Post by slush on Jan 10, 2007 12:40:17 GMT
Solid Scully look title-bound
Easington United 0 – 2 Sculcoates Amateurs
HPL Premier Division favourites Sculcoates Amateurs inflicted a second successive defeat on the Eastenders, courtesy of two fine strikes by Mark Smith at Low Farm last Saturday.
Smith fired home from 18 yards on the stroke of half-time before confirming his team’s superiority with a quality second goal on 66mins.
However, despite the defeat, Easington manager Dave Mackay-Dundas was heartened by his team’s work-rate and in particular their improved defensive performance, following the two hidings handed out by their opponents in this season’s two earlier encounters.
Despite the return of several players, Mack kept faith with those who would have lined up against Withernsea. This meant Stuart Campbell partnered John Batch in what proved to be a promising looking central defensive partnership, Adam Metcalf continued down the right and Ian Barrow pushed on to support Paul Wilkinson up front. Steve Harrod and Neil Rutter returned to the bench, alongside the ever-improving Jamie Cousins.
With neither Rutter nor Andy Graham in the starting line-up, Mike Nicholson was handed the captaincy.
The locals had an early scare when Danny Drayton had the ball in the net but the ‘goal’ was rightly ruled out for a shove on Batch. After this, it was Easington who then took control.
On 7mins Danny Medforth’s right wing corner was only half-cleared back to the taker and Scully keeper Sowersby was forced to get down smartly and turn away his resulting left foot drive.
Three minutes later, Medforth – enjoying a barnstorming start to the game – delivered a sumptuous forty-yard pass for Ian Barrow to latch onto but, having broken clear of the Scully defence, the striker could only guide his left foot shot just the wrong side of Sowersby’s left hand post.
Easington – with Barrow and the returning Paul Wilkinson working the line well – continued to ask questions of their visitors’ miserly defence, although clear-cut chances were hard to come by. And as the half wore on, Scully served intent of what was to come.
On the half-hour, Smith fired wide when well-placed from the visitors’ first legitimate threat on Appleyard’s goal; more were to follow quickly.
Five minutes later Tony Scruton broke clear but blazed over and a minute later the same player seized on some rare uncertainty in the home box before teeing up Smith for the miss of the match, the striker somehow screwing wide of an open goal from barely five yards out.
For the first time in the game, however, the Eastenders’ rearguard was under sustained pressure and Kevin Milner almost steered the ball into his own net after Smith had created another chance.
A minute before the break, Scully’s pressure told. Nicholson (who along with Wilkinson came into the game less than 100% fit) did well to break up an attack but could only clear the ball as far as Smith who struck a sweet shot low inside the post from the edge of the box.
Easington started the second half looking for a quick reply and Metcalf was given a half-sight of goal inside the first minute but couldn’t keep his shot down.
Scully soon took up where they’d left off at half-time and Appleyard was forced to produce two saves in quick succession from Scruton, the second a bizarre effort with his trailing leg.
Scruton passed up two further chances around the hour mark; first, firing over after a quick break had put him clear, then blazing over from eight yards as his side searched for the ‘killer’ second goal.
Harrod’s introduction on the hour had helped the locals come more into things but on 66mins the second goal duly arrived, courtesy of Smith, and the points were effectively secured.
Scruton this time created the chance with a deft lob over the defence that Smith latched onto before volleying smartly across Appleyard and into the bottom corner.
The Eastenders had a brief moment of hope on 73mins when Wilkinson made himself space for a shot that Sowersby beat out as far as Harrod; his goal-bound reply was diverted away for a corner.
This chance aside, however, the visitors held on comfortably to the close and indeed could have added to their tally at the other end.
Easington: K Appleyard, C Smalley, K Milner, M Nicholson (J Cousins, 75), J Batch, S Campbell, I Barrow, A Metcalf (S Harrod, 60), P Wilkinson, D Medforth, O Musgrove (N Rutter, 65)
Sculcoates: J Sowersby, S Irwin (D Catchpole, 66), D White, S Fisher, M Lever, L Benham, D Ingram (M Wise, 77), R Field (S Hyde, 77), M Smith, D Drayton, T Scruton
Referee: Mr. A. M. Butler
Att: 34
Easington United 0 – 2 Sculcoates Amateurs
HPL Premier Division favourites Sculcoates Amateurs inflicted a second successive defeat on the Eastenders, courtesy of two fine strikes by Mark Smith at Low Farm last Saturday.
Smith fired home from 18 yards on the stroke of half-time before confirming his team’s superiority with a quality second goal on 66mins.
However, despite the defeat, Easington manager Dave Mackay-Dundas was heartened by his team’s work-rate and in particular their improved defensive performance, following the two hidings handed out by their opponents in this season’s two earlier encounters.
Despite the return of several players, Mack kept faith with those who would have lined up against Withernsea. This meant Stuart Campbell partnered John Batch in what proved to be a promising looking central defensive partnership, Adam Metcalf continued down the right and Ian Barrow pushed on to support Paul Wilkinson up front. Steve Harrod and Neil Rutter returned to the bench, alongside the ever-improving Jamie Cousins.
With neither Rutter nor Andy Graham in the starting line-up, Mike Nicholson was handed the captaincy.
The locals had an early scare when Danny Drayton had the ball in the net but the ‘goal’ was rightly ruled out for a shove on Batch. After this, it was Easington who then took control.
On 7mins Danny Medforth’s right wing corner was only half-cleared back to the taker and Scully keeper Sowersby was forced to get down smartly and turn away his resulting left foot drive.
Three minutes later, Medforth – enjoying a barnstorming start to the game – delivered a sumptuous forty-yard pass for Ian Barrow to latch onto but, having broken clear of the Scully defence, the striker could only guide his left foot shot just the wrong side of Sowersby’s left hand post.
Easington – with Barrow and the returning Paul Wilkinson working the line well – continued to ask questions of their visitors’ miserly defence, although clear-cut chances were hard to come by. And as the half wore on, Scully served intent of what was to come.
On the half-hour, Smith fired wide when well-placed from the visitors’ first legitimate threat on Appleyard’s goal; more were to follow quickly.
Five minutes later Tony Scruton broke clear but blazed over and a minute later the same player seized on some rare uncertainty in the home box before teeing up Smith for the miss of the match, the striker somehow screwing wide of an open goal from barely five yards out.
For the first time in the game, however, the Eastenders’ rearguard was under sustained pressure and Kevin Milner almost steered the ball into his own net after Smith had created another chance.
A minute before the break, Scully’s pressure told. Nicholson (who along with Wilkinson came into the game less than 100% fit) did well to break up an attack but could only clear the ball as far as Smith who struck a sweet shot low inside the post from the edge of the box.
Easington started the second half looking for a quick reply and Metcalf was given a half-sight of goal inside the first minute but couldn’t keep his shot down.
Scully soon took up where they’d left off at half-time and Appleyard was forced to produce two saves in quick succession from Scruton, the second a bizarre effort with his trailing leg.
Scruton passed up two further chances around the hour mark; first, firing over after a quick break had put him clear, then blazing over from eight yards as his side searched for the ‘killer’ second goal.
Harrod’s introduction on the hour had helped the locals come more into things but on 66mins the second goal duly arrived, courtesy of Smith, and the points were effectively secured.
Scruton this time created the chance with a deft lob over the defence that Smith latched onto before volleying smartly across Appleyard and into the bottom corner.
The Eastenders had a brief moment of hope on 73mins when Wilkinson made himself space for a shot that Sowersby beat out as far as Harrod; his goal-bound reply was diverted away for a corner.
This chance aside, however, the visitors held on comfortably to the close and indeed could have added to their tally at the other end.
Easington: K Appleyard, C Smalley, K Milner, M Nicholson (J Cousins, 75), J Batch, S Campbell, I Barrow, A Metcalf (S Harrod, 60), P Wilkinson, D Medforth, O Musgrove (N Rutter, 65)
Sculcoates: J Sowersby, S Irwin (D Catchpole, 66), D White, S Fisher, M Lever, L Benham, D Ingram (M Wise, 77), R Field (S Hyde, 77), M Smith, D Drayton, T Scruton
Referee: Mr. A. M. Butler
Att: 34