Next up for the Y&E is another huge game. Ebac Northern League Second Division Play Off final. Our opponents – Jarrow FC. The league season comes down to today’s game.

The match is kindly sponsored by David Knowles Funeral Service & matchball is sponsored by president of the Y&E Scottish supporters club Liam Collow.

The playoffs can be cruel. One team will be over the moon, the other left dejected. Both teams have been unbelievably consistent over the past 2 seasons. Consecutive finishes for the Y&E and Jarrow of 2nd & 3rd respectively. There is a strong argument that both teams deserve to go up.

Jarrow come in to this game on the back of a 7-6 penalty shootout win against FC Hartlepool last weekend in the semi final. They went 1-0 down in 3 with Mikey Mcgee scoring but recovered with goals from Ryan Hardie (8) and defender Jonathan Bainbridge (24) to go in to half time ahead. They kept this advantage until 90+2 when Nathan Bayes scored to send it to pens, where Jarrow took a sudden death victory 7-6.

Overall this season, Jarrow’s record this season was P42 W25 D9 L8 F85 A45. Away from home their record is P21 W13 D3 L5. Form wise they had a strong finish to the season, winning 4 of their last 6, with 1 defeat (that painful last minute loss vs Redcar Town) and 1 draw 2-2 vs Boldon (conceding a late equaliser)

Both our games against them this season were tough contests. Way back in the summer we took a 2-1 win away at Jarrow, Luke Hudson with a goal for the hosts on 24, before 2 goals in 2 minutes from Ste (43) and Tom (44) put us ahead at half time. Hudson was sent off on 49mins. In the return game back in December we won 2-1 again. Tom Atkinson again on 23 & 42 put us ahead before Noah Cunningham got one back on 81.

Players to watch out for Jarrow include forwards Ryan Hardie, Lutfur Karim and Jay Barber, they’ve combined for 39 goals this season and all pose a threat as does Kieren Beattie. Captain Luke Hudson is another very good player.

Jarrow are a very good team and it will be another tough test again today. They’ll be backed by a large vocal support throughout the game. We’ve had some cracking away trips up to Jarrow and we always have had a warm welcome there, particularly at the Red Hackle.

For more stats check out @theleadnl on X and Facebook.

As for the Y&E, our fantastic run of form continued with victory at the Riverside against Boro Rangers on Wednesday. Lifting that prestigious North Riding Senior cup has kept the momentum up in the squad. It’s another big game ticked off and the lads showed nerves of steel in the penalty shoot out for the win. Add the final to last Saturday’s win against Seaham and the away game against Redcar Town and we’ve managed the pressure of must win games well over the past few weeks.

Squad wise, Jacko once again has a pretty much full squad to choose from. Harry Stewart Titchner misses out as his yellow card last Saturday means he is suspended for this one and Monday’s league cup final. The depth of the squad has been huge for us this season, and no matter who has been called into the starting lineup, they’ve slotted straight in.

It’s been a phenomenal season once again for the Y&E. The consistency throughout has been off the scale. Hopefully one last push to see us over the line and into the first Divsion.

We are expecting a big crowd today. Gates open from 1.30pm. Please get there early. Parking restrictions are in place, with the car park for players, officials and disabled parking only. Spectator parking is on Cowpen Lane. Please respect local residents and do not park on nearby residential streets.

A printed programme is on sale, the cafe will be open for refreshments.

We hope to see you there getting behind the lads. The support this season has been superb. One more time.

Be Loud. Be Proud. Be Y&E

#utyae

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Parking and travel information below

We are expecting a big crowd on Saturday against Jarrow FC

We’ll be putting in the same parking arrangements as last season’s semi final against Thornaby.

Bedford Terrace Car park will be for Players, officials, match sponsors and disabled parking only. Please let us know if you need a disabled space reserving.

Spectator parking will be on Cowpen Lane plus Park & Walk from Billingham Town Centre / train station area. Both are 15-20 min walk from Bedford Terrace.

There is no parking allowed on the field behind Bedford Terrace.

Please respect local residents and don’t park on nearby residential streets.

If you can – please share a lift.

Gates open from 1.30pm. Please try and get to the ground early if you can.

We’ll have two turnstiles open on the gate. For those paying by cash – exact change always makes the lads on the gate very very very happy It’s £6 adults, £4 concessions & £2 U16s. We accept cash or card payments.

Season tickets and league passes are not valid.