The East Riding County FA Juniors made it four wins from four games in their penultimate Division 2 game. The victory ensures a play off spot in the semi final of the competition against Division 1 opposition.
CUMBERLAND FA 2
EAST RIDING FA 4
The Juniors made the long journey to Penrith and came away with a comfortable 4-2 victory although they took their time to get into their stride and were guilty of squandering several gilt edge chances. Tom Hunter, Ryan Smith and Louis Kirk were making their debuts in a team with seven players eligible for next season’s campaign. The Riding were shocked in the 9th minute when Cumberland took the lead, Levi Johnson heading home Charlie Moore’s pin point cross. Chris Adams was then denied by keeper Lee Jolly and soon after Sam Belcher’s superb diagonal ball released Adams down the right flank and his cross was met by Jason Legge whose powerful headed was a fraction too high. Then a slick interchange between Owen Mountain, Chris Adams and Tom Hunter saw his shot deflected over the bar. The Riding missed the chance to level after Jason Legge had been brought down in the area but keeper Jolly saved Leighton Mathewson’s penalty kick. More chances went begging as Legge had a shot palmed over by Jolly and then from Mathewson’s free kick, Tom Andrews flicked the ball against the near post. Eventually the pressure paid off and the Juniors equalised in the 43rd minute when James Williams set up Tom Hunter to score on his debut.
The Riding took the lead on the hour when Matthew Holmes persistence won the ball on the edge of the area allowing Williams to again set up Hunter to net his second. A huge kick from keeper Gary Mallinson then caught out Cumberland’s centre backs and Legge raced on to the ball but his shot sailed over the bar. From the resulting goal kick,. the hosts went to the other end and Adam Main finished off the move to level the scores in the 63rd minute. Legge then had the chance to restore the Juniors lead but his shot was turned around the post by keeper Jolly. But the Riding did regain the lead in the 76th minute when Williams and Mathewson combined to send Adams down the left wing and he then cut inside the area to lash the ball home from a narrow angle. The impressive Adams made the game safe in the 80th minute when he rounded the keeper before sliding the ball home.
The East Riding Juniors play their last League game on Sunday 21st February when North Riding will visit the Roy West Centre. The game kicks off at 2.00pm and it could decide who wins the Division 2 title. However, if the North Riding fail to win their game with Manchester FA on 13/2/10, the East Riding will secure top spot before this last Division 2 game takes place.