Post by slush on Apr 23, 2008 11:18:10 GMT
Dan’s the man as Reserves retain Melvin Memorial Cup
Melvin Douglas Memorial Trophy
Hedon United 1 – 2 Easington Utd Reserves
The Eastenders Reserves gained some reward from what has been a difficult campaign when goals from Pasha Brown and Daniel Campbell earned a 2-1 win at Hedon United in the Melvin Douglas Memorial Trophy fixture.
It provided manager Mike Wilson with some deserved success for a season in which the Ol’ Pipe Smoker has experienced a real struggle since coming out of retirement again to fill the void left by John Clarke. Together with assistant Craig Foster, Mickey Bo’ has just about achieved the main aim of ensuring Premier Division survival – although a point from the final game against Bridlington Lion may well be required to confirm that.
The aforementioned Foster missed this success, as did the injured Darren Dawson and it was another youthful side fielded at Drapers Lane. But despite the closeness of the score, they still had too much quality for their opponents, a fact all too readily acknowledged by home manager Dave Gatti afterwards.
In particular the Stiffs’ first half showing was superb. Some excellent inter-play helped them race into a two-goal lead, courtesy of Brown’s good header from a flowing move capped off by ‘Bezza’ Barnett’s cross and Campbell’s penalty after James Mee, Jamie Cousins and Brown had all gone down in the box.
Immediately after the spot kick, Graham Thompson seized on some uncertainty to reduce arrears. This enabled Hedon to put the brakes on the Eastenders’ hitherto impressive passing game and their play in the second half became a little more rushed and less composed.
Not that chances didn’t continue to come at regular intervals; Darren Thompson headed one excellent opportunity over the bar, as did sub Dave Clubley from another ‘Bezza’ delivery. Mee saw a header saved and the rebound hacked clear, Cousins and James Robinson were both guilty of wild finishes when well placed, while subs Andy Milbank and Luke Smith combined well only for Smith’s shot to flash just wide. Then in an astonishing seven minutes’ injury time, Barnett cut in before crashing a right foot shot against the bar and Hedon keeper Shaun Gill produced fine saves to deny Cousins and Smith.
At the other end the lively Thompson passed up the best of Hedon’s chances, volleying high over a virtually empty goal, while Kev Appleyard produced a fine double-stop during a rare moment of defensive indecision on an otherwise encouraging night.
At the close, referee Charlie Crickmore selected the aforementioned Campbell ahead of defensive partner Mike Hooley as recipient of the traditional ‘man of the match’ award. The Stiffs skipper then lifted the trophy for a second successive year, after a barren period in which Hedon have held the upper hand in this annual affair.
Sixteen years after it was first played for, it’s good to see Melvin’s memory still held in such high regard as illustrated not only by the keenness of the fixture but also by the impeccably observed minute’s silence which preceded it.
Reserves: K Appleyard, P Brown, A Metcalf, J Robinson, D Campbell, M Hooley, J Cousins, M Findley (D Clubley), J Mee (L Smith), D Thompson (A Milbank), A Barnett
Melvin Douglas Memorial Trophy
Hedon United 1 – 2 Easington Utd Reserves
The Eastenders Reserves gained some reward from what has been a difficult campaign when goals from Pasha Brown and Daniel Campbell earned a 2-1 win at Hedon United in the Melvin Douglas Memorial Trophy fixture.
It provided manager Mike Wilson with some deserved success for a season in which the Ol’ Pipe Smoker has experienced a real struggle since coming out of retirement again to fill the void left by John Clarke. Together with assistant Craig Foster, Mickey Bo’ has just about achieved the main aim of ensuring Premier Division survival – although a point from the final game against Bridlington Lion may well be required to confirm that.
The aforementioned Foster missed this success, as did the injured Darren Dawson and it was another youthful side fielded at Drapers Lane. But despite the closeness of the score, they still had too much quality for their opponents, a fact all too readily acknowledged by home manager Dave Gatti afterwards.
In particular the Stiffs’ first half showing was superb. Some excellent inter-play helped them race into a two-goal lead, courtesy of Brown’s good header from a flowing move capped off by ‘Bezza’ Barnett’s cross and Campbell’s penalty after James Mee, Jamie Cousins and Brown had all gone down in the box.
Immediately after the spot kick, Graham Thompson seized on some uncertainty to reduce arrears. This enabled Hedon to put the brakes on the Eastenders’ hitherto impressive passing game and their play in the second half became a little more rushed and less composed.
Not that chances didn’t continue to come at regular intervals; Darren Thompson headed one excellent opportunity over the bar, as did sub Dave Clubley from another ‘Bezza’ delivery. Mee saw a header saved and the rebound hacked clear, Cousins and James Robinson were both guilty of wild finishes when well placed, while subs Andy Milbank and Luke Smith combined well only for Smith’s shot to flash just wide. Then in an astonishing seven minutes’ injury time, Barnett cut in before crashing a right foot shot against the bar and Hedon keeper Shaun Gill produced fine saves to deny Cousins and Smith.
At the other end the lively Thompson passed up the best of Hedon’s chances, volleying high over a virtually empty goal, while Kev Appleyard produced a fine double-stop during a rare moment of defensive indecision on an otherwise encouraging night.
At the close, referee Charlie Crickmore selected the aforementioned Campbell ahead of defensive partner Mike Hooley as recipient of the traditional ‘man of the match’ award. The Stiffs skipper then lifted the trophy for a second successive year, after a barren period in which Hedon have held the upper hand in this annual affair.
Sixteen years after it was first played for, it’s good to see Melvin’s memory still held in such high regard as illustrated not only by the keenness of the fixture but also by the impeccably observed minute’s silence which preceded it.
Reserves: K Appleyard, P Brown, A Metcalf, J Robinson, D Campbell, M Hooley, J Cousins, M Findley (D Clubley), J Mee (L Smith), D Thompson (A Milbank), A Barnett