Post by slush on May 20, 2008 6:45:51 GMT
Palmer to the four as holders bow out
South Holderness Cup Semi-Final
Easington United 3 – 4 Hedon Rangers
FOUR goals from Craig Palmer helped ensure that Easington United relinquished their grip on the South Holderness Cup at Low Farm.
In a pulsating game that was worthy of the final itself, the Humber Premier League’s top scorer struck twice in a five-minute spell early in the first half and then again at the start of the second to take Hedon Rangers through to their second consecutive final. His goals also enabled Kenny Harrison’s team to repeat their 2005 win at Low Farm in the same competition – two of only three defeats suffered by the hosts since first lifting the trophy back in 1997.
On a glorious evening for football it was a pity that the rushed arrangements prevented a bigger crowd from witnessing what proved to be an excellent game of football.
Despite back-to-back wins over Malet and Withernsea, Easington manager Mack chose to revert to his most experienced line-up in his pursuit of a ninth final appearance in the past twelve years. As such Kevin Milner and Tony Hunt returned at the expense of the unlucky Morrow and Barnett. In addition, Stuart Campbell returned to a 16-man squad on completion of his suspension.
The aforementioned Milner was involved in the game’s first real chance on 10mins, crossing to where Steve Harrod struck a stinging half-volley that Hedon goalkeeper Derek Peat did well to beat away.
This opening aside, however, it was the visitors who started the stronger. Crisp passing, good movement off the ball and a tenacity in the tackle helped them grasp the initiative, while Easington’s defensive carelessness also allowed them to establish a decisive two-goal lead.
From a 15th minute throw-in on the right Adrian Parkinson found space to cross for Palmer to head home. Five minutes later it was 0-2; Parkinson again involved, his well-struck shot being parried by Appleyard only for Palmer to react quickest.
The cup holders looked shell-shocked and it took the youngest player on the pitch to shake them from their stupor; James Mee’s excellent foray down the left creating space for Harrod inside the box but his shot was blocked.
On 28mins a quickly taken free-kick released Harrod on the right. His cross found Andy Graham but Peat moved smartly to save at the expense of a corner. From this, Graham headed back across goal to where the unmarked Neil Rutter blazed over from barely six yards out.
While Hedon continued to move the ball well, the openings kept coming at the other end. On 33mins, Chris Frost’s knockdown found Mee who turned well before firing just over the angle of post and bar.
With half-time approaching the hosts needed a touch of either class or good fortune. They got the latter, courtesy of Peat somehow allowing Milner’s 40-yard free-kick through his grasp for 1-2.
Hoping to capitalise on their timely break, the Eastenders instead made the worst possible start to the second half. Just five minutes in the defence was again found wanting when Parkinson hung the ball up to the back stick where an unmarked Paul Wilkinson headed down for Palmer to finish smartly.
Five minutes later Rutter passed up a second great chance, miscuing horribly wide from 12 yards. It again proved costly. After Appleyard had produced a comfortable save to deny Wilkinson the keeper was then powerless to foil Palmer’s predatory insitncts after the defence had failed to deal with a corner. Leading 4-1, Hedon had one foot in the final.
If there is one thing Kenny Harrison has come to realise in recent years though, it is that Easington teams do not lie down. And the locals immediately set about clawing their way back into this one, creating four great chances in as many minutes.
The first, on the hour mark, resulted in another amazing miss, this time from Frost who somehow headed wide of an open goal after Harrod had delivered a superb cross. A minute later Frost was unlucky when drilling just wide following a flowing move down the left and within moments only a superb save from Peat kept out Hunt’s header after Rutter’s good approach play.
In the 63rd minute the Eastenders’ pressure finally told when Milner curled an exquisite left foot free-kick into the top corner. 2-4, game on again and shortly afterwards the left back almost completed a memorable hat-trick, his mazy solo run finishing with a low drive that Peat got down to smother.
During this period of dominance, Mack had switched to 4-3-3 and introduced Stu Campbell to add weight to the attack. The move paid dividends when the sub picked up a Rangers half-clearance on the edge of the box and rifled home from 18 yards out. With fifteen minutes to go, the Eastenders sensed an improbable victory.
Such thoughts should have been banished for good when Medforth’s slip allowed Wilkinson clear sight of goal just a minute later; but the ex-Easington man blasted his shot wastefully over the bar.
The locals were by now camped in the Hedon half but their opponents' defence held firm and when breached, Peat continued to produce the goods – the latest save coming via excellent reactions to turn Frost’s goal-bound volley over the bar.
It was all hands on deck for Harrison’s side but somehow they survived and when Frost’s fine run culminated in a cross that was just too high for Campbell, Easington’s hopes – and two-year hold on the cup – had gone.
Easington: K Appleyard, D Medforth, K Milner, D Potts, T Hunt, A Graham, J Cousins, J Mee (S Campbell, 65), S Harrod, C Frost (Subs not used: D Thompson, A Metcalf, A Barnett, P Morrow)
Referee: Mr. T. Dyble (Hull)
Assts: Mr. S. Spruce (Patrington Haven), Mr. M. Robinson (Sunk Island)
Att: 60
South Holderness Cup Semi-Final
Easington United 3 – 4 Hedon Rangers
FOUR goals from Craig Palmer helped ensure that Easington United relinquished their grip on the South Holderness Cup at Low Farm.
In a pulsating game that was worthy of the final itself, the Humber Premier League’s top scorer struck twice in a five-minute spell early in the first half and then again at the start of the second to take Hedon Rangers through to their second consecutive final. His goals also enabled Kenny Harrison’s team to repeat their 2005 win at Low Farm in the same competition – two of only three defeats suffered by the hosts since first lifting the trophy back in 1997.
On a glorious evening for football it was a pity that the rushed arrangements prevented a bigger crowd from witnessing what proved to be an excellent game of football.
Despite back-to-back wins over Malet and Withernsea, Easington manager Mack chose to revert to his most experienced line-up in his pursuit of a ninth final appearance in the past twelve years. As such Kevin Milner and Tony Hunt returned at the expense of the unlucky Morrow and Barnett. In addition, Stuart Campbell returned to a 16-man squad on completion of his suspension.
The aforementioned Milner was involved in the game’s first real chance on 10mins, crossing to where Steve Harrod struck a stinging half-volley that Hedon goalkeeper Derek Peat did well to beat away.
This opening aside, however, it was the visitors who started the stronger. Crisp passing, good movement off the ball and a tenacity in the tackle helped them grasp the initiative, while Easington’s defensive carelessness also allowed them to establish a decisive two-goal lead.
From a 15th minute throw-in on the right Adrian Parkinson found space to cross for Palmer to head home. Five minutes later it was 0-2; Parkinson again involved, his well-struck shot being parried by Appleyard only for Palmer to react quickest.
The cup holders looked shell-shocked and it took the youngest player on the pitch to shake them from their stupor; James Mee’s excellent foray down the left creating space for Harrod inside the box but his shot was blocked.
On 28mins a quickly taken free-kick released Harrod on the right. His cross found Andy Graham but Peat moved smartly to save at the expense of a corner. From this, Graham headed back across goal to where the unmarked Neil Rutter blazed over from barely six yards out.
While Hedon continued to move the ball well, the openings kept coming at the other end. On 33mins, Chris Frost’s knockdown found Mee who turned well before firing just over the angle of post and bar.
With half-time approaching the hosts needed a touch of either class or good fortune. They got the latter, courtesy of Peat somehow allowing Milner’s 40-yard free-kick through his grasp for 1-2.
Hoping to capitalise on their timely break, the Eastenders instead made the worst possible start to the second half. Just five minutes in the defence was again found wanting when Parkinson hung the ball up to the back stick where an unmarked Paul Wilkinson headed down for Palmer to finish smartly.
Five minutes later Rutter passed up a second great chance, miscuing horribly wide from 12 yards. It again proved costly. After Appleyard had produced a comfortable save to deny Wilkinson the keeper was then powerless to foil Palmer’s predatory insitncts after the defence had failed to deal with a corner. Leading 4-1, Hedon had one foot in the final.
If there is one thing Kenny Harrison has come to realise in recent years though, it is that Easington teams do not lie down. And the locals immediately set about clawing their way back into this one, creating four great chances in as many minutes.
The first, on the hour mark, resulted in another amazing miss, this time from Frost who somehow headed wide of an open goal after Harrod had delivered a superb cross. A minute later Frost was unlucky when drilling just wide following a flowing move down the left and within moments only a superb save from Peat kept out Hunt’s header after Rutter’s good approach play.
In the 63rd minute the Eastenders’ pressure finally told when Milner curled an exquisite left foot free-kick into the top corner. 2-4, game on again and shortly afterwards the left back almost completed a memorable hat-trick, his mazy solo run finishing with a low drive that Peat got down to smother.
During this period of dominance, Mack had switched to 4-3-3 and introduced Stu Campbell to add weight to the attack. The move paid dividends when the sub picked up a Rangers half-clearance on the edge of the box and rifled home from 18 yards out. With fifteen minutes to go, the Eastenders sensed an improbable victory.
Such thoughts should have been banished for good when Medforth’s slip allowed Wilkinson clear sight of goal just a minute later; but the ex-Easington man blasted his shot wastefully over the bar.
The locals were by now camped in the Hedon half but their opponents' defence held firm and when breached, Peat continued to produce the goods – the latest save coming via excellent reactions to turn Frost’s goal-bound volley over the bar.
It was all hands on deck for Harrison’s side but somehow they survived and when Frost’s fine run culminated in a cross that was just too high for Campbell, Easington’s hopes – and two-year hold on the cup – had gone.
Easington: K Appleyard, D Medforth, K Milner, D Potts, T Hunt, A Graham, J Cousins, J Mee (S Campbell, 65), S Harrod, C Frost (Subs not used: D Thompson, A Metcalf, A Barnett, P Morrow)
Referee: Mr. T. Dyble (Hull)
Assts: Mr. S. Spruce (Patrington Haven), Mr. M. Robinson (Sunk Island)
Att: 60