Post by slush on Apr 28, 2008 12:44:55 GMT
Robinson injury adds to Easington’s disappointment
HPL Premier Division
Easington United 2 – 3 North Ferriby Utd Reserves
EASINGTON United are destined for their lowest Humber Premier League finish in five years following a fourth successive defeat on Saturday.
The Eastenders lost 3-2 to North Ferriby United Reserves at Low Farm and to add to their disappointment, youngster James Robinson was taken to hospital with what appeared to be serious knee ligament damage.
For the first time in recent weeks – since injuries have forced Manager Mack to gamble on youth – the boss came in at half-time disappointed by his team’s performance. However, he again took great heart from the character shown after the break.
Ferriby arrived with a bare eleven but for 45 minutes they were sharper right across the park.
On a warm, sunny afternoon, Easington lined up showing two changes to the side that had performed so spiritedly against Beverley. Andy Graham’s absence meant Danny Medforth dropped in at centre half with Dan Potts reverting to right back and the aforementioned Robinson made his full HPL debut alongside skipper Neil Rutter in midfield. Elsewhere Jamie Cousins returned to right midfield in place of the absent Adam Metcalf. Darren Thompson joined the boss on the bench.
Unfortunately, for much of the first half, the new look line-up spent their time chasing shadows. After a promising start in which Chris Frost tested goalkeeper Bones with an adventurous run and shot, the visitors gradually took control and, helped by an extra man in midfield, they started to bypass their hosts with some fluent football.
A good move on 5mins finished with Joe Aldous firing wide after a good run. Three minutes later Easington keeper Kevin Appleyard produced an excellent close-range block to deny Danny Moon and the Ferriby striker shot wide on 12mins after another fine run.
Easington went close on 14mins when good work by Jamie Cousins resulted in a cross that virtually hit Anthony Barnett and flew wide of the far post.
In the 17th minute Ferriby broke the deadlock; a free kick was worked into the home box and Liam Johnson showed neat footwork to beat Paul Morrow before converting from close range.
The Eastenders were level within four minutes through a well-created goal that culminated with Frost’s turn of pace down the left and pull back to the edge of the box where the arriving Barnett drilled a shot low and hard past Bones into the far corner.
The goal inspired Easington to their best passage of the half. Frost couldn’t quite get enough leverage to convert a Morrow free-kick at the far post, while Rutter made space for himself before producing a shot that Bones dealt with less than convincingly on 32mins.
At the other end the visitors were now reliant on shots from distance but they were gifted a second goal right on the stroke of half-time. Easington failed to react quickly at a throw-in near the corner flag and when Moon whipped in an inviting cross Aldous was on hand to slam home from close range.
The second period was barely five minutes old when Robinson pulled up in obvious distress. It was immediately apparent that he’d sustained serious injury – a disappointing end to a debut that had shown flashes of real promise.
Replacement Thompson was pushed up front with Cousins stepping inside and Frost reverting to right midfield. It was a move that brought the best out of both players with Frost causing all sorts of problems for the Ferriby left.
On 53mins Easington came close to levelling matters. Morrow’s free-kick was spilt by Bones and in the melee that followed Frost’s close-range shot was bundled off the goal-line by Brigham.
Two minutes later fine play between Thompson and Potts created space on the right from where the latter picked out Barnett with a superb cross but the header flew over the bar.
With Easington committed forward, Ferriby began to increasingly rely on the speed of their counter-attacks and it was from this source that they effectively sealed matters on 68mins. Johnson outstripped the defence before scoring at the second attempt after Appleyard had done well initially to deny him.
Mack immediately switched to 3-4-3, introducing himself for Morrow, before play was held up for ten minutes following the arrival of the ambulance for Robinson. When it resumed, Ferriby almost benefited from a Danny Medforth ‘own goal’ at a free-kick but Appleyard reacted well to tip the ball over the top. Shortly afterwards Johnson passed up the chance of a hat-trick but from then on it was Easington who asked all the questions.
On 77mins Frost should really have done better when meeting Medforth’s fine cross. Three minutes later the locals did find the net – and with a goal as good as any they’ve scored this season. Fine approach play down the left saw Barnett latch onto Thompson’s clever flick before picking out Mee with a pinpoint cross. The youngster – again impressive up front throughout – showed superb awareness and execution to chest the ball into the path of his manager who took a touch before firing past Bones from ten yards. Not a bad way to mark his 250th Easington appearance!
With the visitors looking increasingly troubled at the back, Mack almost doubled his tally in the dying minutes but his flick from Medforth’s free-kick dipped agonisingly over the bar. It was the closest they came to snatching a point.
So a fourth straight reverse and now eight games since the locals last tasted victory; but still Mack found reasons to be cheerful. In particular, Mee and Frost continue to grow into their roles, Barnett enjoyed his best game at this level, while among the more experienced heads, Medforth continues to encourage and cajole those around him. With the prospect of the return of a few more established players this weekend, the season might not yet be a complete write-off??!!
Easington: K Appleyard, D Potts, P Morrow (D Mackay-Dundas, 69), N Rutter, T Hunt, D Medforth, J Cousins, J Robinson (D Thompson, 50), C Frost, J Mee, A Barnett
N Ferriby: J Bones, B McKay, S McKay, L Brigham, J Aldous, T Stephenson, J Foster, T Hanson, L Johnson, D Moon, D Ricketts
Referee: Mr. A. Lewis (Hull)
Att: 42
HPL Premier Division
Easington United 2 – 3 North Ferriby Utd Reserves
EASINGTON United are destined for their lowest Humber Premier League finish in five years following a fourth successive defeat on Saturday.
The Eastenders lost 3-2 to North Ferriby United Reserves at Low Farm and to add to their disappointment, youngster James Robinson was taken to hospital with what appeared to be serious knee ligament damage.
For the first time in recent weeks – since injuries have forced Manager Mack to gamble on youth – the boss came in at half-time disappointed by his team’s performance. However, he again took great heart from the character shown after the break.
Ferriby arrived with a bare eleven but for 45 minutes they were sharper right across the park.
On a warm, sunny afternoon, Easington lined up showing two changes to the side that had performed so spiritedly against Beverley. Andy Graham’s absence meant Danny Medforth dropped in at centre half with Dan Potts reverting to right back and the aforementioned Robinson made his full HPL debut alongside skipper Neil Rutter in midfield. Elsewhere Jamie Cousins returned to right midfield in place of the absent Adam Metcalf. Darren Thompson joined the boss on the bench.
Unfortunately, for much of the first half, the new look line-up spent their time chasing shadows. After a promising start in which Chris Frost tested goalkeeper Bones with an adventurous run and shot, the visitors gradually took control and, helped by an extra man in midfield, they started to bypass their hosts with some fluent football.
A good move on 5mins finished with Joe Aldous firing wide after a good run. Three minutes later Easington keeper Kevin Appleyard produced an excellent close-range block to deny Danny Moon and the Ferriby striker shot wide on 12mins after another fine run.
Easington went close on 14mins when good work by Jamie Cousins resulted in a cross that virtually hit Anthony Barnett and flew wide of the far post.
In the 17th minute Ferriby broke the deadlock; a free kick was worked into the home box and Liam Johnson showed neat footwork to beat Paul Morrow before converting from close range.
The Eastenders were level within four minutes through a well-created goal that culminated with Frost’s turn of pace down the left and pull back to the edge of the box where the arriving Barnett drilled a shot low and hard past Bones into the far corner.
The goal inspired Easington to their best passage of the half. Frost couldn’t quite get enough leverage to convert a Morrow free-kick at the far post, while Rutter made space for himself before producing a shot that Bones dealt with less than convincingly on 32mins.
At the other end the visitors were now reliant on shots from distance but they were gifted a second goal right on the stroke of half-time. Easington failed to react quickly at a throw-in near the corner flag and when Moon whipped in an inviting cross Aldous was on hand to slam home from close range.
The second period was barely five minutes old when Robinson pulled up in obvious distress. It was immediately apparent that he’d sustained serious injury – a disappointing end to a debut that had shown flashes of real promise.
Replacement Thompson was pushed up front with Cousins stepping inside and Frost reverting to right midfield. It was a move that brought the best out of both players with Frost causing all sorts of problems for the Ferriby left.
On 53mins Easington came close to levelling matters. Morrow’s free-kick was spilt by Bones and in the melee that followed Frost’s close-range shot was bundled off the goal-line by Brigham.
Two minutes later fine play between Thompson and Potts created space on the right from where the latter picked out Barnett with a superb cross but the header flew over the bar.
With Easington committed forward, Ferriby began to increasingly rely on the speed of their counter-attacks and it was from this source that they effectively sealed matters on 68mins. Johnson outstripped the defence before scoring at the second attempt after Appleyard had done well initially to deny him.
Mack immediately switched to 3-4-3, introducing himself for Morrow, before play was held up for ten minutes following the arrival of the ambulance for Robinson. When it resumed, Ferriby almost benefited from a Danny Medforth ‘own goal’ at a free-kick but Appleyard reacted well to tip the ball over the top. Shortly afterwards Johnson passed up the chance of a hat-trick but from then on it was Easington who asked all the questions.
On 77mins Frost should really have done better when meeting Medforth’s fine cross. Three minutes later the locals did find the net – and with a goal as good as any they’ve scored this season. Fine approach play down the left saw Barnett latch onto Thompson’s clever flick before picking out Mee with a pinpoint cross. The youngster – again impressive up front throughout – showed superb awareness and execution to chest the ball into the path of his manager who took a touch before firing past Bones from ten yards. Not a bad way to mark his 250th Easington appearance!
With the visitors looking increasingly troubled at the back, Mack almost doubled his tally in the dying minutes but his flick from Medforth’s free-kick dipped agonisingly over the bar. It was the closest they came to snatching a point.
So a fourth straight reverse and now eight games since the locals last tasted victory; but still Mack found reasons to be cheerful. In particular, Mee and Frost continue to grow into their roles, Barnett enjoyed his best game at this level, while among the more experienced heads, Medforth continues to encourage and cajole those around him. With the prospect of the return of a few more established players this weekend, the season might not yet be a complete write-off??!!
Easington: K Appleyard, D Potts, P Morrow (D Mackay-Dundas, 69), N Rutter, T Hunt, D Medforth, J Cousins, J Robinson (D Thompson, 50), C Frost, J Mee, A Barnett
N Ferriby: J Bones, B McKay, S McKay, L Brigham, J Aldous, T Stephenson, J Foster, T Hanson, L Johnson, D Moon, D Ricketts
Referee: Mr. A. Lewis (Hull)
Att: 42