Post by slush on Mar 8, 2007 16:51:17 GMT
Casuals show required character
Easington Utd Casuals 4 – 2 Holme Rovers Reserves
THE Eastenders Casuals secured a vital 3pts in their quest to avoid an immediate return to Division 5, coming from behind to overcome Holme Rovers.
At a “claggy” Humbleton Recreation Ground, the game was in doubt almost right up to kick-off but, having shown real character to move to within touching distance of the teams above, the locals will be relieved that groundsman Harry Jackson eventually managed to free his beleaguered roller in time for play to commence!
On a fresh, sunny afternoon, manager Doug Clubley was again “down to the bones” in terms of selection. Despite the return to action of Jamie Cousins and rare availability of Chris Smith, he had just the one sub – a factor that looked crucial when Matty Findley’s troublesome hamstring caused his retirement after barely 20 minutes.
By then the Casuals were a goal down, Rovers scoring from their only shot on goal in the first half – a free-kick awarded against Trevor Biglin and thumped home “through” the defensive wall from 20 yards on 14mins.
Otherwise, it was one-way traffic towards the away goal with just the final ball or finish letting Easington down.
Dave Clubley forced the keeper into a smart save on 9mins and Rich Clubley was similarly denied after fine work by Findley seven minutes later. But the best of the bunch came on 18mins, a great stop preventing Jamie Cousins from levelling matters after fine approach play from Dooley Cousins and Dave Clubley.
With Mike Hooley in dominant form at the back and the Dawson / Cousins “engine room” outdoing their central midfield opponents, the Casuals could feel aggrieved to come off down at the break.
However, it was Holme who started the second half better and if the radar had been right, they may well have doubled their tally by the time Easington equalised on 65mins.
It was a goal out of the blue (this reporter having just turned to the manager and said, “I can’t see where an equaliser is coming from”) but one of real quality. Dawson slipped a pass down the left for Matty Purse to take and when he outstripped the full back and whipped over a superb low cross, the onrushing Smith stretched out to poke it beyond the keeper and inside the far post.
Tails up, Easington suddenly regained control and only a brilliant reflex save at the far post prevented Dave Clubley from making it 2-1 after Smith had created the opening. The ex-Holmpton man then came within a whisker of his second goal, heading just over from another well-delivered Clubley corner.
The Casuals were not to be denied and on 76mins they took the lead. This time it was persistence from the younger Cousins that created the chance, the midfielder taking an attempted clearance by the keeper full in the ‘fizzog’ with the ball running square to Purse who bravely slid in to fire home despite a crunching attempted last-ditch tackle.
Four minutes later it was game over. The impressive Hooley combined well with Dave Clubley before delivering a pinpoint cross from which Smith glanced home his second of the game.
Rovers provided a late scare with a second goal 4 minutes from time but a minute later, the younger Cousins fed the recovered Purse who rounded the keeper to score his second and Easington’s fourth.
As somebody who rarely gets to see the Casuals these days, it was refreshing to note that the so-called “worst ever Easington side” actually possesses some genuine quality in its ranks and certainly no lack of heart (when old campaigners like ‘Dooley’ and ‘Maccer’ are willing to invite a “Humble Rumble” with members of the opposition, at least you know they care!). More character like that shown on Saturday and Division 4 football will be on the cards next season.
Casuals: I Thurkettle, S Cousins, T Biglin, D Dawson, I McNaught, M Hooley, M Findley (C Smith), J Cousins, R Clubley, D Clubley, M Purse
Easington Utd Casuals 4 – 2 Holme Rovers Reserves
THE Eastenders Casuals secured a vital 3pts in their quest to avoid an immediate return to Division 5, coming from behind to overcome Holme Rovers.
At a “claggy” Humbleton Recreation Ground, the game was in doubt almost right up to kick-off but, having shown real character to move to within touching distance of the teams above, the locals will be relieved that groundsman Harry Jackson eventually managed to free his beleaguered roller in time for play to commence!
On a fresh, sunny afternoon, manager Doug Clubley was again “down to the bones” in terms of selection. Despite the return to action of Jamie Cousins and rare availability of Chris Smith, he had just the one sub – a factor that looked crucial when Matty Findley’s troublesome hamstring caused his retirement after barely 20 minutes.
By then the Casuals were a goal down, Rovers scoring from their only shot on goal in the first half – a free-kick awarded against Trevor Biglin and thumped home “through” the defensive wall from 20 yards on 14mins.
Otherwise, it was one-way traffic towards the away goal with just the final ball or finish letting Easington down.
Dave Clubley forced the keeper into a smart save on 9mins and Rich Clubley was similarly denied after fine work by Findley seven minutes later. But the best of the bunch came on 18mins, a great stop preventing Jamie Cousins from levelling matters after fine approach play from Dooley Cousins and Dave Clubley.
With Mike Hooley in dominant form at the back and the Dawson / Cousins “engine room” outdoing their central midfield opponents, the Casuals could feel aggrieved to come off down at the break.
However, it was Holme who started the second half better and if the radar had been right, they may well have doubled their tally by the time Easington equalised on 65mins.
It was a goal out of the blue (this reporter having just turned to the manager and said, “I can’t see where an equaliser is coming from”) but one of real quality. Dawson slipped a pass down the left for Matty Purse to take and when he outstripped the full back and whipped over a superb low cross, the onrushing Smith stretched out to poke it beyond the keeper and inside the far post.
Tails up, Easington suddenly regained control and only a brilliant reflex save at the far post prevented Dave Clubley from making it 2-1 after Smith had created the opening. The ex-Holmpton man then came within a whisker of his second goal, heading just over from another well-delivered Clubley corner.
The Casuals were not to be denied and on 76mins they took the lead. This time it was persistence from the younger Cousins that created the chance, the midfielder taking an attempted clearance by the keeper full in the ‘fizzog’ with the ball running square to Purse who bravely slid in to fire home despite a crunching attempted last-ditch tackle.
Four minutes later it was game over. The impressive Hooley combined well with Dave Clubley before delivering a pinpoint cross from which Smith glanced home his second of the game.
Rovers provided a late scare with a second goal 4 minutes from time but a minute later, the younger Cousins fed the recovered Purse who rounded the keeper to score his second and Easington’s fourth.
As somebody who rarely gets to see the Casuals these days, it was refreshing to note that the so-called “worst ever Easington side” actually possesses some genuine quality in its ranks and certainly no lack of heart (when old campaigners like ‘Dooley’ and ‘Maccer’ are willing to invite a “Humble Rumble” with members of the opposition, at least you know they care!). More character like that shown on Saturday and Division 4 football will be on the cards next season.
Casuals: I Thurkettle, S Cousins, T Biglin, D Dawson, I McNaught, M Hooley, M Findley (C Smith), J Cousins, R Clubley, D Clubley, M Purse