GOALLESS AT THE COLLIERY

EBAC NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
EASINGTON COLLIERY 0 NORTHALLERTON TOWN 0
By Ricky Butler. Additional reporting from Connor Lamb and Andy Heywood

THERE WERE NO GOALS AND PRECIOUS LITTLE EXCITEMENT AT WELFARE PARK LAST NIGHT AS TWO OF THE DIVISION'S IN-FORM SIDES, EASINGTON COLLIERY AND NORTHALLERTON TOWN, CANCELLED EACH OTHER OUT.

Easington, back in the Ebac Northern League this season after a three year absence, had seen their eight-match unbeaten run brought to an end at struggling Esh Winning over the weekend, while EA Cup finalists Town arrived on the back of a good run of only one defeat in their previous ten matches.

But after a bright start in which Easington's Shaun Smith saw a cross cut out by Town defender, Daniel Jones, the match developed into a dour, midfield battle with chances at either end few and far between.

The hosts did much of the early pressing and in the 15th minute, Luke Page lifted a good ball into the penalty area but Jones headed clear again.

Meanwhile, Town were slowly settling into the match and Aaron Ramsbottom's high ball into the penalty area was well dealt with by home goalkeeper, Kyle Donaldson, under pressure from Elliot McGlade.

Northallerton were now just shading proceedings and they came close to opening the scoring midway through the first half. A free-kick from 25 yards by Ramsbottom curled over the Easington wall but Donaldson punched the ball behind for a corner.

Colliery responded with Stephen Bogie looking to thread the ball through to Joe Kerridge but Town goalkeeper Michael Thackeray rushed out to clear the danger.

Although no real chances were being created, both sides were busy, probing for the breakthrough. A mazy run from Page saw him dart from one edge of the penalty area to the other but his shot was blocked. Then, at the other end, Damon Reaks knocked the ball wide to Ramsbottom, who's low cross was cleared.

That summed up much of the first half where good approach play from both sides was let down by a poor final ball.

Looking to shake things up during the interval, Town manager, Darren Trotter, replaced Reaks with Daniel Ballantyne, but the pattern of the match did not really change in the second half.

Easington however, did begin to look a lot more dangerous and six minutes after the restart they twice came close to edging in front. Firstly, a deep cross from Liam Hodgson fell just wide of the far post, while Page then started a promising Easington move which saw Hodgson tee-up Aidan Heywood, but his curling effort just missed the target.

Approaching the hour-mark the hosts again came close to breaking the deadlock. Reece Kenney hit a long-range drive which forced Thackeray into a diving save but the former Billingham Town goalkeeper could only palm the ball to Kerridge, who saw his effort deflected behind for a corner.

With 64 minutes on the clock, Easington made their first change as Bogie gave way for Bryan Norton, while a minute later, an Easington free-kick led to a game of head tennis inside the Town penalty area before the away side eventually cleared.

Northallerton then made a second change as McGlade was replaced by Jack Dalton, while at the same time, Easington made what turned out to be a final substitution of the night as Peter Jones came on for Kenney.

With eighteen minutes left, Town's Mark Hemingway lifted a free-kick into the penalty area which Donaldson easily claimed, while the Easington goalkeeper then did just enough to deal with Stuart Owens' dangerous set-piece delivery.

The home side had the chance to grab the lead in the 77th minute when Smith played in Kerridge but he could only fire straight at the ‘keeper. Then, less than a minute later, Kerridge found himself in a promising position once again following a pass from Heywood, but despite looking ill-at-ease, the Northallerton defence somehow managed to clear the danger.

With time running out, the visitors made a tactical change as Hemingway and Ballantyne switched wings, and in the final few seconds it almost paid dividends. Donaldson failed to cleanly collect a Ballantyne cross but the Easington goalkeeper quickly recovered to deny Town what would have been a very late winner.

The draw does neither side any favours as Town remain in sixth place, 12 points off a possible promotion place, with Easington one place and two points worse off.

Next up for Town is a trip to Willington on Saturday while Easington host Thornaby. Both games kick off at 3pm.

EASINGTON COLLIERY: Donaldson, Hodgson, Varga, Pearson (c), O’Brien, Kenney, Heywood, Page, Kerridge, Boyle, Smith. Subs: Nesbit, Martin, Maughan, Norton, Jones.

NORTHALLERTON TOWN: Thackeray, Johnson, Hemingway, Keogh, Jones, Knox, Reaks, Owens (c), Ramsbottom, McGlade, McLachlan. Subs: Ballantyne, Calvert, Dalton, Foley, Farrell.

REFEREE: Darren Wylam.

ATTENDANCE: 102