Post by slush on May 11, 2008 7:27:20 GMT
Relief and reward as Easington end with a win
HPL Premier Division
Easington United 2 - 0 Malet Lambert YC
EASINGTON United gave themselves the perfect boost ahead of Tuesday’s South Holderness Cup tie at Withernsea thanks to a deserved victory in their final Humber Premier League game of the season.
On a gorgeous summer afternoon and in front of a decent sized crowd, first half goals from teenagers James Mee and Anthony Barnett proved enough to beat Malet Lambert.
The east Hull side arrived on the back of a midweek defeat at Withernsea and in the middle of as poor a run of form as their hosts. And their lack of confidence was shown by a first half display that appeared to lack any spirit or conviction.
For his part Easington manager Dave Mack was one-man down after Tony Hunt’s Achilles problem failed to react to treatment and with none of the long-term absentees back in the fray. Skipper Neil Rutter therefore dropped into the back four with Steve Harrod gaining a start up front.
Easington were ahead after just 6 minutes. The impressive Mee began the move on halfway, holding off a defender and feeding Paul Morrow on the left. His delightful pass allowed Barnett to get in behind the full back and cross from the byline to where Mee coolly brought the ball under control and slotted home from 6 yards.
Four minutes later it could have been 2-0. Medforth and Harrod worked a short corner before the latter picked out Graham at the far post but his header flew wide.
Malet’s only real threat of the first period came on quarter of an hour when Ratcliffe’s solo run took him through the home defence but Appleyard got down smartly to save at his near post.
Back up to the other end and when goalkeeper Dave Constable made a hash of clearing a back-pass, Harrod’s return volley from 20 yards pinged off his left hand post with the rebound cleared.
That came in the 24th minute and two minutes later it was 2-0 thanks to a goal that owed much to the pace of Chris Frost. Harrod’s attempted pass appeared bound for the Malet keeper but Frost nipped in first and managed to pull the ball back for Barnett to slot home at the far post.
On the half-hour, Frost and Mee combined cleverly but Constable got safely behind the former’s well struck volley.
Malet were expected to improve after the break and they did; Paul Hirscher blazing over the bar from a half-cleared corner just six minutes in.
Easington were slower getting into their stride but in patches still produced some decent football. One such move saw Mee and Frost combine to release Barnett whose attempted cross-shot landed on the top of Constable’s net.
Metcalf replaced Medforth just past the hour and Mee made way for Thompson later as Easington continued to remain on course despite not really stepping up a gear. Indeed it was just five minutes from time when their next opportunity arrived, Thompson and Harrod linking to create a chance for Frost but his volley flashed wide of the upright.
Three minutes from time Thompson couldn’t quite find the target from Morrow’s in-swinging free-kick. At the other end, despite plenty of ball, Malet rarely threatened and Appleyard – becoming the only ever-present of the Eastenders’ campaign – enjoyed the relative rarity of a clean sheet.
So United completed their season with their eleventh win to arrest a run of five straight defeats and a sequence of no win in nine matches. It wasn’t enough to improve on their position of 11th in the table – which matches that achieved in the inaugural 2000/01 season – but despite this their lowest placing since then, Manager Mack has been heartened by the performances shown over recent weeks.
Not only have several youngsters come in and show they can compete at this level but the more established players have really come to the fore in terms of attitude and commitment. Alongside usual suspects of Rutter and Potts (both outstanding in Saturday’s win) Mack has been pleasantly surprised by the likes of Medforth, who has consistently helped those younger heads around him, and Harrod who despite having moved on to “bigger and better things” (!!) has been only too ready to offer his services whenever possible in recent weeks. This has been of immeasurable benefit to the likes of Mee, Barnett and Frost and has been appreciated by all those with the future prospects of the Club at heart.
Easington: K Appleyard, D Medforth (A Metcalf, 63), P Morrow, D Potts, N Rutter, A Graham, C Frost, J Cousins, J Mee (D Thompson, 70), S Harrod, A Barnett
Malet: D Constable, L Carr, L Macklin, S Hawksworth, S Ratcliffe, S Heard (B Hawksworth, 85), P Hirscher, J Crossland, J Whittle (L Jackson, 36), P Abbott, P Burton (Subs not used: C Kendall, C Hunt, P Hawksworth)
Referee: Mr. P. A. Cook (Cleethorpes)
Assts: Mr. N Cook (Hull), Mr. P. McWatters (Hull)
Att: 50
HPL Premier Division
Easington United 2 - 0 Malet Lambert YC
EASINGTON United gave themselves the perfect boost ahead of Tuesday’s South Holderness Cup tie at Withernsea thanks to a deserved victory in their final Humber Premier League game of the season.
On a gorgeous summer afternoon and in front of a decent sized crowd, first half goals from teenagers James Mee and Anthony Barnett proved enough to beat Malet Lambert.
The east Hull side arrived on the back of a midweek defeat at Withernsea and in the middle of as poor a run of form as their hosts. And their lack of confidence was shown by a first half display that appeared to lack any spirit or conviction.
For his part Easington manager Dave Mack was one-man down after Tony Hunt’s Achilles problem failed to react to treatment and with none of the long-term absentees back in the fray. Skipper Neil Rutter therefore dropped into the back four with Steve Harrod gaining a start up front.
Easington were ahead after just 6 minutes. The impressive Mee began the move on halfway, holding off a defender and feeding Paul Morrow on the left. His delightful pass allowed Barnett to get in behind the full back and cross from the byline to where Mee coolly brought the ball under control and slotted home from 6 yards.
Four minutes later it could have been 2-0. Medforth and Harrod worked a short corner before the latter picked out Graham at the far post but his header flew wide.
Malet’s only real threat of the first period came on quarter of an hour when Ratcliffe’s solo run took him through the home defence but Appleyard got down smartly to save at his near post.
Back up to the other end and when goalkeeper Dave Constable made a hash of clearing a back-pass, Harrod’s return volley from 20 yards pinged off his left hand post with the rebound cleared.
That came in the 24th minute and two minutes later it was 2-0 thanks to a goal that owed much to the pace of Chris Frost. Harrod’s attempted pass appeared bound for the Malet keeper but Frost nipped in first and managed to pull the ball back for Barnett to slot home at the far post.
On the half-hour, Frost and Mee combined cleverly but Constable got safely behind the former’s well struck volley.
Malet were expected to improve after the break and they did; Paul Hirscher blazing over the bar from a half-cleared corner just six minutes in.
Easington were slower getting into their stride but in patches still produced some decent football. One such move saw Mee and Frost combine to release Barnett whose attempted cross-shot landed on the top of Constable’s net.
Metcalf replaced Medforth just past the hour and Mee made way for Thompson later as Easington continued to remain on course despite not really stepping up a gear. Indeed it was just five minutes from time when their next opportunity arrived, Thompson and Harrod linking to create a chance for Frost but his volley flashed wide of the upright.
Three minutes from time Thompson couldn’t quite find the target from Morrow’s in-swinging free-kick. At the other end, despite plenty of ball, Malet rarely threatened and Appleyard – becoming the only ever-present of the Eastenders’ campaign – enjoyed the relative rarity of a clean sheet.
So United completed their season with their eleventh win to arrest a run of five straight defeats and a sequence of no win in nine matches. It wasn’t enough to improve on their position of 11th in the table – which matches that achieved in the inaugural 2000/01 season – but despite this their lowest placing since then, Manager Mack has been heartened by the performances shown over recent weeks.
Not only have several youngsters come in and show they can compete at this level but the more established players have really come to the fore in terms of attitude and commitment. Alongside usual suspects of Rutter and Potts (both outstanding in Saturday’s win) Mack has been pleasantly surprised by the likes of Medforth, who has consistently helped those younger heads around him, and Harrod who despite having moved on to “bigger and better things” (!!) has been only too ready to offer his services whenever possible in recent weeks. This has been of immeasurable benefit to the likes of Mee, Barnett and Frost and has been appreciated by all those with the future prospects of the Club at heart.
Easington: K Appleyard, D Medforth (A Metcalf, 63), P Morrow, D Potts, N Rutter, A Graham, C Frost, J Cousins, J Mee (D Thompson, 70), S Harrod, A Barnett
Malet: D Constable, L Carr, L Macklin, S Hawksworth, S Ratcliffe, S Heard (B Hawksworth, 85), P Hirscher, J Crossland, J Whittle (L Jackson, 36), P Abbott, P Burton (Subs not used: C Kendall, C Hunt, P Hawksworth)
Referee: Mr. P. A. Cook (Cleethorpes)
Assts: Mr. N Cook (Hull), Mr. P. McWatters (Hull)
Att: 50