The Y&E sealed a place in the second round of the FA Vase with a dominant 5-0 Victory against Colne FC

Our first ever Sunday game and it proved to be a Super Sunday, with our biggest crowd of the season , with 209 in attendance.  A healthy contingent of Colne Fans had made the trip over from Lancashire, and a fair few groundhoppers and neutrals were there alongside the usual Y&E support.  Minty managed to sell out of programmes, and sell two blind cards.  Special mention to our mascots from Eaglescliffe Elementis who did a cracking job leading the teams out.  Thanks lads – hope to see you back at the Y&E soon.

There was a couple of changes form our win against Synners.  CF7 dropped to the bench, with Joe Dalton moving to central midfield.  Sam Conway replaced Joe at left wing back.  Harry Williams came in for Ste Roberts who dropped to the bench.  We lined up with Callum in goal, Jack Dalton right wing back, Leo Cheesebrough, Cam Wild and Ross Harrison as the back three, with Sam Conway left wing back.  Dalts alongside Harry Stewart Titchiner in midfield and Harry Williams alongside Josh Marshall just behind Tom Atkinson up top.  An experienced bench with Adam Groom, Joe Hillerby, Charlie Fixter, Ste Roberts and Pete Bulmer.  

The game started fairly even, with both teams having a bit of possession and Tom Atkinson with an early chance.  On 9 minutes we scored, some excellent work from Harry Williams out-muscling the Colne defence, and the ball broke to Sam Conway who slotted home into the corner of the goal from just inside the box.  An excellent start for the Y&E.  Two minutes later we almost doubled the lead, Tom Atkinson, played through down the right channel but his effort was cleared off the line.  We did double the lead on 22 minutes, with Captain Cam Wild grabbing another goal, rising high at the back post to head home and HST free kick.

The Y&E were full of confidence now with a two goal cushion and five minutes later we were 3-0 up.  A lovely ball through the middle from HST to Marshy, who had the composure to knock it first time in to the path of Tom who took one touch and then launched a rocket from his right foot off the underside of the crossbar and in.  4 touches from our half to the goal in about 10 seconds.  A superb counter attacking goal.  3-0 up in under thirty minutes.  We were looking fantastic on the break and were solid at the back.  Cam, Ross and Leo able to deal with anything Colne tried up front.  We nearly added a fourth when the ball broke to Cam after a set piece, but his side footed effort was over the bar.  For a brief nanosecond the whole crowd were wondering if this was going to be the worldie of all worldies, but alas too much elevation.  We saw the first half out, with little incident other than an HST booking which means he misses the next round.

In to the second half and as most of us expected, Colne came out with a decent start, but we managed to stay in control.  We had a decent break down the right, Tom and Harry Williams linking up well, before a ball out to Jack Dalton, his cross was whipped up beautifully but headed away.  Jacko made a change with HST off for CF7, who lined up alongside Joe Dalton in midfield.  It had a strong look of 2021/22 with those two in the middle of the park.  CF7 was in the thick of it, with a couple of slide tackles, one timed better than the other.  Tom was fouled, after a lovely touch a round down the right, one of their players was booked as was Marshy for doing something Marshyish.  He was subbed soon after, being replaced by Ste Roberts.  Colne had one of their best chances, with Joe Dalton cutting out a cross just in front of Callum, on 65 minutes.  We scored our fourth on 69 minutes, Harry Williams slotting a lovely ball down the right channel, Tom ran onto it and hit it first time over the keeper just inside the far post.  Sublime. 

Another sub, this time Harry Williams off for Pete Bulmer.  Then on 71 minutes we had our fifth.  Hillers collecting the ball on the edge of the box before launching a low shot from 20+ yards that managed to slip under the keeper and in to the back of the net.  5-0 and pretty much both feet in the second round.  Ste got a booking for a late challenge, which rules him out of the next round.  Tom was subbed off for Groomy, another two goals to add to the tally.  There was almost a sixth, with Joe Dalton delivering a perfect slide tackle to win the ball form their last man, he drove forward and shot but his effort was saved by the keeper and cleared.  With 13 minutes left, there was a bit of a discussion about the laws of the game from both sides, after a nasty looking challenge form the Colne number 7, who managed to take out both Hillers and Sam Conway.  The ref booked him, we have seen reds for less.  There was a late chance for Colne, with a mix up at the back and the ball getting past Callum, but Leo was alert to clear the danger.  The game fizzled out and the ref blew up for full time.  A convincing 5-0 victory.  In to the second round for the first time in our history.  

Credit to Colne, it wasn’t their day and they came up against a clinical Y&E in the first half.  Falling behind so quickly is always difficult and they struggled to get a foothold in the game.  Their fans were spot on, travelled in decent numbers, bought plenty of goes on the blind card and were a credit to their club. We wish them all the best for the rest of the season.

Another quality display from the Y&E.  In control throughout, a clean sheet and five goals.  You can’t ask for any more than that.  Cam was man of the match, a goal, lead from the back and didn’t miss a header.  Alongside him Leo and Ross were quality, didn’t put a foot wrong.  Wing backs were a threat throughout, Sam managing to find himself as a striker for his goal.  Callum didn’t have much to do in goal, but did what he had to do well.  HST with another assist, controlling the game as ever.  Joe Dalton quality in the middle and then as a wing back.  Marshy and Harry Williams covered miles between them, never stopped running.  Tom, two fantastic goals.  Off the bench, everyone did a job, Hillers the pick, he only scores from outside the box don’t you know?

All in all a cracking day for the club.  A busy few weeks ahead.  Now to keep up the momentum.

Howay the Y&E