Post by slush on Oct 26, 2008 13:55:48 GMT
No reward form Smalley's beleaguered battlers
ER County League Premier Division
Reckitts Reserves 5 - 2 Easington Utd Reserves
Hampered by one of the more bizarre pre-match withdrawals, Craig Smalley's depleted Reserve side put up a brave performance before going down at a rejuvenated Reckitts Reserves.
Already reduced to a 12-man squad following disciplinary issues, the Stiffs lost Jonny Hairsine at lunchtime when it was revealed that the player had “run out of diesel during the week and hadn't been able to afford to fill up in the meantime!”
Despite this setback – and subsequent result – the Stiffs boss described his side’s performance as the “best of the season”. He said, “Few could have argued if we had walked away with the 3 points.”
Three new faces were thrust into the fray; James Rice (promoted from the Casuals) and debutants Jamie Hollingsworth and Phil Page.
And in a bright start, it was Page, employed up front, who had the chance to make an immediate impact when put clear but his shot was too close to the keeper.
Reckitts took the lead shortly after, a full-stretch Foster inadvertently diverting a cross into his own net.
Despite this setback, Easington continued to play good football, with the youthful central midfield pairing of McLaughlin and Hutchinson linking well. It was Hutchinson who passed up a great chance to equalise when he was also played clean through but saw his shot turned away for a corner. From this the same player was denied again when his thumping header was cleared off the line.
Having survived these misses, Reckitts went two up in somewhat controversial circumstances. A push on Foster was seen by the ref who said he would “have a word” but in waving play-on he allowed an unmarked player to tap home in the box!
Soon after, Darren Thompson became the third Easington player sent through on goal only to be denied by the keeper. However, from the resulting corner, Easington were back in the game – McLaughlin’s delivery being dispatched powerfully into the top corner by Hutchinson from 15 yards.
Having worked so hard to gain a foothold, the Stiffs now surrendered it as Reckitts, perhaps against the run of play, made it 3-1 from a corner of their own.
Positive words at half time had an effect as Easington again struck back. Thompson turned his man on the right edge of the box and played a great reverse ball into the path of “The Hutch” who in turn left a home defender on his backside before slotting home with his left foot from 12 yards.
Despite putting together some neat moves, the experienced Reckitts back four (which included former East Ender Tony Hunt) limited Easington to shots from distance, Thompson firing one narrowly over.
Reckitts made it 4-2 after 75mins when McLeod, Foster and a forward came together for the ball on the edge of the box with it falling fortuitously to the latter who rolled it into the net from a prone position.
United tried gamely to get back into the game, Clubley striking the bar with one fine effort, but despite being reduced to 10 men, Reckitts caught them on the break again to secure victory.
Reserves: C McLeod, M Findley, J Hollingsworth, M Hutchinson, C Foster, B Fisk, J Rice, T McLaughlin, D Thompson, P Page, D Clubley
ER County League Premier Division
Reckitts Reserves 5 - 2 Easington Utd Reserves
Hampered by one of the more bizarre pre-match withdrawals, Craig Smalley's depleted Reserve side put up a brave performance before going down at a rejuvenated Reckitts Reserves.
Already reduced to a 12-man squad following disciplinary issues, the Stiffs lost Jonny Hairsine at lunchtime when it was revealed that the player had “run out of diesel during the week and hadn't been able to afford to fill up in the meantime!”
Despite this setback – and subsequent result – the Stiffs boss described his side’s performance as the “best of the season”. He said, “Few could have argued if we had walked away with the 3 points.”
Three new faces were thrust into the fray; James Rice (promoted from the Casuals) and debutants Jamie Hollingsworth and Phil Page.
And in a bright start, it was Page, employed up front, who had the chance to make an immediate impact when put clear but his shot was too close to the keeper.
Reckitts took the lead shortly after, a full-stretch Foster inadvertently diverting a cross into his own net.
Despite this setback, Easington continued to play good football, with the youthful central midfield pairing of McLaughlin and Hutchinson linking well. It was Hutchinson who passed up a great chance to equalise when he was also played clean through but saw his shot turned away for a corner. From this the same player was denied again when his thumping header was cleared off the line.
Having survived these misses, Reckitts went two up in somewhat controversial circumstances. A push on Foster was seen by the ref who said he would “have a word” but in waving play-on he allowed an unmarked player to tap home in the box!
Soon after, Darren Thompson became the third Easington player sent through on goal only to be denied by the keeper. However, from the resulting corner, Easington were back in the game – McLaughlin’s delivery being dispatched powerfully into the top corner by Hutchinson from 15 yards.
Having worked so hard to gain a foothold, the Stiffs now surrendered it as Reckitts, perhaps against the run of play, made it 3-1 from a corner of their own.
Positive words at half time had an effect as Easington again struck back. Thompson turned his man on the right edge of the box and played a great reverse ball into the path of “The Hutch” who in turn left a home defender on his backside before slotting home with his left foot from 12 yards.
Despite putting together some neat moves, the experienced Reckitts back four (which included former East Ender Tony Hunt) limited Easington to shots from distance, Thompson firing one narrowly over.
Reckitts made it 4-2 after 75mins when McLeod, Foster and a forward came together for the ball on the edge of the box with it falling fortuitously to the latter who rolled it into the net from a prone position.
United tried gamely to get back into the game, Clubley striking the bar with one fine effort, but despite being reduced to 10 men, Reckitts caught them on the break again to secure victory.
Reserves: C McLeod, M Findley, J Hollingsworth, M Hutchinson, C Foster, B Fisk, J Rice, T McLaughlin, D Thompson, P Page, D Clubley