The Y&E came away 1-0 winners in a tight competitive game against Ryton & Crawcrook Albion at Bedford Terrace. A late Josh Larkin shot was enough to seal the victory and keep the three points on Teesside. The result keeps the Y&E right in contention at the top of the table.
After Tuesday’s North Riding Senior Cup heroics against Scarborough, it was back to league action against an in form RACA side. The match was our first home game since the 4-1 Boxing Day defeat against Darlington Town, just over 4 weeks ago.
Massive thanks to Match Sponsor Dragontail Consulting a and Match ball sponsor Brad Todd. Your support is hugely appreciated.
There was a few changes in the starting XI. Proc returned in central defence in place of Leo who dropped to the bench. Jack Dalton back at right wing back. Sam Conway moving back to left wing back. In midfield Marshy was back, and up front Tom was leading the lien. We lined up with Callum in goal, back 5 of Cam, Ethan Jones, Proc, Jack and Sam Conway. Midfield, HST and Marshy, with JL11, Harry Williams and Tom Atkinson as our front three. On the bench Leo, Joe Dalton, Foz Garton, Cameron Thomson and Ste Roberts.
Before the game we had a special guest 8 year old Bodhi, who completed a mile round around the pitch before the game as part of his 100 miles 100 clubs challenge. He is running a mile at 100 different football clubs to help support three charities, Amy & Friends, MFC Foundation and The Teesside Family Foundation. Needless to say Bodhi is a superstar and he smashed his run around Beford Terrace. If you would like to donate – use this link. Bodhi also led the team out as our mascot for the day. He’s a true legend.
The game started as expected, tight and close. Both team matching up well. We perhaps had the best of the opening quarter of an hour, a couple of dangerous free kicks that were cleared by Ryton. They then had a good spell, with a good break being denied by Jack Dalton. A few set pieces for the visitors were cleared, with Ethan, Cam and Proc starting well. The best chance of the first half fell to Tom, played through in to the left edge of the box, he was clear but for once miscalculated his angles and the ball beat the keeper and the far post.
Sam Conway seemed to be in the wars, winning a few free kicks for us. HST fed JL11 (new merch might need to be ordered if Harry W keeps the number 10 shirt) but his effort was blocked and as we moved in to the last five mins of the half, Harry W had a n effort from distance saved.
End of the half and it remained 0-0. A few chances for either side, the visitors shaded possession and were on top in midfield. At the back we were comfortable able to deal with the Ryton attack and we had had the best chance of the half. All in all a close game.
We started the second half unchanged. We were faster out of the blocks, with Larkin and Tom linking down the right hand side. As with the first half, where control switched between sides, they had a good spell, where we kept giving the ball away and inviting pressure. The defence was able to cope and Callum wasn’t unduly troubled. Jacko rejigged the formation slightly, with Harry W playing a little deeper with Marshy slightly more advanced (at least that is what it looked like to me). This seemed to give us a bit more impetus, with Marshy driving forward with a few runs. Nice play form Ethan, winning the ball and then driving forward before lovely ball to Marshy and he was ruled offside, it was close one. At the other end, the visitors had a couple of chances rule doff for offside including a goal that was flagged off.
Heading in to the last 15 minutes, it was looking more and more like a nailed on 0-0. Neither side was able to create a clear cut opportunity. There was a little flair up 77mins, when Marshy was fouled and there was some discussion between teams on the rules of the beautiful game. A booking for the Ryton full back, was followed a few minutes later with a booking for their 4. It has just started to bubble over a little.
The deadlock was broken on 83 minutes. A free kick on the halfway line, which Callum lofted on to the head of Cam aka “the bouncer” or “the tank”, who headed across the 18 year box where Larkin was on had to drill it goal bound from a tight angle, beating the keeper and it was then cleared off the line at the far post, with Joe Dalton (who had replaced Sam Conway earlier in the half) rifling it home to make sure. The lino ruling that the ball had crossed the line from Larkin’ initial effort. No matter what it was 1-0 to the Y&E.
Now to see the game out. Ryton had a corner and a goal mouth scramble ensured but the ball was cleared by our defence. Cam suffering a knock to the head, which one of their players complained to the ref about. He was sent to the sinbin, on 85 mins. A few more subs, with Leo on Cam, Foz on for Jack and Ste on for Tom. 5 minutes of stoppage time were signalled by the ref. Ryton had a few chances and looked to be clear on goal, only for Ethan Jones to time a challenge to absolute perfection deep in the six yard box. One of the Ryton bench was then given his marching orders by the ref, for some discussion regarding the duration of the sin bin. The ref blew up and we had taken the three points.
Credit to Ryton. For me they are one of the most difficult teams (if not the most) to play against in the league. They are strong, have a high fitness level, well organised, have pace and a potent attack. They will be disappointed not to take anything away from the game. I thought they played well and if they can string a good run of results together, will be in with a shout of making the playoffs. Best of luck to them for the rest of the campaign.
As for the Y&E, some way to back up the win at Scarborough. The longer the game went on the more I thought it was going to end up a as 0-0. We managed to create that one clear cut chance, even then there was a plenty of work to do for Larkin to finish it off. He likes that side of the box with 2 in 2 from pretty much the same spot. We weren’t at our very best today, but we hung in there, defended superbly (the central back three were outstanding) and got the three points. A big big three points that keeps us right in the mix.
Ethan Jones (sponsored by John Coulson) picked up the man of the match award. He was ran close by Cam and Proc alongside him, but the young defender did not put a foot wrong all game and that late tackle in stoppage time was pure class.
A big week ahead, Esh Winning (A) in the Ernst Armstrong League Cup on Wednesday followed by Redcar Town (a) on Friday. Keep your eyes on our social media for details of the games and any impact the weather has.
Been a good week to be a Y&E supporter! Onwards we go.
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