Post by slush on Apr 20, 2008 7:16:17 GMT
The wait goes on for Mack’s young hopefuls
HPL Premier Division
Easington United 0 – 2 Beverley Town
IT was the same old story for Easington United as they fell to a third straight defeat on Saturday. Having played their part to the full in an even contest that was dominated by the strong breeze blowing straight down the pitch, the Eastenders eventually succumbed to two late goals.
With none of the long-term injured available for selection, Manager Mack did at least welcome Andy Graham back from suspension, along with Jamie Cousins who’d missed the defeat at Reckitts due to his participation in a schools cup final. Unfortunately, these two returns were offset by the loss of the suspended Stu Campbell and Steve Harrod who was on duty at Bottesford Town.
Thus on a dull, overcast day, it was another inexperienced Easington line-up that took the field including Anthony Barnett in for his full HPL debut after a subs appearance at Reckitts. At the other end of the spectrum, Danny Medforth lined-up for his 250th first team appearance.
With the wind in their favour, the Eastenders started strongly and dominated the first half. And twice in the space of two minutes they came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock.
On 13 minutes the lively James Mee won a free kick on the edge of the box, which Paul Morrow lined up before sending a superb shot around the Town wall and pinging against goalkeeper Adam Nicholson’s right hand post. Unfortunately no Easington player was on hand to tuck away the rebound.
Town failed to clear the danger and after Adam Metcalf had regained possession, Mee this time threaded a great pass through to Andy Graham who stabbed the ball past Nicholson but again saw it come back off the upright with nobody in a position to convert.
Spurred on by their near misses, Easington continued to take the game to their high-flying opponents. On 20mins, Chris Frost’s pace again took him clear of his marker but he fired weakly straight at Nicholson; then Morrow and Barnett linked well down the left but from the latter’s cross Frost’s header lacked power as Nicholson saved comfortably.
Continuing to dominate matters, ten minutes before the break the Eastenders passed up another good opening when Morrow’s slide rule pass put Dan Potts in on the left side of the box but the midfielder’s toe-poked effort slid wide of the near post.
At the other end the back four of Morrow, Hunt, Graham and Medforth had coped comfortably with whatever Beverley had to offer but they were almost undone on the stroke of half-time. A free-kick awarded just outside the box was cleverly dinked over the top by Mike O’Connell to Jonny Kershaw on the right and from his cross Rich Jagger planted a free header over the top.
Manager Mack urged his players to produce more of the same after the break and within a minute of the restart Graham played Frost in down the left but the youngster’s effort from a tight angle drifted across the face of goal.
With the wind at their backs, Town started to establish territorial supremacy and ten minutes in they came desperately close to taking the lead when Jon Ricardo’s slightly deflected pile-driver from 20 yards was brilliantly turned onto the post by Kevin Appleyard.
The visitors’ pressure then manifested itself in a succession of corners that Easington had all on to keep out. But just as it appeared the worst of the storm had been weathered, United conceded. Mike Evins saw his first effort blocked but managed to turn and fire against the post with Craig Lamplough reacting quickest to slot home the rebound.
On 76mins Medforth was forced to hurriedly clear his lines as Town searched for a decisive second goal.
Having offered little going forward into the stiff breeze, Easington switched to a 3-4-3 with the introduction of the boss himself and ten minutes from time it so nearly paid off. Substitute James Robinson did well to win the ball on halfway and feed Mack whose slide-rule pass put Frost in behind the defence only for the youngster to again be denied by Nicholson; Easington’s best chance of the half had gone begging.
As the locals pressed hard in search of a point they were then undone when a rare lapse from Medforth allowed Lamplough to break clear and substitute Danny Cattle was on hand to settle matters from eight yards out.
Easington: K Appleyard, D Medforth, P Morrow (D Mackay-Dundas, 78), D Potts, T Hunt, A Graham, A Metcalf (J Cousins, 67), N Rutter, J Mee, C Frost, A Barnett (J Robinson, 73))
Beverley: A Nicholson, S Overton (D Chilcott, 78), E Rafton, J Custus, R Jagger, J Kersahaw, M Winfield, J Ricardo, C Lamplough, M Evins (D Cattle, 65), M O’Connell
Referee: Mr. D. J. Musgrave (Hull)
Assts: Mr. S. G. Leafe (Hull) / Mr. T. J. Precious (South Cave)
Att: 25
HPL Premier Division
Easington United 0 – 2 Beverley Town
IT was the same old story for Easington United as they fell to a third straight defeat on Saturday. Having played their part to the full in an even contest that was dominated by the strong breeze blowing straight down the pitch, the Eastenders eventually succumbed to two late goals.
With none of the long-term injured available for selection, Manager Mack did at least welcome Andy Graham back from suspension, along with Jamie Cousins who’d missed the defeat at Reckitts due to his participation in a schools cup final. Unfortunately, these two returns were offset by the loss of the suspended Stu Campbell and Steve Harrod who was on duty at Bottesford Town.
Thus on a dull, overcast day, it was another inexperienced Easington line-up that took the field including Anthony Barnett in for his full HPL debut after a subs appearance at Reckitts. At the other end of the spectrum, Danny Medforth lined-up for his 250th first team appearance.
With the wind in their favour, the Eastenders started strongly and dominated the first half. And twice in the space of two minutes they came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock.
On 13 minutes the lively James Mee won a free kick on the edge of the box, which Paul Morrow lined up before sending a superb shot around the Town wall and pinging against goalkeeper Adam Nicholson’s right hand post. Unfortunately no Easington player was on hand to tuck away the rebound.
Town failed to clear the danger and after Adam Metcalf had regained possession, Mee this time threaded a great pass through to Andy Graham who stabbed the ball past Nicholson but again saw it come back off the upright with nobody in a position to convert.
Spurred on by their near misses, Easington continued to take the game to their high-flying opponents. On 20mins, Chris Frost’s pace again took him clear of his marker but he fired weakly straight at Nicholson; then Morrow and Barnett linked well down the left but from the latter’s cross Frost’s header lacked power as Nicholson saved comfortably.
Continuing to dominate matters, ten minutes before the break the Eastenders passed up another good opening when Morrow’s slide rule pass put Dan Potts in on the left side of the box but the midfielder’s toe-poked effort slid wide of the near post.
At the other end the back four of Morrow, Hunt, Graham and Medforth had coped comfortably with whatever Beverley had to offer but they were almost undone on the stroke of half-time. A free-kick awarded just outside the box was cleverly dinked over the top by Mike O’Connell to Jonny Kershaw on the right and from his cross Rich Jagger planted a free header over the top.
Manager Mack urged his players to produce more of the same after the break and within a minute of the restart Graham played Frost in down the left but the youngster’s effort from a tight angle drifted across the face of goal.
With the wind at their backs, Town started to establish territorial supremacy and ten minutes in they came desperately close to taking the lead when Jon Ricardo’s slightly deflected pile-driver from 20 yards was brilliantly turned onto the post by Kevin Appleyard.
The visitors’ pressure then manifested itself in a succession of corners that Easington had all on to keep out. But just as it appeared the worst of the storm had been weathered, United conceded. Mike Evins saw his first effort blocked but managed to turn and fire against the post with Craig Lamplough reacting quickest to slot home the rebound.
On 76mins Medforth was forced to hurriedly clear his lines as Town searched for a decisive second goal.
Having offered little going forward into the stiff breeze, Easington switched to a 3-4-3 with the introduction of the boss himself and ten minutes from time it so nearly paid off. Substitute James Robinson did well to win the ball on halfway and feed Mack whose slide-rule pass put Frost in behind the defence only for the youngster to again be denied by Nicholson; Easington’s best chance of the half had gone begging.
As the locals pressed hard in search of a point they were then undone when a rare lapse from Medforth allowed Lamplough to break clear and substitute Danny Cattle was on hand to settle matters from eight yards out.
Easington: K Appleyard, D Medforth, P Morrow (D Mackay-Dundas, 78), D Potts, T Hunt, A Graham, A Metcalf (J Cousins, 67), N Rutter, J Mee, C Frost, A Barnett (J Robinson, 73))
Beverley: A Nicholson, S Overton (D Chilcott, 78), E Rafton, J Custus, R Jagger, J Kersahaw, M Winfield, J Ricardo, C Lamplough, M Evins (D Cattle, 65), M O’Connell
Referee: Mr. D. J. Musgrave (Hull)
Assts: Mr. S. G. Leafe (Hull) / Mr. T. J. Precious (South Cave)
Att: 25