Post by slush on Oct 26, 2008 13:37:05 GMT
Vikings blown off course as Casuals win at last!
ER County League Division 4
Easington Utd Casuals 2 -1 Viking Raiders Reserves
A magnificent effort by Iain McNaught's Casuals battlers brought them their first win of the season. On a windy day at the Farm, leaders Viking Raiders Reserves were blown off course as stunning strikes from Steve Ward and "Biff" McNaught helped Easington to come from a goal down and clinch a richly deserved success.
Afterwards, Maccer said, “In truth the foundations for this first success have been laid over the last few games. Even with team disruptions we have forged a strong camaraderie that has seen performances by and large improve from the start of the season”.
Yet more pre-match squad disruption saw the locals field another changed line-up from that which had battled well for no reward at Wawne. And, despite a fine start here helped by the wind at their backs, it appeared it could be the same old story when the Vikings scored from their first real opening on 20mins; slack marking at a quickly taken throw-in allowing the visitors to go one up.
Thankfully heads did not drop and as the hosts came more into things it appeared to unsettle their opponents who began to take what the boss described as “a confrontational approach in any 50-50 situation”. Eventually the break through came (and how!!) with Ward latching onto a clearance and dispatching it straight back past the keeper from some 30 yards for 1-1.
Despite the loss of Rich Clubley following a heavy tackle, by the break Easington were ahead; McNaught winning a 50-50 stretch for the ball in midfield before launching it from a good 45 yards past the despairing keeper.
The second half was always going to prove difficult in view of the conditions but some “stalwart defending from the back four of Rutter, Campbell, McNaught and Biglin” helped reduce the opposition to long range shots or set-pieces.
And when such opportunities arose, the Vikings found an inspirational Steve Eldon in goal. The veteran keeper rolled back the years to produce an excellent performance, twice pulling off full length diving saves to deny the visitors an equaliser. His final save came in the dying moments when pushing an inadvertent McNaught back header onto the post to cap a ‘Man of the Match’ performance.
Not that it was all one-way traffic and Pasha Brown will reflect on one golden opportunity at the other end that got away. No matter – at last the Casuals could celebrate some points on the board
Wide men Turley (a replacement for Clubley) and Newsam were mentioned in dispatches as was debutant Feaney who almost marked his entry as sub with an immediate goal on replacing the hard-working Ward. In conclusion the manager said, “All in all an excellent performance for which every player deserves praise. The trick now is to maintain this and go forward – roll on next week!”
Casuals: Eldon, D Rutter, T Biglin, A McNaught, I McNaught, D Campbell, Ward (Feaney, 75), Brown, R Clubley (Turley, 40), Milbank, Newsam
The Viking view of the game can be read via the following link: www.vikingraiders.moonfruit.com/#/easingtoncasuals/4531640025
ER County League Division 4
Easington Utd Casuals 2 -1 Viking Raiders Reserves
A magnificent effort by Iain McNaught's Casuals battlers brought them their first win of the season. On a windy day at the Farm, leaders Viking Raiders Reserves were blown off course as stunning strikes from Steve Ward and "Biff" McNaught helped Easington to come from a goal down and clinch a richly deserved success.
Afterwards, Maccer said, “In truth the foundations for this first success have been laid over the last few games. Even with team disruptions we have forged a strong camaraderie that has seen performances by and large improve from the start of the season”.
Yet more pre-match squad disruption saw the locals field another changed line-up from that which had battled well for no reward at Wawne. And, despite a fine start here helped by the wind at their backs, it appeared it could be the same old story when the Vikings scored from their first real opening on 20mins; slack marking at a quickly taken throw-in allowing the visitors to go one up.
Thankfully heads did not drop and as the hosts came more into things it appeared to unsettle their opponents who began to take what the boss described as “a confrontational approach in any 50-50 situation”. Eventually the break through came (and how!!) with Ward latching onto a clearance and dispatching it straight back past the keeper from some 30 yards for 1-1.
Despite the loss of Rich Clubley following a heavy tackle, by the break Easington were ahead; McNaught winning a 50-50 stretch for the ball in midfield before launching it from a good 45 yards past the despairing keeper.
The second half was always going to prove difficult in view of the conditions but some “stalwart defending from the back four of Rutter, Campbell, McNaught and Biglin” helped reduce the opposition to long range shots or set-pieces.
And when such opportunities arose, the Vikings found an inspirational Steve Eldon in goal. The veteran keeper rolled back the years to produce an excellent performance, twice pulling off full length diving saves to deny the visitors an equaliser. His final save came in the dying moments when pushing an inadvertent McNaught back header onto the post to cap a ‘Man of the Match’ performance.
Not that it was all one-way traffic and Pasha Brown will reflect on one golden opportunity at the other end that got away. No matter – at last the Casuals could celebrate some points on the board
Wide men Turley (a replacement for Clubley) and Newsam were mentioned in dispatches as was debutant Feaney who almost marked his entry as sub with an immediate goal on replacing the hard-working Ward. In conclusion the manager said, “All in all an excellent performance for which every player deserves praise. The trick now is to maintain this and go forward – roll on next week!”
Casuals: Eldon, D Rutter, T Biglin, A McNaught, I McNaught, D Campbell, Ward (Feaney, 75), Brown, R Clubley (Turley, 40), Milbank, Newsam
The Viking view of the game can be read via the following link: www.vikingraiders.moonfruit.com/#/easingtoncasuals/4531640025