WHAT A DAY!
Sometimes a special, unforgettable day comes along for us football fans. Yesterday was such a day. It had just about everything; a day where social media went into overdrive as everyone tried to keep up with what was happening.
First of all, huge congratulations to Carlisle City who have put on an astonishing run of wins to snatch the Division Two title on goal difference. I covered their 16-1 win over Durham City back in November. Little did anyone know then how crucial all those goals would be.
Easington Colliery 2 Heaton Stannington 2
But yesterday was also a massive disappointment for Heaton Stannington, for so long the leaders of the division. They fought bravely back after finding themselves 2-0 down to Easington Colliery, but their two goals came too late for them to get the three points they needed for the title.
Neither team made a particularly fluent start to the game. The first real chance fell to Heaton Stan winger Leighton Hopper who intercepted an Easington clearance, with his shot taken at the second time of asking by Colliers keeper Aaron Steavens before Dean Holmes could pounce. They had an even better chance in the 27th minute when Holmes had the chance to shoot or pass. He decided to knock it to No. 9 Liam McBryde who tried to plant the ball between defenders, had that along with a follow-up shot blocked.
Several Heaton Stan attacks petered out with some sloppy passing, while Easington were playing on the counter attack. In the closing 10 minutes of the half Easington had their best phase of play, including a turn and shot over the bar by Luke Pearn. With a minute to go in the first half, a Heaton Stan clearance fell to Niall McGoldrick who hit a 25-yard half volley too high.
In the dying seconds of the half the visitors had their best chance to open the scoring. Hopper sent over a cross that was headed away by a defender, with two attackers behind him. Seconds later the ball was put back into the danger area but McBryde could only send his header wide.
They were made to pay in the 58th minute when James Proctor clipped the heels of Colliers No. 11 Denny Tapping to concede a penalty, tucked away by Dylan Elliott. It heralded a shift in momentum, with Easington having the upper hand. Pearn and Callum Guy combined, with Guy seeing a shot saved by Heaton Stan keeper Daniel Regan but seconds later Guy took the ball across a couple of defenders before squeezing it past them and Regan to score just inside the right hand post. It was a body blow to the Stan but a reward for Easington taking the game to the visitors.
But the visitors weren’t quite done. In the 71st minute Dan Stephenson sent a long ball into the Easington box where McBryde got a header away, with the ball looping past Steavans and creeping into the net. The goal gave them hope and impetus. Another long cross – this time by Lee McAndrew – found McBryde and another header was scrambled away for a corner. That was followed by a long kick out by Regan that McBryde neatly flicked on to Holmes, with the No. 10 hitting the ball wide.
They were given hope in the 90th minute when they were awarded a penalty for handball. Hopper confidently converted the spot kick to draw them level at 2-2. They then threw everyone forward (including Regan at a corner). They were almost caught out with a counter attack – Elliott hitting a through ball to Tapping with a clear run at goal, only for the No. 11 to be caught and nudged off the ball as he was getting ready to shoot.
The last gasp desperate attacks by Heaton Stannington were not enough and several players collapsed to the ground at the final whistle.
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And finally, back to matters elsewhere. Congratulations also to:
- Boldon CA, Easington Colliery and Tow Law Town for making the play-offs. The Stan get another chance at promotion: they play (yep, you’ve guessed it) Easington Colliery on Wednesday – for the third time in a matter of weeks.
- Consett for their terrific away win at Histon to win promotion to the Northern Premier League; and finally
- Durham City for getting their one and only win of the season. Several weeks ago I was chatting to their then manager Lee Pratt who was sure that they would get a win before the season was out.
Next stop: the play-offs on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the play-off final for the second promotion spot next Saturday.
Mike Snowdon
Photo gallery – Carlisle after clinching promotion, the team sheets from the Easington/Heaton Stannington and Carlisle City/Ryton games and Heaton Stan flags at Easington:
