The Y&E delivered one of their best away performances with a 4-0 victory over Alnwick Town.  Tom Atkinson grabbed a 16 minute second half hat trick with Dan Jones capping an impressive defensive display with the opening goal. 

Our longest away trip in the league and the game we all wanted on a Saturday.  Instead it was a Tuesday night trip up the A1, to visit St James Park to face Alnwick Town.  There was a good number of the Y&E faithful who had made the trip, including young Aryton from the JL10 supporters club who rocked up with his entourage Emily, Cameron and Georgia.  Proper hardcore Y&E!  A pre match pint in the clubhouse as the team news cam through.  One change from the victory over Boldon at the weekend with Harry Williams coming in for Dylan.  We lined up with Callum in goal, the Daltons at wing back, Joe on the left and Jack on the right.  Ross Harrison, Dan Jones and Freddie McBride in the middle.  Joe Scaiffe Wheatley and HST in midfield with Josh Marshall and Harry Williams playing in behind Tom Atkinson up front.  On the bench Cam Wild, Pete Bulmer, Joe Hillerby, Dylan Gnaglo and Sam Conway.

First half we were playing up the slope and against the wind.  St James Park Alnwick is cracking little ground, one of my favourites that we have visited.  I’d forgotten about the slope and the home side used it to their advantage early on, with some high paced attacks looking to stretch our defence.  There was a n early scare when an excellent free kick from the right hadn’t side was swung in by the Alnwick full back Bright, whose effort smashed against our cross bar.  A minute or so later we could have took the lead, Marshy winning the ball in midfield and finding Tom up front, he drove forward but his effort was saved well.  We were playing well, as were the hosts and it was an entertaining first half.  There was a few moments where we lost the ball in midefield, but the defence was able to stop the attacks, Dan Jones in particular with a couple of textbook challenges.  We looked to press and HST won a ball in the middle before playing a sublime pass with a ridiculous amount of backspin up to Tom, but he was tackled for a throw in.  Cue Freddie McBride with his long range throw skills, right in to the box where Tom had a a chance that went over.  There was a few calls for fouls both ways, but it wasn’t a dirty game really, both teams going for it.  We nearly took the lead on 33 minutes with HST attempting a long range cross / shot that the Alnwick keeper had to tip away from the first post.  We had a good spell from 20-35 minutes but Alnwick came back with a couple of decent effort from their right hand side, Callum saving one shot and also stopping a header.  There was a change for the Y&E on 43 minutes as Freddie pulled up with an injury, replaced by Cam Wild.  Freddie had once again done well in defence.  We took the lead in first half stoppage time, a long cross from Joe Dalton and both Dan Jones and Marshy up front, the ball over Marshy and Dan Jones ghosted in to space and took the ball down and buried it with a quality finish. Vintage Jonesy.  From the restart and little bit off. Mix up form a defensive back header, by Callum was able to recover.    End of the first half, a really entertaining game with both teams looking to play football.  I felt we derived to a be a goal up.

Into the second half and within a couple of minutes we were two goals up.  Dan Jones with a cushioned header up to Tom who took the ball well in the box, dribbled across goal and unleashed a trademark finish from near the penalty spot. Trademark Tom Atkinson.  He was back in the action a few minutes later with a lovely ball to the right hand side to Jack, who ran on to the ball and stormed down the wing, rolling back the years before putting over a lovely ball across the face of the goal, but nobody was there.  Simply put Jack was too fast!  Jacko made another change with Scaiffe being replaced by Hillers.  Another good shift from Scaiffe in the middle alongside HST.  On 55 minutes we had our third goal.  Tom was chasing down a ball on the left hand side of the box, going away from goal and his ankles were clipped and the ref gave a penalty.  No doubt who was taking this as Tom calmly slotted it home.  3-0.  We scored another on 61 minutes, that man again.  Marshy won the ball in midfield and put the afterburners on down the left in to the box, he could have had a shot himself  but he unselfishly put it across to Tom, whose first effort was saved but he was able to slot home the rebound.  4-0 up and Tom with his 5th goal in two games.  Bagsman is the word.  He was booked a few minutes later, I don’t know what for.  We were well on top and Alnwick were very much second best.  Jacko made another change, with Joe Dalton off for Sam Conway, quality display from Dalts.  Tom nearly had his 4th on 68 minutes but he was denied by an excellent save.  HST went in the book and few minutes later Jacko subbed him for Pete Bulmer.  HST was superb again.  Tom was subbed off for Dylan with 20 mins to go.  We were still working hard, closing down and pressing despite being 4 goals up – these are are the standards that Jacko and the management team set.  There was a  late effort from Alnwick down the left, but Callum saved well with what was his only really save to make in the second half.  The ref blew up and we’d won 4-0.

Alnwick did well first half, they played well early on and the looked dangerous with plenty off pace up front.  Second half after the early goal from Tom, the wind was knocked out of them, and the game was pretty much wrapped up with the penalty and the 4th made sure of it.  They are a good team and their league position is no fluke.  As  I mentioned earlier, they’ve got a cracking set up, and its definitely worth a visit.  Best of luck to them for the rest of the season.

Ask for the Y&E- a superb all round performance.  Not one player had a bad game.  We weathered the early pressure and grew in to the game.  The timing the goals was crucial, going in to halftime 1-0 up was huge for us and the intensity at the start of the second half was superb.  Winning away from home, scoring four goals and keeping a clean sheet.  A cracking evening out.

Callum was calm and composed as ever in goal.  Some important saves.  Joe Dalton, energy down the left hand side, string in the air as ever.  Jack was class down the right, some good runs and trademark tackling.  Ross, leader at the back.  Jonesy with some excellent tackles and that goal was class.  Freddie, excellent throw ins and composed in defence, shame he pulled up with an injury.  Scaiffe, over the ball well as usual.  HST brilliant again, work rate and passing vision.  Marshy never stopped all game, tackles, runs energy and getting stuck in.  Harry Williams, covered plenty of ground as ever.  Tom, three goals, enough said really Man of the Match.  From the bench Cam solid as always and made some friends with the home crowd.  Hillers all over the midfield.  Sam Conway, Pete and Dylan all came on and did what they had to do, fresh legs and energy.

Fair play as well to the Y&E faithful who backed the lads up at Alnwick.  The excitement got a bit too much for some with Maurice enjoying a tactical power nap or two on the drive home – recharging his batteries for Pickering away on Saturday!