The Y&E took a hard fought 2-0 victory against league leaders FC Hartlepool to seal three points in an eventful 90minutes. Tom Atkinson with another 2 goal brace in the second half, which also saw Joe Dalton sent off.
After a Tuesday night’s 2-1 win against Jarrow, Jacko & the lads were keen to keep the momentum up against an FC Hartlepool team who sat at the top of the league after an impressive run of form. Conditions were near enough perfect for non league football in December, a chill in the air, no rain and no wind at all. The pitch was looking in fine nick consdiering we are late December, testament to the tremendous work that committee man Guy Jones puts in.
There was a few changes in the squad, with HST suspended, Cam & Proc unavailable and Ethan Jones, Scaiffey & Dan Jones all struck down with flu. We lined up with Callum in goal, Joe Dalton & Sam Conway as wing backs, a central back three of Leo, Dougs & Jack Dalton (must be our 18th different central three combination this season) CF7 & Marshy in central midfield with Harry Williams, Josh Larkin & Tom Atkinson as our front three. On the bench, Hillers, Foz & Pete Bulmer alongside U21 players Sean Earl & James Nicholson. Both Sean & James had received a late late call up on Saturday Morning.
We started well, Tom forcing a save from Carr in the FC goal and out for a corner. Sam Conway was getting some joy down the left hand side, a theme that carried on throughout the first half, his pace troubling the FCH backline. At the back were solid, able to deal with any early pressure. When their forwards were able to get through, there was cover to sort it. Callum was vocal in goal keeping things in check. The FCH 8 went in the book after a late foul on Sam Conway just in front of our bench, thankfully Sam was OK to carry on. On 13 mins Harry Williams, had a chance after Carr had flapped at a cross, but the angle was tight and his effort was cleared off the line. On the quarter hour JL11 found some space and his shot from 20 yards was easily gathered. On 20 minutes a long cross from Harry W on the left to the far post where Tom just couldn’t get on the end of it.
Our best chance of the half came on 30 minutes. A first time clearance from Dougs was expertly placed down the left jade side for Sam Conway to run on to. He beat his man and put in a lovely cross where JL11 met it with a powerful header, only fo the ball to rattle off the cross bar. The rebound fell to Tom, but an FCH defender was able to poke the ball out for a corner. So close. Sam Conway was in the book for fouling a FCH player (one of the forwards) which we couldn’t argue with the decision. FCH were having a little bit of a better spell now, and we conceded a free kick on the left hadn’t side of the box, the effort was blocked and Harry W was on hand to clear the ball. Marshy and CF7 were playing well in the middle, not giving the FCH midfield much time on the ball, and Marshy was able to stretch his legs and move the ball up front, connecting with Joe Dalton who whipped in a dangerous cross on 34mins which was cleared over the bar. On 37 mins Harry W hit a superb pass into the right channel to Tom, he couldn’t quite control and his effort went wide. Would have been an incredible assist. Harry W had the ball in the back of the net on 38 mins, but it was ruled offside. A free kick from the half way line, cleared Marshy controls it and shoots, the ball defects off a FCH and Harry is there to slide it home. It looked like Harry W was on side when the shot was taken by Marshy, but was one of those that some you get, some you don’t. The Lino probably couldn’t have believed how much space Harry managed to find himself in the opposition 18 yard box.
In to the last 5 minutes of the first half and we kept it solid at the back, the temperature on the pitch was starting to rise a little, Sam Conway was flattened in their box but nothing given following a Tom shot form distance that was well saved. There was a couple of discussions regarding the laws of association football, the FCH 11 at the centre of things. The ref blew up and it was goals at half time. We had the better of the first half, and should have been at least a goal up. We were playing really well, combative, creating chances and really solid at the back. Callum hadn’t had much to do.
Into the second half, and we kept up the momentum. Harry W causing some issues up front early on, claims for penalty (would have been a soft one) not given. CF7 went down injured on 48mins and was replaced by Hillers, a precautionary substitution for Charlie. FCH started well and had a dangerous cross cleared by Dougs. We took the lead on 53 mins. Harry Williams work rate again, winning the ball, plays it Marshy who threads a straight ball through the middle to Tom. He dribbles in to the box, looks like he’s taken it too far against two defenders, but his close control is too good and he manages to find the space to shoot and he makes no mistake at all beating Carr in the FCH goal. 1-0. Get in. We had deserved that one.
Two minutes later, we were down to 10 men. Joe Dalton was fouled and following this was adjudged to have said something that the referee dint agree with. He was shown a straight red for foul and abusive language. 35 minutes against the league leaders and well fancied FC Hartlepool with ten men. Was going to be a big ask. Backs to the wall now. Also immediately though it was us on the attack, Tom free and his shot from the right went across the face of goal. A couple of minutes later their 11 was booked for a foul on Jack Dalton. There was some interesting officiating decisions and the temperature was rising a little on the pitch. We were still playing well, and stopping anything that FCH could throw at us. Leo, Dougs and Jack Dalton were playing really well, intercepting, blocking, tackling. The rest of the team were non stop, the work rate was first class. With 16 minutes to go their 12 was booked after fouling Tom as he looked to break from the half way line. Sam Conway was replaced by Foz.
Despite being a man down it was the Y&E with the better chances. From a free kick the ball fell to JL11 but hs shot was saved. We had a fantastic chance on 75 minutes, a long ball from the back wasn’t dealt with by the FCH defence, it bounced and Tom was in space, with the keeper off his line, he lobbed him but it just went wide of the near post. Was that going to be the missed chance that we rued? Well we only had to wait another minute. A clearance from Callum at the back, again the FCH backline couldn’t deal with it, ball falls to JL11 who threads it through to Tom on the edge of the box and he hist it first time and Boom, back of the net 2-0 up 14 minutes to go.
Tom was subbed off on 79 mins. Pete Bulmer replacing him. Another two goal brace from the serial bagsman. Pete nearly scored almost immediately, a break down the left and he got a shot off wide of the far post. With a handful of minutes left, Marshy was fouled, he went to ground and the FCH players weren’t too happy. There was a further discussion on the laws of association football, with the FCH 5 looking to lift up Marshy to continue the discussion. Marshy ended up being booked. It was getting a bit tetchy and niggly with members of the FCH bench not very happy and looking to discuss further the laws of association football. At some point a member of the visiting bench was given a red card and everyone wanted to wish everyone else Merry Christmas and a Happy New year. The ref blew for full time and we had won 2-0. An important win against the league leaders. Get in
Good luck to our visitors for the rest of the season. They are a good team and contributed to an entertaining game for a neutral. We wish their players, supporters, management and committee members a Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2026.
As for the Y&E – was that the same club that played a game against Tow Law last week? A superb display. We worked hard across the pitch, created chances, defended superbly all this with 10 men for most of the second half. for me that was the best display of the season so far. We never looked in difficulty, played the better football and deserved the three points. There was some understandably pleased Y&E players enjoying a pint and Jen’s home made curry & chips post game – lovely food as ever!
Callum had very little to do, his distribution was first class, as was his constant organising and talking at the back. Sam Conway was untouchable first half, superb attacking down the left and solid at the back. Joe Dalton, quality and frustrated to be sent off. The central back three – superb. Don’t think they put a foot wrong all game against one of the best attacks in the league. Leo was winning tackles everywhere, Dougs had his legs in some angles to get the ball and Jack Dalton cool and composed as ever. The midfield two of CF7 and Marshy never stopped, covered every blade of grass and this continued when Hillers came on. Superb. JL11 and Harry W- they were everywhere. Pressing, tackling tracking and with important involvements at both ends of the pitch. Defensively they were outstanding in the second half. Tom Atkinson. Capitan. Goalscorer. What a man. Two fantastic goals and he could have had at least two more. Superb. Foz and Pete came on and were quality – plenty of experience there. Special mention to Sean Earl and James Nicholson.- They didn’t get on the pitch, but massive credit to them for showing up and responding to the late late call up. They were there if we needed them. True Y&E clubmen.
Leo deservedly won man of the match, his best display in over 100 appearances for the club, but to man the lads were superb.
Now to keep the momentum up with a Home Boxing Day game against Darlington Town. Kick off 11am
Howay the mighty Y&E