Match Report | Easington Colliery (A)

Match Report

Saturday 27th July 2024

EBAC Northern League Division One

Easington Colliery 2 – 2 North Shields

‘Spoils shared in league opener’

With countless hours of hard work undertaken both on and off the field, the time had come for the first league game of the 2024/25 campaign, which presented Brian Smith’s side the challenge of newly promoted Easington Colliery and a trip to Easington Welfare Park.

With a number of key players unavailable for selection, Darryl Donnelly and Euan Anderson started in the heart of the defence, with summer signings Danny Anderson, Nick Cassidy, Lewis Suddick and Jamie Holmes were all included in the starting eleven.

It was the hosts who started off the brighter of the two sides, looking to attack and play on the front foot from the outset. Looking to play the ball in behind the Robins defence at every opportunity.

The Robins slow to start gradually grew into the game, creating their first clear cut opportunity with around 10 minutes on the clock, Jamie Holmes spun his man and laid the ball off the Salmon just inside the penalty, only to see his effort saved at the near post.

Quick thinking saw the ball fall to the feet of Lee Mason, who turned and dinked the ball into the penalty area, Lewis Suddick took flight but was unable to steer his header goal bound.

The hosts continued to press and looked dangerous down the left, looking to utilise winger Kevin Pearn at every opportunity, the tricky winger continuously looked to drive a path through the Robins defence but they stood strong.

33’ GOAL NORTH SHIELDS – WILL MCCAMLEY, 1-0

Somewhat against the run of play, the Robins struck where it hurts most, turning over possession, a defence splitting pass, carved open the home defence as McCamley pounced, beating the offside trap, he drove towards goal with plenty of time and space on hands to pick his spot and cooly slot the ball home to give the Robins the lead.

38’ GOAL NORTH SHIELDS – JAMIE HOLMES, 2-0

And just like that the advantage was doubled for the Robins, Holmes picking up the ball just inside his own half, driving towards goal, shrugging off his marker before looking up and hitting an effort from 35 yards that nestled into the bottom corner.

Half time upon us and the Robins, the far happier of the two sides, clinical when required and the lead at the break, the hosts enjoying vast spells of possession but were not able to create any clear cut chances.

Second half started with end to end exchanges, the Robins having great success down the right with Cassidy and McCamley linking up well.

Former Robin Brad Hird caused havoc for the Robins, winning a corner, but the hosts were not able to capitalise from it.

A lovely flowing move, once again down the right and side, saw Cassidy and McCamley combine well and see the latter, drive into the penalty area, squaring the ball across the face of goal only to evade the vital touch to turn it home as the home side were able to scramble the ball out of play for a corner.

With an hour on the clock, the weather took a turn for the worse as the heavens opened and the hosts started to turn the screw in search of a way back into the game.

Another chance for the Robins to extend their lead went begging, once again appearing to have great success down the right hand side, McCamley was once again in behind the hosts defence, another ball squared across the face of goal, this time the ball behind those in red running into the penalty.

The hosts found themselves reduced to 10 men temporarily as Kevin Pearn was sent to the sin bin for dissent.

Changes for the Robins saw the introductions of Adam Forster, Albe Fletcher and Dan Cherry as the Robins looked to see out the game and get the first win on the board for the season.

85’ GOAL EASINGTON COLLIERY – BRAD HIRD, 1-2

The beginning of the comeback for the hosts, the ball worked out the left hand side before being whipped into the penalty area, the Robins defence unable to clear as Hird was  able to get enough and guide the ball over the top of Hodgson to reduce the deficit with five minutes left plus stoppage time.

The goal gave the home side the impetus to push and look for an equaliser, the Robins forced to regroup and stay together as a defensive unit as the home side looked to increase the attacking pressure.

The hosts almost had their equaliser, another ball into penalty connected with by a bullet header, guided just wide of the target to the relief of the Robins, moments later, an effort from distance with the same outcome gave the Robins more relief.

Heading into time added one, another attack from the hosts, resulting in an effort from the edge of the area, dealt with well by Hodgson in the wet conditions.

90+1’ GOAL EASINGTON COLLIERY – MARK DAVISON, 2-2

A looping ball into the penalty area, the experienced forward rose highest inside the penalty area, guiding his header beyond Hodgson at full stretch, into the bottom corner to send the home side into raptures of celebration.

With no time left for either team to bag a winner, the afternoons proceedings were brought to a conclusion and a share of the spoils for both teams on the opening day. Over the course of the 90 minutes, a draw was a fair result, the Robins creating a good number of chances but unable to convert and seal the win, the hosts enjoying large spells of possession and moving the ball around well and kept on going right up to the final whistle.

Brian Smith and his men now turn their attention to Wednesday night, when we welcome Birtley Town to the Daren Persson Stadium with a 7.30pm kick off.

North Shields: Hodgson, Cassidy, Salmon, D Anderson, Donnelly, E Anderson, McCamley, Henry, Mason, Suddick, J Holmes.

Subs: Fletcher, Williamson, Forster, Dart, Cherry.

Goal Scorers: McCamley ‘33, J Holmes ‘38

Attendance: 157

Next Up: Birtley Town (H) – Wednesday 31st July – 7.30pm