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NORTHERN COUNTIES YOUTH COMPETITION
Following a disappointing 2-0 defeat at the West Riding in Round 3 of the FA County Youth Cup, the East Riding Juniors returned to action in the Northern Counties Youth Division 1. In only their second game in the competition, the Juniors entertained table toppers Northumberland FA at the Roy West Centre and recorded an impressive victory.
EAST RIDING COUNTY FA 3
NORTHUMBERLAND FA 1
The East Riding Under 18’s were quickly on the offensive and Paul Wray had the ball in the net in the 5th minute only to be ruled offside. The hosts went close in the 18th minute when James Faulkner’s lob bounced off the top of the crossbar. He also was close when a shot on the turn produced a scrambled save at the near post from keeper Mark Clark. Northumberland’s first real chances came just before the interval when a corner kick from David Scott was met by Liam Gillesphey only to be denied by a fine save by keeper Luke Kinsley. The keeper was in action again parrying a shot from Samuel Norris.
The East Riding started the second half strongly and opened the scoring in the 50th minute when sheer persistence from the diminutive Darren Rookes created the opening. His first effort was saved by the keeper but he latched on to the rebound to lift the ball into the vacant net. Northumberland almost immediately snatched an equaliser but Lewis Burns who was through on goal was denied by a superb last ditch tackle by Callum Stone. At the other end, Paul Wray had a shot sliced off the goal line but the Riding did increase their lead on the hour mark when a rifled angled drive from James Faulkner gave the keeper no chance. Again the East Riding showed their vulnerability immediately after scoring as straight from the re-start, Samuel Norris broke clear down the wing and cut inside before driving his shot into the side netting. Norris then had an opportunity for the visitors but directed his shot straight at keeper Kinsley. The dangerous James Faulkner then went close for the Riding when his long range effort was driven just wide of the far post. The visitors pulled a goal back in the 71st minute, Lewis Burns squaring the ball for Norris to hit home from close range. Northumberland then had a chance to level matters but Liam McNamara headed the ball over the bar from a Norris corner kick. The East Riding then went close when a powerful Jamie Hanson shot was parried by keeper Clark. But the victory was secured in the 83rd minute when Jordan Easter robbed defender Nathan Johnstone of possession to break clear and slot the ball home. This was a most entertaining game with two strong sides playing the game in the right manner.
This victory moved the East Riding into second place on goal difference behind leaders Northumberland but with a game in hand. The Juniors have three Division 1 games remaining with midweek games to be arranged with Sheffield & Hallamshire and the West Riding and a home game with County Durham already arranged for 24th March at the Roy West Centre, KO 2pm. The outcome of these games will determine if the East Riding secure a top two position to proceed into the play offs with the top two teams in Division 2.
FA COUNTY YOUTH CUP ROUND 2
The East Riding County FA Juniors entertained Shropshire County FA Juniors in Round 2 of the FA County Youth Cup at the Roy West Centre with the hosts scoring a dramatic last gasp winner.
EAST RIDING COUNTY FA 3
SHROPSHIRE COUNTY FA 2
The early exchanges were frenetic and the East Riding wasted no time in taking the lead as early as the 2nd minute when Darren Rookes floated the ball towards goal from the left wing and the flight of the ball deceived keeper Ross Bebb who was left stranded as the ball nestled in the top corner of the net. Shropshire’s response was immediate as within 2 minutes they equalised when Wayne Davis powered his way through tackles to create the opening his persistence deserved and he made no mistake with a clinical finish. The East Riding piled on the pressure and created chances. Rookes set up Jordan Easter but his shot was blocked and Matthew Hagyard had a speculative effort miss the target. At the other end Shropshire’s Jud Ellis was denied by a great finger tip save by keeper Luke Kinsley. But Shropshire did take the lead in the 17th minute when Phil Winn’s attempted clearance fell invitingly for Tom Smith to hit the ball home from close range. Shropshire’s lead was short lived as within a minute the Riding equalised courtesy of a fine solo goal from Darren Rookes whose pace and weaving run allowed him to round the keeper and slot the ball into the open goal. Back came Shropshire and keeper Kinsley was in action again to deny Smith another goal with a fantastic save at full stretch to turn the ball round the post for a corner kick. The dangerous Smith was again thwarted by keeper Kinsley who made another important save moments later. Winn then came to the Riding’s rescue when he recovered well to prevent Davis having a shooting opportunity.
After the interval, neither side maintained the standards of the opening 45 minutes and the East Riding lost their cohesion and direction with too many misplaced passes giving cheap possession to the opposition. But there were opportunities created and a fine move involving interplay between Jamie Hanson and Darren Rookes produced a fine save from the keeper to prevent Hanson getting on the score sheet. Rookes then was on target but keeper Bebb made a fine save at the near post. The influential Rookes then benefitted from a one/two off the referee to put in substitute James Faulkner but his shot was parried. With the tie looking as though it was heading for extra time, the East Riding snatched a dramatic 87th minute winner when a quick reaction from Rookes created the opening for Jordan Easter to side foot the ball home from 3 metres. The East Riding will travel to Manchester County FA or West Riding County FA in the 3rd Round which is to be arranged on a date before 19th December.
Northern Counties Youth Competition
The East Riding commenced their Northern Counties Youth Division One campaign at the Roy West Centre when Manchester County FA were the visitors. In a pulsating encounter, the East Riding surrendered a two goal lead and had to rely on a dramatic last gasp equaliser to gain a deserved point.
EAST RIDING COUNTY FA 4
MANCHESTER COUNTY FA 4
The East Riding County FA were quickly on the offensive and an angled drive from Jordan Easter brought out a finger tip save from keeper Nick Howard. The hosts dominated the early play and took the lead in the 28th minute when James Faulkner somehow found the net with a powerful shot from the tightest of angles close to the goal line. The lead was extended two minutes later when a slick one two between Jordan Easter and Darren Rookes created the opening for Easter to add the finish. Manchester’s first real effort on goal brought its reward in the 32nd minute. The Riding conceded a free kick 25 yards from goal and Matthew Boland curled the ball into the top corner. Then Riding’s keeper Bradley Alcock was in action to save a long range effort from Jake Hibbs.
The East Riding started the second half by restoring their two goal cushion in the 47th minute. A huge throw in from Louis Bruce evaded a defender and the ball fell for Jamie Reeson to find the net from the edge of the area. Manchester then had their best spell of the game playing some attractive football. They pulled a goal back on the hour courtesy of Adam Bezzina who finished off a fine move. Moments later Manchester were denied an equaliser when keeper Alcock made a brave save at the feet of Jack Hibbs who was clear on goal. But Manchester did get the equaliser their pressure deserved when Bezzina slotted the ball home in the 72nd minute to set up a grandstand finale. The East Riding responded positively but missed chances to regain the lead. Substitute Jamie Hanson crossed the ball to provide an opportunity for Easter but his header was a shade too high. Then Darren Rookes cut inside the box and his shot was parried by Howard but Hanson blasted the rebound over the bar with the goal at his mercy. Inevitably, the Riding paid the price for these misses and Manchester took the lead for the first time in the 83rd minute when the hosts failed to clear a corner kick and James Brooks netted from close range. The Riding then went in search of an equaliser and the persistence of Rookes created an opening but his shot grazed the top of the bar. At the other end, keeper Alcock came to the Riding’s rescue by making two fantastic saves at point blank range to deny Bezzina. As the game entered three minutes of stoppage time, Easter was unlucky to see his header hit the woodwork but the drama was not over as the East Riding snatched an equaliser two seconds from time when a great run and cross from Jamie Hanson set up Darren Rookes who rifled the ball into the net off the inside of the post. There was just time for Manchester to kick off before the final whistle brought the end to a terrific quality game of football which was a credit to both sides.
The East Riding’s next game is at home to Northumberland who opened their season with a 5-0 victory over Sheffield and Hallamshire. The Roy West Centre will stage the game on 15th October, KO 2pm. Admission is free.
FA COUNTY YOUTH CUP ROUND 1
The East Riding County FA Juniors travelled to meet Westmorland in their first competitive game of the season and progressed into the next round of the FA County Youth Cup following a resounding ten goal victory with Jordan Easter bagging five goals.
WESTMORLAND COUNTY FA O
EAST RIDING COUNTY FA 10
The tie started in a torrential rainstorm and the Riding added to Westmorland’s misery by pouring in attack after attack in the opening exchanges. Westmorland’s keeper Thomas Jackson was kept busy and made four fine saves to deny Jordan Easter twice, Phil Winn and Louis Bruce. But the keeper could do little to prevent the visitors taking the lead in the 9th minute when Callum Stone crossed for Easter to apply a cool finish. The Juniors were carving out chance after chance with their impressive passing and movement on a sodden pitch. Darren Rookes then went close with 2 fine efforts and Easter was denied again after he rounded the keeper but a tremendous last ditch tackle from Charlie Mackenzie deflected the ball wide of the post. But on 35 minutes Mackenzie was unlucky when James Faulkner connected with a Rookes cross and the ball went in off the defender. Then a swift piece of passing between Easter and Jonathan Hagyard culminated in Faulkner adding the finishing touch to give the visitors a three goal interval lead.
The was no respite for Westmorland in the second half as the East Riding were in an even more rampant mood playing purposefully and creating havoc in the host’s defence. Within minutes of the restart, Jamie Reeson’s corner was met by Winn but his header was cleared off the line. The Riding extended their lead in the 55th minute when a powerful run down the right flank by Reeson and a pin point cross allowed Easter to side foot the ball into the net. The Riding were now in rampant form and Easter completed his hat trick when he converted substitute’s Paul Wray’s cross. In the 68th minute, Reeson set up Easter to score from close range and the same combination created the fifth goal for Easter two minutes later. The East Riding were now in the driving seat when Rookes scored from the penalty spot after Lee Conroy had been brought down in the 72nd minute. Then Rookes turned provider when his corner kick was headed into the top corner by Louis Mobbs and from yet another corner, this time from Reeson, the rout was completed by Mobbs with a headed goal in the 83rd minute.
After this impressive performance, the East Riding will be at home to Shropshire in the next round on a date to be arranged,
The Juniors start their Northern Counties Division One campaign on Saturday 24th September with a home game against Manchester County FA. The game at the Roy West Centre, Inglemire Lane, Hull, kicks off at 2pm .
Admission is free.