Report

Speed hastens Easington’s demise
Central Midlands League Premier Division
FC 05 1 – 0 Easington United

IF a week is a long time in football a fortnight is an eternity. Two weeks ago Easington United were eyeing a top three finish. Such lofty ambitions look a little remote now.
What will depress Manager Mack more is that his team’s latest display must rank as their worst of the season.
The Eastenders arrived at the impeccable looking Bilsthorpe Miners Welfare Ground hoping to bounce back from defeat by the leaders. But Craig Speed’s goal after just 7mins proved enough to ensure back-to-back losses for the first time this season.
Mack’s cause wasn’t helped by enforced changes, with Smalley, Campbell and Hutchinson all missing out and Frost still not recovered from injury.
United’s back four therefore bore a new-look with Danny Blount in for his debut alongside Graham at centre half and Mountain slotting in at right back. Thompson joined Hodgson on the bench.
On a cold, bright Nottinghamshire afternoon, Easington started well enough and Barnett went close following a fluent early move.
But from FC 05’s first real attack came the game’s defining moment; speedy winger Gary Whitten crossing for Speed to dispatch a powerful header in off the underside of the bar.
Things could have been worse. After Farndale had just failed to beat keeper Milnes to Havercroft’s teasing ball, impressive new boy Blount had to be on hand to block Walker’s goal-bound header.
This flurry of chances was at odds with the norm as the game deteriorated into a scrappy affair that didn’t do justice to a superb playing surface.
On the half-hour a rare moment of Easington creativity saw Thurkettle tee-up Farndale but his powerful shot was hit straight at Milnes. Another nice move then bore the same result and United had to thank Holden’s good save from Savage for them not going in two down at the break.
The second half proved even more frustrating. Despite dominating possession, Easington rarely looked like forging an equaliser. Thurkettle fired straight at Milnes before the best chance of the game fell to Morrill but, following good approach work and quick feet, his shot was similarly saved.
Forcing the pace in search of a leveller, United were prone to the counter and sub Dodsworth should have killed matters with his first touch only to steer the ball wide. Whitten was another to benefit from United’s increasing desperation but Holden did well to force him wide of the target.
Twice in the last ten minutes Easington went close – first Cousins just failing to get on the end of Hodgson’s clever pass, then Farndale’s header looping just too high with Milnes beaten – while strong claims for a penalty were waved away by unsighted Referee Jallow.
The official then compounded the Eastenders’ frustration when allowing no stoppage time despite a spate of injuries, three substitutions and plenty of time-wasting. Such protests, though, only served to disguise a shocking performance from the visitors.
FC 05: D Milnes, J Kearney, K Corbett, R Philpott, M Peet, R Smalley, C Speed, P Buxton, W Savage (D Dodsworth, 70), S Walker, G Whitten (subs: D Carlin, J Wragg)
Easington: C Holden, O Mountain, A Barnett, J Cousins, D Blount, A Graham, C Havercroft, P Morrill, P Farndale, G Thurkettle (M Thompson, 65), K Fitzgerald (K Hodgson, 76) (sub: D Mackay-Dundas)
Referee: Mr. A Jallow (Nottingham)
Att: 32