On This Day... 6th April
06 Apr 2013

In 1985, the Eastenders were without a game in ER County League Division 4.

In 1991, United maintained their challenge for the Division 3 title with a 3-2 win at Holme Rovers 2nds.    With a strong wind in their favour first half, goals from John Clarke (his 29th of the season) and Chris Redfearn either side of a penalty for the hosts gave the Eastenders a slender half-time lead.  Relying on the counter-attack after the break, United clinched both points with a stylish winner when Sean McLaughlin dived to head home Clarke’s cross.  A second Holme goal late on proved mere consolation.

In 1996 the First Team came from behind to beat high-flying Brandesburton and in so doing boost their Division 1 survival chances.  United fell behind after just 3mins and were thankful to a fingertip save from Jonny Catt – making his First Team league debut – to keep them in it.  The locals levelled from the penalty spot, John Clarke scoring following a handball, and by the break they led 2-1; Mally Conner volleying home from a half-cleared corner.  With the McNaught brothers outstanding at the heart of the defence, Mike Wilson’s side survived an edgy second period to win 2-1.

The Reserves travelled to Long Riston 2nds in Division 4 and maintained their title challenge thanks to a 3-1 win.   However, it was the Stiffs’ “worst performance of the season” against a side that had shipped 131 goals already this season, including 20 in a recent defeat by Hornsea Old Boys!  Two Kevin Newsam goals and a Loz Worvill strike eventually yielded two precious points.

In 1997 the Casuals went down 2-3 at home to fellow Hull Sunday League Division 7 promotion hopefuls Cross Keys Beverley ‘A’.  Neil Rutter hit both the locals’ goals.

In 2002 the First Team were beaten 0-2 at home by Westella & Willerby in the Humber Premier League.  James Dawson and Shane Keyworth made their HPL debuts at the Humbleton Rec but on a hard surface and in blustery conditions, the Eastenders had no answer to a well-drilled Ella outfit.  Second half goals from Eddie Turay and James Robinson settled matters.

The Reserves had no game in ERCFL Division 2 but in Division 5 the Casuals went down 2-1 at Swan Engineering; Dave Clubley’s late goal not enough.

In 2010 the Reserves followed their win at Patrington with a 3-2 home success over Withernsea Reserves in the HE Dean Cup.  Chris Frost, Stuart Campbell and Karl Fitzgerald were the Easington scorers.

On This Day... 30th March
30 Mar 2013

In 1974, the Eastenders concluded their East Riding County League Division 5 campaign with a 3-1 win at Nafferton 3rds. ‘Man of the Match’ John Foster, Keith Douglas and Geoff Keyworth were on target in a result that confirmed third place for the locals behind champions Long Riston 2nds and Leven 2nds.

In 1996 the First Team had no game.

The Reserves entertained Boothferry Rangers 2nds in ER County League Division 4, looking to maintain their title push.  Despite a below-par display the Stiffs claimed a 3-1 win.  Chris Walmsley gave United the lead, converting Kevin Newsam’s pass after just 1mins 25secs!  Boothferry rallied to level early in the second half and would have gone ahead but for the agility of home keeper Jonny Catt.  Back came Easington and after Sean McLaughlin had rattled the bar, Walmsley’s second (and fifth in three games) restored the lead before sub Loz Worville completed the win with a fine 20-yard volley.

In 1997 the Casuals’ scheduled Hull Sunday League Division 7 game at home to Springhead Albion was postponed when the Hull side failed to raise a team.

In 2002 United bounced back from their midweek disappointment in the ERCFA Senior Cup semi-final to claim a fine 3-1 away win at Hider Foods.  Craig Foster fired the Eastenders ahead on 28mins, tapping home from Jimmy Neilson’s cross.  Midweek hero Kevin Appleyard was again in fine form in the Easington goal but was eventually beaten on the hour for 1-1.  The visitors weren’t to be denied, though, and Stu Campbell reacted quickest to turn home Tommy Reynolds’ cross-shot before ‘man of the match’ Gavin Thurkettle secured the points with a well-executed volley.  The points lifted Easington to seventh in the in the Humber Premier League.

There was disappointment for the Reserves whose attempts to defend the ER County League Junior Cup were halted at the semi-final stage; Blue Bell Cottingham winning 4-1 at Leven Sports Ground.  John Clarke netted the Stiffs’ consolation goal.

The Casuals were without a game in Division 5.

In 2010 the Reserves began their HE Dean Cup campaign with a 5-0 midweek win at Patrington.  Mark Hutchinson scored four and sub Mark Thompson added the other.

On This Day... 2nd March
02 Mar 2013

In 1974 the Eastenders were rampant at Haworth Amateurs in ER County League Division 5, winning 11-0.  There were no fewer than seven different scorers, with two apiece for Eric Pearman, Brian Biglin, Dick Everitt and Gary Grantham, while Johnny Goundrill, Geoff Keyworth and John Foster weighed in with a goal each.

In 1985 a young Dave McKean made his debut as the Eastenders edged past Beverley side Scottish Soldier at Low Farm in Division 4.  Andy Johnson bagged a brace and Melvin Douglas added the other in a 3-2 success.  It was a second straight win for the locals and extended their improved run of form to one of one defeat in six games as they continued to climb away from the foot of the table.

In 1991 Easington went one better than their tally of 17 years earlier as they disposed of Wards Gilberdyke 2nds 12-4 at Low Farm!  John Clarke completed a hat-trick inside the opening 7mins but the real star of the show was again Melvin Douglas.  His five goals in the game took his season’s tally to 40.  The other scorers were Craig Foster (2), Tony Wallis and Sean McLaughlin with the result keeping the locals well in contention for honours in Division 3.

In 1997 the Casuals’ Hull Sunday League Division 7 title hopes took a significant knock when they were held to a 2-2 draw by FC Springers at Kenilworth Avenue.  Player/Co-Manager Craig Foster and Andy Graham were on target for Easington.

In 2002 the Eastenders’ Humber Premier League game against North Ferriby United Reserves was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Humbleton.

The Reserves’ ER County League Division 2 game against Brough FC at Low Farm did survive and proved a special occasion for one John Clarke – it was his 500 appearance for the club.  In the event “Sniffer” was unable to cap the day with a goal but he did deliver the corner from which Iain McNaught set the Stiffs on the way to a 5-1 trouncing of the leaders.  Craig Foster bagged a brace, with Jimmy Neilson and Kevin Newsam also on target.  Brough’s misery was completed by a double sending-off in the second half.

In Division 5 the Casuals travelled to Beverley and went down by the game’s only goal at unbeaten leaders Beaver FC.

On This Day... 2nd February
21 Feb 2013

From the aborted programme for the Belper cup-tie...

In 1974 the Eastenders enjoyed a fine 3-0 win away at local rivals Patrington United 2nds in ER County League Division 5.  The goals came from Brian Biglin, Doug Clubley and John Goundrill.

In 1980 United had no game.

In 1985 Easington tasted victory at home to Bransholme United in an improved run of form in Division 4.  Melvin Douglas, Andy Johnson and Sean Royce were on target in a 3-0 win, extending their sequence to one defeat in five matches after an awful first half of the season.

In 1991 North Cave 2nds put a further spoke in the Eastenders’ Division 3 title hopes, courtesy of a 2-1 win atChurch Road.  Missed chances were to cost an Easington side “missing six regulars including the keeper” against a team flushed by their previous week’s win over leaders NMG Antiques.  In the event, two goals inside the last quarter of an hour proved decisive for Cave; Iain McNaught’s fine last minute volley providing scant consolation for United.  Chris Redfearn and ‘man of the match’ Steve Nicholson made their full Easington debuts.  The defeat followed the painful home derby reverse against Holmpton a week earlier and constituted the Eastenders’ first (and only) back-to-back losses of the campaign. 

In 1997 the Casuals’ completed a fine double over Hull Sunday League Division 7 pre-season title favourites Rising Sun ‘A’; goals from Craig Foster and Kevin Brewer clinching the 2-1 win that kept the locals in the hunt for honours.  Andy Graham and Tony Wallis made their Sunday debuts in this game.

In 2002 the Eastenders exited the Humber Premier League Cup at home to Hutton Cranswick United.  Falling behind early on, Jimmy Neilson equalised from a Tommy Reynolds’ free-kick.  The visitors then took command and led 3-1 before Neilson’s second – a 25-yard volley – brought the hosts back in it.  Unfortunately, despite taking control from then on, Easington just couldn’t find an equaliser.

There was better news from Low Farm where the Reserves progressed in the ER County League Junior Cup thanks to a 2-1 win over Division 1 promotion rivals Brough FC.  A dominant first half display saw James Dawson’s goal separate the teams but Brough fought back to level matters early in the second half.  It took a rare gem of a goal from Ricky Biglin, “a 25-yard curling rocket into the top corner” to send the Stiffs through.

The Casuals also tasted victory, winning 5-3 at local rivals Roos in Division 5.  Sam Broom, Pasha Brown and Danny Neal helped Easington into an early 3-0 and Dave Clubley made it 4-1 on the stroke of half-time.  After Roos had used the second half wind to claw their way back into things, Geoff Newton capped a man of the match display with a fine strike to seal the points.

In 2008 the Eastenders had a blank weekend in the Humber Premier League.

At Low Farm the Reserves’ hopes of a place in the East Riding CFA Senior Country Cup semi-finals were ruthlessly quashed by York League side Malton & Norton FC.  The visitors won 5-0 en route to a fourth final appearance.    

The Casuals had no game in Division 4.