SH Cup Final: Hedon Rgs 0-1 Eastenders (AET)

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Harrod’s special delivers eighth Easington success
South Holderness Cup Final
(Sponsored by CFS Fuel Supplies)
Hedon Rangers 0 – 1 Easington United
(After Extra Time)

EASINGTON United completed their eighth South Holderness Cup success in eleven years when Steve Harrod’s superb goal, ten minutes into in extra-time, clinched a 1-0 win over Hedon Rangers in the final at the Destiny Fitness Ground.
It was a strike worthy of winning any game. Receiving Kevin Milner’s fine pass some 25 yards out on the left, Harrod cut inside his marker before curling the ball into the top corner.
Both camps agreed afterwards that the Eastenders deserved their success. They had the majority of the few clear-cut chances on offer in a game played in good spirit between two teams keen to try and pass the ball.
Both sides came into the game at near full strength with Easington boss Dave Mackay-Dundas restoring his experienced full back pairing of Smalley and Milner to the starting line-up, youngsters Jeffery and Morrow dropping to the bench.
Kicking off on a dull but otherwise fine evening, Easington had first sight of goal when Harrod shot just wide from 25 yards. The striker then almost turned provider five minutes later but Ian Barrow failed to connect with his corner when the goal appeared at his mercy.
On quarter of an hour, Hedon enjoyed their best opening of the match, Adie Cooper’s break and cross picking out Matty Hulme but he couldn’t keep his header down.
Five minutes later the busy Harrod again came within a whisker of scoring for Easington, his volley from a weak Rangers clearance again drifting just the wrong side of the upright.
On 32mins Easington thought they’d broken the deadlock when Harrod applied the deftest of flicks to beat Peak after Darren Thompson’s blistering run down the left; unfortunately the young striker had taken the ball out of play before pulling it back from the by-line. Four minutes later Milner’s adventurous overhead kick flew some way wide in the last “opening” of a tight first period.
The second half opened in similar cagey fashion with the first opening coming from an Easington free–kick on 55mins, Barrow heading straight at Peak. This signalled the start of a spell in which the holders assumed a measure of control. Harrod played a clever one-two with Nicholson but could only drill wide of the far post as gaps began to appear in the Rangers rearguard.
Stand-in management duo Brough and Thompson introduced Dowd for Adrian Parkinson on the hour but it was Easington who again went close on 62mins following a quick breakout from a Hedon free-kick; Barrow outstripping the cover down the right but firing just wide of the far stick. Two minutes later, they went even closer when Andy Graham headed Milner’s precise free kick against the bar.
Changes now came frequently with Musgrove replacing Thompson for Easington, followed by Medforth for skipper Rutter. Hedon introduced Pete Smith for Reinier and his pace down the left caused a few murmurs in the otherwise solid Easington rearguard.
With extra-time looming, the hosts were given a couple of opportunities to snatch things from two well-sited free-kicks; Hulme going closest when clipping his just wide.
And so to extra-time wherein Easington almost enjoyed the perfect start. Straight from kick-off they broke down the right and Harrod’s cross was met by Barrow whose goal-bound header was desperately turned away by Peak diving low to his right. That set the tone for the half and ten minutes in came Harrod’s piece of magic; 1-0 to Easington.
Within minutes it should have been two. First, more consternation in the Hedon box saw the ball half-cleared as far as the impressive Smalley out wide on the right; his rasping return was met by Nicholson’s flick from six yards but Peak flung himself brilliantly to his right to palm the ball away. From the return, Medforth curled an effort against the bar. Hedon were living dangerously.
The home side introduced Ian Smith for Hulme as a final throw of the dice, while youngster Morrow came on for the injured Harrod as both teams used up their allotted subs. Dave Smith lifted a far post effort over but with Rangers throwing men forward in an increasingly desperate search for the equaliser, Easington should have wrapped things up on the counter when Barrow found himself with just Peak to beat in the 106th minute. However, the keeper managed to get just enough on his somewhat snatched attempt to deflect the ball over.
Thankfully for their supporters in a decent-sized crowd, Easington didn’t pay for their profligacy. They did have to survive a scare in the final minute, however, when Ian Smith broke through to hit the post – although an assistant-referee’s flag would have rendered any ‘goal’ void. Moments later, referee Bill Pharaoh blew his final whistle and Easington’s celebrations could begin.
Given that they didn’t participate in 2001, the Eastenders’ win was actually their eighth in ten attempts in the competition since first lifting the trophy in 1997, an outstanding achievement by a club that had only won four of its first thirty ties after first entering in 1963!
At the post-match presentation, Cup Committee Chairman Tom Southcoat thanked Alan Coopland of CFS Fuel Supplies for his continued sponsorship of the competition, Destiny Fitness for the use of the venue and the three match officials for donation their services free of charge. Mr. Coopland then presented the trophy to Easington skipper Neil Rutter with Hedon gaining some consolation when defender Keith Parkinson received the Melvin Douglas Memorial Shield for ‘man of the match’.

Hedon: D Peak, R Franks, D Smith, A O’Loughlin, K Parkinson, L Reinier (P Smith, 75), M Sansam, P Birney, A Cooper, A Parkinson (M Dowd, 59), M Hulme (I Smith, 105) (Sub not used: S Brough)
Easington: K Appleyard, C Smalley, K Milner, D Potts, J Batch, A Graham, I Barrow, M Nicholson, D Thompson (O Musgrove, 61), S Harrod (P Morrow, 107), N Rutter (D Medforth, 72) (Sub not used: L Jeffery)
Referee: Mr. W. Pharaoh (Hull) / Assistants: Mr. S. Moore (Hull) & Mr. P. Andrews (Hull)
Att: 120