by Richard Lusmore
Easington United will have two teams playing in league cup semi-finals next month, following the Eastenders senior squad’s dramatic win over Langtoft last weekend.
After wet weather had again prompted a switch of venue to the 3G at Withernsea High School, Craig Smalley’s side repeated the reserves’ feat of the previous week by clinching their place in the last four.
Adam Smith scored with virtually the last kick of the game to secure a date against fellow Right Car East Riding County League Premiership side Holme Rovers in the League Senior Cup semi-final on Tuesday, April 16. A week later, on Tuesday, April 23, the reserves will face fellow Division 2 side Springhead in the last four of the League Junior Cup competition.
Both ties are to take place at Pride Park in Anlaby where they will be played alongside the other semi- finals in their respective competitions.
Although delighted that his team have put themselves in with a real chance of some overdue success, Smalley was far from happy with the performance on Saturday. As such he will demand a much improved effort when Filey Town visit Low Farm in the league this weekend.
As will be read in the accompanying match report, Easington enjoyed by far the majority of clear-cut chances against Langtoft. But this shouldn’t disguise the fact that the overall level of performance was way below that expected from the locals, and indeed well below that which, for the most part, has been shown since the turn of the year.
As things stand, Saturday sees Smalley again without skipper Liam Murrey and Charlie Clark. If that remains the case there’s a strong argument for the manager entrusting those on duty against Langtoft with providing the much improved display that will be required to beat Filey.
The visitors tasted defeat for the first time in 2024 last weekend when losing at home to leaders Bridlington Town Rovers by the game’s only goal. That ended a six-game unbeaten run, in which the only points dropped came via a draw at home to Goole United.
Filey currently sit seventh in the Premiership table, a place and four points better off than Easington and with two games in hand.
The reserves’ inactivity last weekend enabled Hull Athletic to leapfrog them into second place in Division 2, courtesy of a thumping 5-2 home win over Club Bransholme. They are two points better off than Adam Jamieson’s side and a point behind leaders Springhead who last week won 4-0 away at bottom club Hornsea.
Jamieson takes his team to sixth-place Costello on Saturday hoping to extend the locals’ six-match unbeaten run in the league and capitalise on the current “feel-good factor” around the team and the club. Squad-wise, Connor Gallagher is a notable absentee.
Hoping to complete a rare “full house” of Saturday fixtures are the thirds. They are set to host Division 4 leaders Holme Rovers Reserves at Patrington.
Last weekend saw the EzPats’ winning start to the year ended at in-form Bishop Wilton and they know they’ll be in for a tough encounter on Saturday against a team that recently ended Withernsea’s unblemished start to the season.
The waterlogged pitch at Low Farm ensured it was another day of frustration for the Awd Ezzies in Hull & District Veterans League Division 6 last Sunday. The locals will hope for better luck when they travel to Little Weighton on Sunday week (March 17) for a game that doubles up as a six-pointer.
Thanks for last week’s home match sponsorship go to Mark Theaker Plumbing & Heating. Any individual or business wishing to sponsor Easington United AFC in this or any other way can contact the club via one of our numerous social media outlets or by email to [email protected].
For up-to-date news, check out our club website at easington-united.co.uk, along with our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages (@EasingtonUtd). We also have a new TikTok page at @easingtonunitedafc.
