Easington United 2
Hedon Rangers 3
by Richard Lusmore
Karl Atkin was full of praise for his Easington players despite seeing them edged out by Holderness rivals Hedon Rangers in Tuesday’s first pre-season fixture.
Against a team from the division above and one that already had two warm-up fixtures under its belt, the Eastenders more than held their own in what at times proved a proper feisty affair, with numerous cards dished out by referee Simon Keillor.
The locals were well worth the half-time lead given them by the impressive Tom Tukoroa. Although Hedon had made the early running – albeit only after keeper Ben Eldon had spilt Matt Adamson’s first-minute shot before recovering just in time to thwart the onrushing Tukoroa – it was Easington who enjoyed the better chances.
In the last five minutes of the half, the locals could easily have doubled their lead. On 40 minutes James Hare dispossessed a defender and rounded Eldon, only to be denied by a fine last-ditch challenge. Two minutes later, a free-kick awarded some 35 yards out saw Adam Smith’s direct strike ping against the bar. Moments later, Adamson released Tukoroa down the right, and from his pull back Hare could only lift the ball over.
Hedon, who had threatened several times from set-pieces, finished the half with a couple of corners and carried this momentum into the second half, forcing Andy South into an early save.
Ten minutes in they were level, stretching the locals down the Hedon right and Henley Chapman headed them level. After South had then made another crucial save, Cam Blackburn turned the ball home from virtually on the line after the locals had again been prised open down the flanks.
At this point, with Easington also adapting to numerous changes, it looked a tad ominous. But instead, United levelled matters. The ball somehow found its way across the box to Ellis Horsfield, who air-kicked his first attempt before steering the ball past Eldon for 2-2.
Both teams went in search of a winner, with South again making a fine save at one end, before John Pontone couldn’t quite arrive on time to convert Horsfield’s inviting cross at the other. In the event, Ryan Whincup’s fine finish on 77 minutes proved the winner for Hedon, with only the bar denying them a fourth goal moments later.
To their credit, the locals’ heads didn’t drop and with just two minutes remaining, Freddie Wright passed up a great chance to make it 3-3, his weak toe-poke being cleared off the line.
Overall, though, Atkin had nothing but praise for his players. He told them: “You all did everything I asked of you. Even in the last minute we’re pushing a team from the top end of the Humber Prem in search of an equaliser, and that’s the pleasing thing, the fighting spirit on show. It really gives me something to work with and for us to build on.”
However, he also warned his players: “This has to be the standard now. The season started here tonight for me and from now on, it’s about improvement game on game.”
Atkin acknowledged that making multiple changes hadn’t helped matters after the break, with the loss of Ciaran Collins at half-time perhaps the most pivotal change. That said, all those who came on did what they had to do in ensuring Hedon knew they’d been in a game – a fact acknowledged by Rangers boss Andy Harrison at the end.
