losing a game that was seemingly there for the taking.
Having fought back twice to level matters at 2-2 early in the second half against a side that had lost its goalkeeper to injury at half-time, the Eastenders then saw their opponents reduced to ten men when captain Andy Dixon was dismissed following an off-the-ball incident.
But forgetting all the basics of how to see a game out – and ignoring the half-time words of manager Mack about ‘gung-ho’ chasing of games – the locals proceeded to commit football suicide.
Bridlington Town’s midweek demise and subsequent expunging of all results made the Eastenders’ position in the table look more promising at kick-off. A win over their visitors would therefore not only put six points between the two teams but place the locals almost within reach of the leading pack.
With Milner, Sharpless and Smalley missing, manager Mack included Adam Metcalf and Stu Campbell in a re-jigged back four, while Dave Walmsley and Jamie Cousins were added to the bench.
On a bright but increasingly cold afternoon, Cranswick struck first on 6mins when Mike Tate broke the offside trap to slot past Kevin Appleyard.
The Eastenders almost replied instantly but Barrow’s cross evaded the arriving Wilkinson and Nicholson. This set the tone for the remainder of the half with Easington putting the visitors’ goal under a fair amount of pressure.
Harrod latched on to a Wilks flick but sliced his shot wide; Potts saw a well-struck volley spooned away by keeper Bramley; Barrow’s volley was deflected over for a corner and Graham planted a free header from a Medforth free kick wide of the upright.
On 25mins the pressure paid off. Medforth’s corner was only cleared as far as the edge of the box where Nicholson rifled a superb half-volley back into the bottom corner.
But parity lasted just three minutes; Tom Cooper being ruled inactive from an offside position to force a corner from which Paul Taylor stabbed Cranswick back into the lead.
Five minutes before the break Taylor should have had a second but headed over from close range, while at the other end Barrow shot wide when a goal looked on.
The visitors replaced the injured Bramley at half-time with Tate going in goal and the stand-in keeper did well immediately in helping keep out two early goalmouth scrambles. However, there was nothing he could do to prevent the Easington equaliser on 63mins – Medforth volleying home spectacularly on the swivel from Wilks’ flick of a Harrod cross.
Easington keeper Appleyard was then a touch fortunate to only see yellow when adjudged to have handled outside the box; he made the most of his good fortune by getting down well to save the resulting free-kick from Ryan Cairns.
Having issued half-a-dozen cards already, referee Ingham then produced red for Dixon, after an incident in the Eastenders box, and the hosts scented the win was theirs.
Even more so when Steve Skinns was carried off and with second sub Stabler reluctant to come on, the visitors played for ten minutes with nine men.
However, Cairns gave warning of what might follow when he broke clear only to drag his shot wide. Surely the lesson would be learned?
At the other end, Tate denied Harrod with a fine tip-over save, while Campbell passed up a glorious far post chance but, still, Easington left the back door open. Cooper pounced to benefit first on 85mins, scoring at the second attempt after Appleyard had saved his initial strike. A minute later, Andy Graham saw red following a foul and from the resulting free kick Cairns headed home for 4-2.
Easington still had chances to respond. Tate somehow kept out Walmsley’s shot, the ball being pushed onto the post before rebounding across goal to Musgrove who could only hit the side netting. The stand-in keeper then got down well to parry a Stu Campbell free kick and when the ball was eventually returned into the box, Campbell blazed over from barely six yards out with the goal begging.
Deep into six minutes stoppage time, a long punt into the box was punched by Tate to the feet of Jamie Cousins who coolly steered it back between two defenders for 3-4. It was too little too late.
Afterwards, manager Mack could barely disguise his disappointment. “Full credit to Cranswick”, he said, “they wanted it more than we did in the end. But I’m disappointed with my players for the way they ignored all we said at the break about holding shape and keeping our discipline.
“We’ve had to work hard for all three goals today – all quality goals – which should be enough to win at home but we’ve gifted some pretty awful ones in return”
The boss also had harsh words for those players involved in an unseemly spat while play was going on. What with this, the ongoing injury list and the inevitable fallout to come from what can only be described as a dire refereeing performance, there is plenty to occupy the manager’s thoughts before this Saturday’s game at home to Pocklington Town.
Easington: K Appleyard, A Metcalf (D Walmsley, 85), S Campbell, D Potts (O Musgrove, 74), J Batch, A Graham (s/off 86), I Barrow, M Nicholson, P Wilkinson, D Medforth, S Harrod (J Cousins, 87)
H/Cranswick: D Bramley (S Gibson, 46), D Mackevych, M Nicholson, A Dixon (s/off 70), P Taylor, S Skinns (A Stabler, 83), M Davies, D Taylor, M Tate, R Cairns, T Cooper
Referee: Mr. D. M. Ingham
Att: 38