by Richard Lusmore
Easington United’s Saturday teams enjoyed a productive start to their pre-season schedule with a couple of worthwhile run-outs in Louth last Saturday.
Two teams comprising players from across the club were fielded against opponents from the East Lincs Combination League, with the locals tasting both victory and defeat.
In the opening game, the stronger of the two Easington teams rallied from a goal behind to beat Louth’s first team 6-1.
For 45 minutes, the second game appeared to be following a similar pattern, with the locals again overcoming an early setback to claim a half-time lead. Unfortunately they failed to build on this in the second half and were eventually edged out by the odd goal in seven.
The matches certainly gave the respective managers plenty to think about ahead of the forthcoming friendly fixtures, the next two of which came on Tuesday night.
With both Craig Smalley and Mark Richardson missing in midweek, Adam Jamieson, Dan Smith and Craig Foster were entrusted to oversee the first-team game against Humber Premier League side East Riding Rangers, an entertaining affair that resulted in a 5-6 defeat for a side showing several changes from the weekend.
Richardson will return in time for this Saturday’s game against Ripon City, with Smalley set to be pitch-side for next Wednesday’s final friendly at home to Hedon Rangers.
As with the first two games, there are set to be numerous alterations in personnel for the Eastenders, most notably involving cricketing quartet Dan Fincham, Lucas Sneddon, Bob Eldon- Smith and new signing James Hare, who will be absent on Saturdays for the first half-a-dozen league fixtures.
That said, the Louth trip showed that there are players wanting to step up this season, with Matty Carrick, Tom Tukoroa and another new signing, Cal Burden, among those who caught the eye in Lincolnshire. In addition, the signing of Hare and Jenson Wilson, along with the return of youngster Billy Fincham, increases competition for places, especially with other rumoured additions still to come.
It’s therefore a difficult balancing act for the management who must look to familiarise those likely to be involved in the league opener at the same time as giving game time to as many potential players as possible.
Elsewhere, Tuesday also witnessed Danny Cothay’s first game in charge of the third team, which resulted in a 3-1 win over Sunday League side East Hull Rangers (replacements for scheduled opponents Thorpepark Rangers) at Patrington.
Cothay fielded several of the players who had featured in the nominal “reserve” string at Louth, with some of them then set to figure in Adam Jamieson’s side that will face Ripon City Reserves in the second part of Saturday’s double-bill.
After Saturday, the reserves and thirds have a break from action before continuing their pre- season schedule later this month.
Off the field, work continues in preparing the Easington Recreation & Sports Ground ahead of the new campaign, with the latest additions coming in the form of a new fence around part of the car park, new benches in the home dugout and new seating in the self-styled “press box” next to the John F Clubley Stand.
As with previous seasons Easington United AFC are on the lookout for match and player sponsors, along with pitch-side advertisers. Anybody wishing to get involved in supporting the club in this or any way can contact the club via one of our 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) or on TikTok at @easingtonunitedafc.
