3 November 2024

Eastenders head back to the drawing board

by Richard Lusmore

Only a week on from what it was hoped would be the kick-start to the Eastenders’ season, the locals are back at square one after another emphatic home defeat.

Last Saturday’s league match against newly promoted Haltemprice followed the same pattern as all-too-many of the previous games seen at Low Farm this term, with United well beaten and shipping a hatful of goals in the process.

Compounding this particular tale of home misery was a serious injury sustained by James Hare – one of the few shining lights in recent weeks – which now looks set to sideline the experienced striker for at least six weeks. He joins Jordan Organ, John Pontone, and Jensen Wilson on the list of those currently unavailable to manager Craig Smalley.

They say bad things “happen in threes” and this was illustrated on Tuesday when Pelican Rangers resigned from the Right Car East Riding County League, leaving Easington just one place off the foot of the Premiership Division.

For Smalley, who admitted he was “deflated” by his team’s latest defeat, the task in hand is one far removed from that which was envisaged back in pre-season when optimism abounded.

Making the Eastenders’ woeful league form of late all the more dispiriting is that four of the five straight defeats have come at home, with the ground’s familiar moniker in danger of becoming the “Farm of Bad Dreams”.

Holme Rovers are the visitors to Low Farm on Saturday, with Easington hoping to repeat their win in the corresponding fixture last season, which ironically came at a time when their fortunes were also at low ebb.

The visitors eventually fell short in their quest for promotion and have stuttered so far this term. An 11-0 opening day rout of Hedon was the first of four wins, but defeat has been tasted on three occasions, the latest of which was a 7-2 thumping at Bridlington Rovers Millau last weekend.

In addition to the injured quartet named earlier, Smalley must also cope without Ciaran Collins (at a wedding), while Charlie Clark and Lucas Sneddon are unavailable, having both come off early in their run-outs for the reserves last Saturday.

On the plus side, the locals have Matt Adamson, Cal Burden, Billy Fincham, and Dan Warcup all back in contention as they aim to arrest their horrendous run.

The reserves and third team return to league action having last week met each other in the second round of the East Riding Junior Country Cup. As might have been expected, the stiffs progressed but not without an almighty scare from the threes. Both teams have seen their scheduled fixtures changed this Saturday – and not necessarily for the better!

Adam Jamieson’s reserves travel to Sir Henry Cooper Park to face unbeaten Thorpe Park Rangers in Division 1, while the thirds have a trip to a Priory team already making a mockery of its placing down in Division 3.

The weekend’s action begins on Saturday morning at Low Farm where the girls will be looking to bounce back from last week’s heavy defeat at the hands of Hornsea Sporting. The East Riding Girls League U15 leaders swept to a 12-0 win, inflicting upon the Ezzies their first defeat of the season.

On Saturday, the girls are in cup action, with Malet Lambert the visitors. Kick-off is 10.30am and, as with last week, your support would be greatly appreciated.

There is no Hull Vets League fixture on Sunday, but the Awd Ezzies also saw their unbeaten start to the season ended last week at the hands of Bridlington Town Vets. The locals return to action away at current Division 6 pacesetters Gipsyville Bosun on October 27.

Away from the action, the annual Christmas race night fundraiser has been arranged to take place in the Marquis of Granby on Saturday, December 7.

Further details will be made available via our social media pages. Our thanks go to Kam Cheng for last week’s match sponsorship, the second of three games for which he has pledged his support (along with a trio of player sponsorships). Anybody wishing to show similar support can do so by emailing [email protected] or messaging us on any of our social media pages.

For up-to-date news, check out our club website at theclubhq.com/easington-united-afc, along with our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages (@EasingtonUtd) or on TikTok at @easingtonunitedafc.