by Richard Lusmore
Easington United begin a run of eight successive Saturday home fixtures with the visit of Bridlington Town Rovers SFS in the Right Car East Riding County League Premiership Division.
It’s the start of a potentially season-defining run of games in which the only two away fixtures – at East Riding Rangers and South Cave United Reserves – are both scheduled for midweek.
Meanwhile, the only other midweek fixture during this period – which takes place next Wednesday (March 18) at Pocklington Town’s ground, the Henry Thirsk Amenity Centre – is perhaps the biggest of the lot, as United lock horns with the aforementioned East Riding Rangers for a place in the East Riding Senior County Cup final.
Manager Andy Graham therefore has the difficult task of trying to direct his players’ focus on Saturday, in which a positive result could act as a springboard for a late-season climb up the table.
Last weekend saw the locals come close to producing what general manager Craig Foster described as “the perfect away day performance” at in-form Filey Town.
Leading by an early Charlie Ashwell goal, Easington produced a superb defensive display to thwart their opponents throughout, only to be undone by a truly horrendous error by the referee.
Unlike the previous week’s defeat at Haltemprice, Graham chose not to gloss over the referee’s involvement this time round and effectively blamed him for the loss of two points.
That said, he was also keen to praise his team’s overall performance, which was a step up on that of the week before, and needs to be repeated and indeed improved upon again this weekend, and again next Wednesday.
The visitors – who draw their players from the Scarborough Football Scholarship – arrive at Low Farm on the back of a 3-1 win over fast-fading North Ferriby Reserves and a narrow 2-1 loss at title favourites Edgehill.
In the earlier meeting of the teams at Gypsey Road, Adam Smith’s solitary strike proved the difference for the Eastenders.
Meanwhile, Wednesday’s opponents are also in high spirits, following a 1-0 home win over Haltemprice, which lifted them seven points clear of bottom club Hedon Rangers Reserves and within a point of Bridlington’s SFS side.
Graham will again be without Charlie Clark this weekend (along with long-term absentees Burden, Hare and Dan Smith), while goalkeeper Ryan Oliver is also missing.
Elsewhere, the Reserves received the welcome gift of three points last Saturday thanks to Flamborough’s inability to fulfil their Division 1 fixture.
Manager John Harrison’s delight at this will have been tempered, however, by another week of inactivity for his players, along with news of a surprise point for fellow strugglers Newby against runaway leaders Kingswood United.
Kingswood provide Saturday’s opponents, with Harrison desperately hoping to secure two or three new faces to bolster his ranks ahead of what looks a difficult away day.
Saturday’s action begins with another home semi-final for the girls team at Low Farm.
Laney-Mae Woodall’s side host Hessle Rangers CIC in the last four of the East Riding Girls League U16 Cup looking to go one better, following last weekend’s exit from the East Riding County FA competition.
The #EzGirls were beaten 1-3 by Hessle Sporting Club Pumas but can take real encouragement from the way they hung in the game against higher-ranked opponents. Jasmine scored the Easington goal.
A good crowd was present for Low Farm’s first home game of 2026 and it would be great to see a similar turn-out this Saturday.
There’s no game for the Awd Ezzies this Sunday. Last weekend they slipped to a fifth straight defeat, going down 2-1 at Tickton.
Away from the action, the club is currently seeking support for its annual Eastenders Race Night at The Granby on Saturday, April 25. Race sponsorship is available at £25 and can be secured via email to [email protected], via the website and social media pages, or by speaking directly to a club member.
For up-to-date news, check out the club website at easington-united.co.uk, along with Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages (@EasingtonUtd) or on TikTok at @easingtonunitedafc.