Post by slush on May 17, 2007 6:33:34 GMT
Appleyard the hero in shootout success
South Holderness Cup Semi-Final
Easington United 3 – 3 Withernsea
(AET; Easington win 3-2 on pens)
KEVIN Appleyard became the latest Easington goalkeeper to excel in a penalty shootout as the Eastenders’ unconvincing progress to the South Holderness Cup Final continued with victory over Withernsea at a sodden Low Farm last Wednesday.
Appleyard’s exploits in the 2007 South Holderness semi maintained the tradition of Alan Atkinson (Holmpton Cup Final ’77) and Jason Mitchell (South Holderness final ’97). Not that this was by any means his first experience of shootout success with the locals – indeed Withernsea had already counted among his list of beaten opponents courtesy of the similarly nail-biting climax to the 2002 South Holderness Cup Final.
The home keeper guessed correctly to deny Steve Beedham, Chris Frost and Chris Hardcastle to send the Eastenders through to their eighth final in the last nine attempts.
Not for the first time this season The Seasiders left Low Farm feeling aggrieved at having got nothing from the game. And not for the first time, I have some sympathy with this view.
Benefiting from being at the ground earlier, the visitors were well prepared and fired-up come kick-off. Backed by perhaps the majority of a respectable-sized (in view of the atrocious weather) crowd they started the game brightly and dominated the opening twenty minutes.
That said, the first chance came to Easington’s Darren Thompson on 2mins, his turn and shot from Neil Rutter’s flick-on forcing Phil Richardson to save at his near post.
Buoyed by the inclusion of ex-East Ender Frost up front, the Seasiders’ pace caused the Easington back four problems all game and the youthful full-back pairing of Morrow and Jeffery were hard-pressed to cope. Not that they were alone – centre-backs Batch and Graham being forced into some questionable decision-making that failed to alleviate the early pressure.
Standing head and shoulders above his team mates throughout the game, Steve Harrod was at the hub of the few flashes of genuine quality Easington produced in the first 45 minutes. These led to two golden opportunities not taken, first when Ian Barrow rifled a shot against the underside of the bar and then Thompson volleying horribly wide with the goal seemingly gaping.
But despite playing second fiddle for most of the half, the locals found themselves two goals to the good come the interval.
On 28mins Mike Nicholson latched onto Appleyard’s long punt and his attempted ‘dink’ over Richardson actually bounced into the ground and over the stranded keeper.
Five minutes later it was 2-0; John Batch driving a 35-yard free-kick that took a deflection through the wall and skidded into the bottom corner.
Withernsea were denied a first half lifeline right on half-time when Appleyard saved smartly from Bentley. However, on the hour mark they were gifted a way back. Graham inexplicably tried to head a low ball clear and succeeded in only making arm contact with the ball on the deck; Frost struck home the resulting penalty with some aplomb.
Both sides now enjoyed chances as the game really opened up and Withernsea came closest when Sutton struck the upright having beaten Appleyard.
Eleven minutes from time, the Seasiders levelled matters. A free-kick from the left was whipped in by Tom Reynolds. Referee Cook’s slightly delayed whistle left the Eastenders defence flatfooted, Batch could only head the ball upwards and Neil Stephenson reacted quickest to head in at the far post.
The Withernsea centre back then turned from hero to villain five minutes from time, inadvertently heading past Richardson at the other end to restore Easington’s advantage, but his blushes were spared within a minute; Simon Wilson spooning a volley over Appleyard from fifteen yards out (though how intentional it was remains open to debate!).
A frantic finale saw no further goals, as did a restricted period of extra-time; and so to penalties. Reynolds gave Withernsea the early advantage only for Kevin Milner to level; Beedham and Graham were then both denied by the goalkeepers; Mark Wilson made it 2-1, Danny Medforth levelled – just! Up stepped Frost but this time Appleyard guessed correctly and when Barrow confidently put his shot away, it was advantage Easington. Appleyard saved from Hardcastle and ‘man of the match’ Harrod was able to put the world back in his underpants with there being no need for a fifth spot-kick.
Our congratulations go to Withernsea on perhaps their best performance against The Eastenders in recent times. However, having been generous in praising his opponents, manager Mack will now be more concerned with his team’s current lack of ability to click into gear – something that will need to be addressed ahead of the final in two weeks’ time.
Easington: K Appleyard, L Jeffery, P Morrow (K Milner, 87), D Potts, M Nicholson, D Thompson (D Medforth, 75), S Harrod, N Rutter (O Musgrove, 64) (Sub not used: C Smalley)
Referee: Mr. P. Cook
Att: 51
South Holderness Cup Semi-Final
Easington United 3 – 3 Withernsea
(AET; Easington win 3-2 on pens)
KEVIN Appleyard became the latest Easington goalkeeper to excel in a penalty shootout as the Eastenders’ unconvincing progress to the South Holderness Cup Final continued with victory over Withernsea at a sodden Low Farm last Wednesday.
Appleyard’s exploits in the 2007 South Holderness semi maintained the tradition of Alan Atkinson (Holmpton Cup Final ’77) and Jason Mitchell (South Holderness final ’97). Not that this was by any means his first experience of shootout success with the locals – indeed Withernsea had already counted among his list of beaten opponents courtesy of the similarly nail-biting climax to the 2002 South Holderness Cup Final.
The home keeper guessed correctly to deny Steve Beedham, Chris Frost and Chris Hardcastle to send the Eastenders through to their eighth final in the last nine attempts.
Not for the first time this season The Seasiders left Low Farm feeling aggrieved at having got nothing from the game. And not for the first time, I have some sympathy with this view.
Benefiting from being at the ground earlier, the visitors were well prepared and fired-up come kick-off. Backed by perhaps the majority of a respectable-sized (in view of the atrocious weather) crowd they started the game brightly and dominated the opening twenty minutes.
That said, the first chance came to Easington’s Darren Thompson on 2mins, his turn and shot from Neil Rutter’s flick-on forcing Phil Richardson to save at his near post.
Buoyed by the inclusion of ex-East Ender Frost up front, the Seasiders’ pace caused the Easington back four problems all game and the youthful full-back pairing of Morrow and Jeffery were hard-pressed to cope. Not that they were alone – centre-backs Batch and Graham being forced into some questionable decision-making that failed to alleviate the early pressure.
Standing head and shoulders above his team mates throughout the game, Steve Harrod was at the hub of the few flashes of genuine quality Easington produced in the first 45 minutes. These led to two golden opportunities not taken, first when Ian Barrow rifled a shot against the underside of the bar and then Thompson volleying horribly wide with the goal seemingly gaping.
But despite playing second fiddle for most of the half, the locals found themselves two goals to the good come the interval.
On 28mins Mike Nicholson latched onto Appleyard’s long punt and his attempted ‘dink’ over Richardson actually bounced into the ground and over the stranded keeper.
Five minutes later it was 2-0; John Batch driving a 35-yard free-kick that took a deflection through the wall and skidded into the bottom corner.
Withernsea were denied a first half lifeline right on half-time when Appleyard saved smartly from Bentley. However, on the hour mark they were gifted a way back. Graham inexplicably tried to head a low ball clear and succeeded in only making arm contact with the ball on the deck; Frost struck home the resulting penalty with some aplomb.
Both sides now enjoyed chances as the game really opened up and Withernsea came closest when Sutton struck the upright having beaten Appleyard.
Eleven minutes from time, the Seasiders levelled matters. A free-kick from the left was whipped in by Tom Reynolds. Referee Cook’s slightly delayed whistle left the Eastenders defence flatfooted, Batch could only head the ball upwards and Neil Stephenson reacted quickest to head in at the far post.
The Withernsea centre back then turned from hero to villain five minutes from time, inadvertently heading past Richardson at the other end to restore Easington’s advantage, but his blushes were spared within a minute; Simon Wilson spooning a volley over Appleyard from fifteen yards out (though how intentional it was remains open to debate!).
A frantic finale saw no further goals, as did a restricted period of extra-time; and so to penalties. Reynolds gave Withernsea the early advantage only for Kevin Milner to level; Beedham and Graham were then both denied by the goalkeepers; Mark Wilson made it 2-1, Danny Medforth levelled – just! Up stepped Frost but this time Appleyard guessed correctly and when Barrow confidently put his shot away, it was advantage Easington. Appleyard saved from Hardcastle and ‘man of the match’ Harrod was able to put the world back in his underpants with there being no need for a fifth spot-kick.
Our congratulations go to Withernsea on perhaps their best performance against The Eastenders in recent times. However, having been generous in praising his opponents, manager Mack will now be more concerned with his team’s current lack of ability to click into gear – something that will need to be addressed ahead of the final in two weeks’ time.
Easington: K Appleyard, L Jeffery, P Morrow (K Milner, 87), D Potts, M Nicholson, D Thompson (D Medforth, 75), S Harrod, N Rutter (O Musgrove, 64) (Sub not used: C Smalley)
Referee: Mr. P. Cook
Att: 51