Yarm & Eaglescliffe 3 Boldon 1

Y&E Scorers Tom Atkinson (33, 35. Cam Wild 70)

Boldon CA Scorers Scott Purvis 54

Attendance 60

The Y&E secured their first home league victory of the season as they won 3-1 at home against Boldon CA.  Two first half goals in two minutes from marksman Tom Atkinson and a second half Cam Wild headed goal were enough to ensure that the three points stayed on Teesside.  Thanks again to match sponsor Neil McNally Design and matchball sponsor the Mockingbird Deli.  

After last Saturday’s home defeat against league leaders Redcar Town, Boldon CA made the trip down the A19 to face us.  They were coming in to the game in good form after an impressive start to the campaign.  As ever if it was going to be a tough game for the Y&E.  It was good to see midfield enforcer Charlie Fixter warming up before the game as he continues his return from a. Serious knee injury.   Leo Cheesborough was ruled out following his injury against Redacr last season, but striker Tom Atkinson was back in the starting XI.  Young defender Freddie McBride was in the back five for his first start of the season.  We lined up with Callum in goal, the Daltons as wing backs, Joe to the left of hime and Jack was to the right .  Stuck in the middle of them was Dan Jones, Freddie and Ross Harrison.  In the centre midfield, Joe Scaiffe Wheatley and Harry Stewart Titchner, with Dylan and the returning Josh Marshall playing in behind Tom up front.  On the bench, Joe Hillerby, Cam Wild, Sean Chidanyika, Sam Conway and Ethan Jones.

We got off to a really good start.  Some lovely play between HST & Marshy led to Tom having an early chance on the right hand side of the box but his effort was saved.  Dan Jones saw a header from an HST corner excellently saved on 5 minutes.   We were playing the ball around well and were dominating play, Dylan had an effort blocked after a superb ball through from Joe Scaiffe Wheatley.  We had a series of other chances  Tom on the end of a lovely through ball from Jack Dalton but his effort was saved and Jack playing a lovely ball in to the box, but nobody was there to turn it in.  Marshy was in the thick of things and was fouled a few times and on the 32nd minute he was brought down on the edge of the box to give us a free kick in a dangerous position.  Tom stepped up and struck the free kick which was deflected off the wall and went in past the keeper.  1-0.

Two minutes later we doubled our lead.  Marshy and Joe Dalton linked up superbly down the left, Joe managed to get some space and then whipped the ball in with his right foot where Tom was on hand to head the ball home.  We continued to play well, defensively we were comfortable and we were playing some good football.   HST was continuing his excellent form, spreading the ball around and dribbling through the Boldon midfield, before feeding Tom with a lovely pass with his effort being well saved.  The ref blew up for half time.  2-0 up following probably our best half of football this season.

We were unchanged for the second half.  Boldon started much better second half and were the better team for the first fifteen minutes of so.  We struggled to get much of the ball and looked a very different team to the first half.  A free kick on the edge of our box on 53mins, was struck by their 10 Scott Purvis, it hit the post and trickled in over the line. 2-1.    A few minutes later we had our best move of the second half, Scaiffe and and Jack linked up well down the right, with Scaiffe having an effort well saved at the near post.  Jacko then mad his first change, Hillers on for Dylan.  This was followed a on 65 mins by Cam replacing Freddie.  Both Dylan and Freddie had played well.   On 68minutes an HST free kick whipped over in to the box and the keeper misjudged the cross, the ball found Dalts at the far post but his effort was blocked, but the ref had blown for a free kick.  

We restored our two goal advantage on 70 mins.  HST again with a floated free kick, which was met just inside the 18 yard box by Cam Wild, who skilful managed to direct a looping header over the keeper and in to the back of the net.  3-1 up, with twenty minutes to go.  The goal changed the game again, with the Y&E dominating for the last phase of the game.  We made a few more changes with Sam Conway, Sean and Ethan coming on for Scaiffe, HST and Jack Dalton.    The game finished and we had secured our first home victory of the season at the fourth time of asking.

Boldon are a good team, they showed that in the early phases of the second half where they were the better team.  They’ll continue to be a tough opponent through the rest of the campaign.  Best of luck to them for the rest of the season.

As for the Y&E, an important three points.  We played really well first half and could realistically have been four goals up.  That was probably the best we’ve played all season, plenty of passing and movement.  We were solid defensively throughout and Callum didn’t have much to do all game really.  The central back three were quality and the Daltons both played well at wing back.  HST and Scaiffe played well in the middle, with Marshy and Dylan did really well, creating plenty but also working hard to get the ball back.  Up front Tom with two goals, he looked back to his best today.  Subs did well, came on and slotted in well, Cam sealing the win with a lovely header.

We’re sat in 9th place with a few players coming back in to the squad following injury, plus Harry Williams’s Cricket season has finished.  A few games in hand as well.  We are in a good position, need to keep it going one game at a time.  Starting with Alnwick away on Tuesday night.  #utyae