ESH WINNING 1 NORTHALLERTON TOWN 5
By Ricky Butler at West Terrace
Watch the goals from this game here
DARREN KOKES and Jason Brazauskas returned to their old stomping ground with a goal apiece as Town eased to a routine victory at Esh Winning on Saturday.
Having beaten the same opponents 6-0 the previous week, Peter Mulcaster's side looked set for an even bigger score-line this time after a first half in which only Esh goalkeeper Graham Ryan stood between them and an avalanche of goals.
In fact it took until stoppage time at the end of the opening period for Town to finally make the breakthrough when the returning Colin Anderson headed home a cross from Danny McLachlan. And despite failing to reach similar heights after the break, Mulcaster's men were able to ease to a comfortable three points with further goals from Kokes, Brazauskas, Sean Davies and a late second from Anderson.
"It was a good performance," said Mulcaster at the whistle. "It was always going to be difficult, beating them 6-0 one week and then playing them again the next week, and so it proved.
"Their goalkeeper had a fantastic game. He pulled off about three worldies in the first half to keep us out until just before half time. I didn't think we played that well in the second half but we scored four goals and the three points was what we were after."
Mulcaster's starting XI showed just one change from Monday's success at Darlington RA - Anderson getting the nod ahead of Graham Caygill to replace the absent Jamie Clarke in attack.
But the first half looked like being a tale of missed opportunities as Ryan almost single-handedly kept Town at bay. In fact the Esh stopper seemed particularly determined to stop former team-mates Brazauskas and Kokes finding the target as he made several fine saves to deny them both.
Meanwhile, Grant Hickman, Dale Elgie and Anderson were also on the receiving end of Ryan's heroics as Mulcaster's side completely dominated proceedings without reward.
However, Ryan was finally beaten in the final moments of the first half. McLachlan, who had scored three times in the previous two matches, whipped in a dangerous cross from the left and Anderson nipped in front of his marker to direct a header into the top left-hand corner of the net.
Esh came out strongly at the start of the second period, especially following the introduction of substitute Jordan Howell, but Town's extra attacking power proved decisive as they scored twice in three minutes midway through the half to seal the points.
Kokes made it a happy return to his former club just before the hour, following great work from Anderson down the right, before Ryan blotted his copy book by letting a Gav Parkin corner slip from his grasp leaving Davies with an empty net - his first goal for Town.
Brazauskas then made it a good day for the Esh old boys by ending his own personal Town goal drought twenty minutes from time, turning home McLachlan's deep right-wing cross at the far post - just reward for another tireless performance.
Esh refused to let their heads drop and scored a consolation ten minutes later with a fine strike from outside the area by George McCain, and they might even have had a penalty soon after, but Anderson had the final word in stoppage time.
Substitute Caygill, who had looked lively after replacing McLachlan, won the ball on the edge of the Esh penalty area before feeding the mercurial Anderson who did the rest in typically flamboyant fashion.
"I was surprised to be in the team today (after missing the last two games) but I've taken my chance," said Anderson. "I am very disappointed with myself to be missing the next three games due to suspension. It was a moment of madness which is me all over I'm afraid.
"Hopefully the lads will do well when I'm away and I'll come back fighting for my place again."
Kokes was delighted to find the target against his former club. He said: "I'm over the moon. I should have had a couple more in the first half but I got there in the end. Their keeper was on form to be fair and was probably their best player, but we put five past him so we can't complain."
Town now face Stokesley SC in a big North Yorkshire derby on Wednesday evening at the Calvert Stadium. Kick off is at 7.30pm.
ESH WINNING - Ryan, Knight, Kelly, Swindle, Jobling, Smith, Phillipson, Heron, Young, McCain, Guthrie. Subs - Bamborough, Stephenson, Lay, Rogerson, Howell.
NORTHALLERTON TOWN - Kell, Banks, Porritt, Hickman, Davies, Parkin, McLachlan, Elgie, Anderson, Kokes, Brazauskas. Subs - Caygill, Smurthwaite, Holliday, Colman.
ATTENDANCE: 35
Saturday, 31 August 2013
Friday, 30 August 2013
Thursday, 29 August 2013
Thompson's late treble seals thrlling Academy victory
NORTHALLERTON TOWN ACADEMY 6 RICHMOND MAVERICKS 3
By Ricky Butler at the Calvert Stadium
A LATE hat-trick from Wayne Thompson proved decisive as Northallerton Town Academy beat local rivals Richmond Mavericks in a thrilling Teesside League Division One encounter at the Calvert Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Town, who had started well, led with goals from Dan Baxter and Sam Vernalls in the opening twenty minutes, but it needed a second from Baxter early in the second half and a late treble from Thompson to finally see off the determined challenge of a Mavericks side that included former Town first-teamers Danny Shoulder and Wayne Gredziak.
After a bright start, Town scored twice in six minutes midway though the first half to take control of this local derby. Baxter scored the first after a lovely run and cross down the right from his brother Mikey Stevens in the 14th minute, while Baxter then turned provider with a lovely through ball for Vernalls to coolly slot home.
And it should have been all over on the 30 minute mark. George Fawcett sent Vernalls clear again but this time he delayed his shot and Mavericks goalkeeper George Battersby was able to divert the ball behind for a corner.
That looked like being a crucial miss when visitors substitute Dan Morris reduced the arrears seconds later with a fine strike from fully 25 yards to keep the game perfectly poised at the break.
But Town looked to have sealed the points when Baxter grabbed his second within two minutes of the resumption. Stevens was initially denied by Battersby but Baxter was on hand to turn the ball home from close range.
However, that proved to be Stevens last meaningful contribution as he was forced off with injury soon after, giving first team striker Graham Caygill a much needed run out ahead of Saturday's match away at Esh Winning.
It was a change from the visitors moments later, however, that looked to have swung the pendulum in their favour. Former Town striker Gredziak replaced Lloyd Tate five minutes into the second half and suddenly the visitors looked far more dangerous.
They should have got themselves right back into the match six minutes later when Tom Keegan was brought down in the area by David Cooke, but Town goalkeeper Jordan Aspinall did well to keep out Keegan's well struck spot kick.
However, it was 3-2 in the very next attack. Some poor Town defending gifted Shoulder, who has been allowed to play for the Mavericks in a bid to get match fitness, a simple tap in and it was game on again.
From being in control, Town were now hanging on as Morris twice headed over the top and Gredziak came close. But Thompson grabbed his first to restore the two-goal cushion sixteen minutes from time.
Cooke, who has also had first team experience this season, whipped in a corner from the left and the midfield man rose above the Mavericks defence to power home a header.
The visitors refused to lie down as Gredziak grabbed the goal he had been threatening with a typically emphatic finish to a left wing cross from Nathan O'Connor five minutes later, and we were all set for a thrilling conclusion.
But it was Town who finished the stronger. Thompson made it 5-3 with another header from a Cooke delivery four minutes from time, before completing his hat-trick with a fine strike from 25 yards as Town finally clinched the points.
TOWN - Aspinall, Bruce, Dodsworth, Cooke, Payne, Grainger, Stevens, Thompson, Baxter, Vernalls, Fawcett. Subs - Caygill, Toman, Bamber.
RICHMOND MAVERICKS - Battersby, Cole, Armstrong, Shoulder, Bainbridge(R), Brown, Bainbridge(S), McInnerney, Tate, Keegan, Dunwoodie. Subs - Morris, Gredziak, O'Connor.
REFEREE - D. Coulson.
By Ricky Butler at the Calvert Stadium
A LATE hat-trick from Wayne Thompson proved decisive as Northallerton Town Academy beat local rivals Richmond Mavericks in a thrilling Teesside League Division One encounter at the Calvert Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Town, who had started well, led with goals from Dan Baxter and Sam Vernalls in the opening twenty minutes, but it needed a second from Baxter early in the second half and a late treble from Thompson to finally see off the determined challenge of a Mavericks side that included former Town first-teamers Danny Shoulder and Wayne Gredziak.
After a bright start, Town scored twice in six minutes midway though the first half to take control of this local derby. Baxter scored the first after a lovely run and cross down the right from his brother Mikey Stevens in the 14th minute, while Baxter then turned provider with a lovely through ball for Vernalls to coolly slot home.
And it should have been all over on the 30 minute mark. George Fawcett sent Vernalls clear again but this time he delayed his shot and Mavericks goalkeeper George Battersby was able to divert the ball behind for a corner.
That looked like being a crucial miss when visitors substitute Dan Morris reduced the arrears seconds later with a fine strike from fully 25 yards to keep the game perfectly poised at the break.
But Town looked to have sealed the points when Baxter grabbed his second within two minutes of the resumption. Stevens was initially denied by Battersby but Baxter was on hand to turn the ball home from close range.
However, that proved to be Stevens last meaningful contribution as he was forced off with injury soon after, giving first team striker Graham Caygill a much needed run out ahead of Saturday's match away at Esh Winning.
It was a change from the visitors moments later, however, that looked to have swung the pendulum in their favour. Former Town striker Gredziak replaced Lloyd Tate five minutes into the second half and suddenly the visitors looked far more dangerous.
They should have got themselves right back into the match six minutes later when Tom Keegan was brought down in the area by David Cooke, but Town goalkeeper Jordan Aspinall did well to keep out Keegan's well struck spot kick.
However, it was 3-2 in the very next attack. Some poor Town defending gifted Shoulder, who has been allowed to play for the Mavericks in a bid to get match fitness, a simple tap in and it was game on again.
From being in control, Town were now hanging on as Morris twice headed over the top and Gredziak came close. But Thompson grabbed his first to restore the two-goal cushion sixteen minutes from time.
Cooke, who has also had first team experience this season, whipped in a corner from the left and the midfield man rose above the Mavericks defence to power home a header.
The visitors refused to lie down as Gredziak grabbed the goal he had been threatening with a typically emphatic finish to a left wing cross from Nathan O'Connor five minutes later, and we were all set for a thrilling conclusion.
But it was Town who finished the stronger. Thompson made it 5-3 with another header from a Cooke delivery four minutes from time, before completing his hat-trick with a fine strike from 25 yards as Town finally clinched the points.
TOWN - Aspinall, Bruce, Dodsworth, Cooke, Payne, Grainger, Stevens, Thompson, Baxter, Vernalls, Fawcett. Subs - Caygill, Toman, Bamber.
RICHMOND MAVERICKS - Battersby, Cole, Armstrong, Shoulder, Bainbridge(R), Brown, Bainbridge(S), McInnerney, Tate, Keegan, Dunwoodie. Subs - Morris, Gredziak, O'Connor.
REFEREE - D. Coulson.
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