Report

Gavin’s “Rooney rocket” sets Easington on their way!

Baris CML Challenge Cup Round 3

Easington United 2 – 1 Southwell City

LOW FARM won’t have witnessed many – if any – better goals than that scored by Gavin Thurkettle in the win over Southwell City that secured the Eastenders a place in the CML Cup quarter-finals. 

The diminutive striker capped a flowing end-to-end move with a finish that, if anything, eclipsed that of Wayne Rooney in last season’s Manchester derby.  Oh but for a TV camera at the Farm! 

The goal came on 17mins and helped turn the game round after Sam Betts had seized on an uncertain start by the hosts to fire Southwell into an early lead.

There were two changes to the United starting line-up.  Alex Roberts got the nod at right back with Tom Shortland also making his full debut, replacing Shawn Matongo on the left.

Southwell arrived on the back of a similar three-week lay-off and were almost caught out by Jamie Cousins’ fine pass straight from kick-off.  However, they responded by taking a 5th minute lead, a quickly taken corner being knocked down for Betts to poke home from close range.

The locals took time to get into their stride but good work from Roberts forced a corner from which Cousins’ header failed to trouble goalkeeper Burrows.  It signalled the start of Easington’s dominance.

On 13mins Robbie Start cut in from the right and sent a left foot shot pinging against the post from 20 yards.  A minute later neat work between Shortland and Thurkettle released Cousins in on the right but he was thwarted by a magnificent double-stop from Burrows.

Then “that goal” came.  Pattison fed Barnett whose chip down the line was flicked on by Thurkettle to Frost.  As the winger took the full back on before measuring his cross to perfection, Thurkettle raced into the box and was already airborne around the penalty spot to execute the perfect overhead bicycle kick that sent the ball rocketing into the net.

Moments later Cousins fired wide before Burrows again came to the rescue; first denying Thurkettle who’d latched onto Roberts’ pass, then getting up to superbly save Cousins’ follow-up.

On 24mins Thurkettle curled a shot against the post and four minutes later, Frost’s fine run and pass teed-up Barnett whose shot was a fraction too high.

Jordan Hart’s header from another decent Shortland corner was then cleared off the line.

The second goal finally arrived on the stroke of half-time, the influential Cousins breaking clear of the defence before feeding Frost for an easy finish.  It was no more than United deserved.

The visitors received something of a half-time rocket and came out in positive mood.  Six minutes in, Jonny Upton should have done better when volleying straight at Pattison from six yards out.  A minute later Betts overran the ball when it appeared he was also in the clear.

The Eastenders were finding chances much harder to come by; perhaps their best falling to Thurkettle from Start’s miskick but the striker couldn’t get clean connection and was injured in the process.

The locals weren’t helping themselves by sitting deeper and one sensed an equaliser was imminent.  It should have come via sub Liam Gleeson who twice inside the last five minutes passed up good goal-scoring heading opportunities and Mack’s men progressed to the last four.

Easington: L Pattison, A Roberts, A Barnett, J Hart, S McLaughlin, A Graham, C Frost (S Matongo, 76), J Cousins, R Start, G Thurkettle (L Taylor, 70), T Shortland (sub D Mackay-Dundas)

Southwell: N Burrows, P Durham, D Gleeson, T McDonald, J Bennett (L Gleeson, 57), G Russell, J Upton, M Ballard, S Betts, C Bowles, R Mawer (subs: G Epps, M Nangle, D Purves)

Referee: D Robertson (Lincoln)

Att: 42

Pictures courtesy of Burt Graham
The Southwell report can be found here

Photos