Written by Charlie Bramwell
Just to start this one off by saying, WHAT A GAME! This has everything so make sure to read to the end!
The fixture shaped up as one of the hardest Wearside games of the season; Easington Lane away at their place under the lights. Let’s start by setting the scene…
It was a (very) cold September’s evening. [Editor’s note: Charlie wore a snood in training yesterday in what could only be called, temperate conditions. Therefore, you should assume that the weather was about as expected for a September evening in the north-east.] Underlayer was left in the draw (critical error).
Walton picked Rory, Ossie and Myself up from the Collingwood junction and we set off for Easington stadium. Travis Scott was the artist of choice for the journey, and we soon arrived at the ground.
I got the mini ball out for a bit of pre-game keepy-ups before the rest of the lads arrived. [Editor’s note: Bramwell walked so Foden could run]. Everyone was ready for a tough contest and having lost 1-0 in the cup a couple weeks before (with a much changed side), we knew what they brought to the table.
After scrambling for the cut socks, we got the warmup kit on and headed out. The same warm-up followed (if it ain’t broke don’t fix it)…. And then we were into individual practice. The pitch was firm but the rain had paid a visit and the ball was skating across the ground.
Now warm, we headed in to get our match shirts, before Cam and Mez made their final remarks. This was a big game and the atmosphere in the dressing room was lively with a hint of apprehension for what was to come. Squashies were consumed and we were out…
After four weeks, we have started to field a semi-regular team, with most of the XI having played considerable minutes this year. Harry Archer returned between the sticks, Morgan Lant was moved back into defence as Alex Dinan came into midfield, and Ossie O’Neill returned to the starting line-up.
***
The air was cold, and was only getting colder as the day grew later. [Editor’s note: Can’t wait for Charlie to play in February…] They kicked off, sending it long and deep into our half. We dealt with it well and the next 10 minutes proved to be a real game of chess.
They favoured the long ball and managed to keep the ball in our half consistently. We were pinned back and on the defensive, struggling to get out due to the deep line we favoured in order to soak up the pressure and deal with the ball over the top.
Some important blocks were made early doors and Archer had to be alive in goal to sweep up the loose balls and the deflected shots. Their striker was savvy and knew the game well, making space for his wingers, including the number 11 off the left.
He was fast but Morgan matched him, and stayed very tight, making sure not to get spun. [Editor’s Note: Morgz is keen for people to know that he likened himself to Trent Alexander-Arnold] We tranquilised their attacking threats well early on, and around the 20 minute mark we began to progress the ball higher, using Phil as a good outlet.
Phil wasn’t needed on one occasion, however, as Morgz played a peach of a first-time cross in behind their defence; a pass, he suggests, that not even Trent has got in the locker (writer’s liberties). But, with Gwillim and Hopkins both unable to find the net, this may well be the last time we hear of it.
Whilst a very tense opening quarter, promising signs were beginning to surface, with some good diagonals from Mez, finding Crew on the run.
Whilst progressing up the pitch for the first time, this left us open to their fast counter attacks. On a couple of occasions we had our backs to goal……. But we were prepared for a defensive slog and, in the first half, we nullified their threats well.
We also had to psych ourselves up for the dark arts and being called a posh [insert expletive here], both of which they were adept at.
A crunching tackle ended the half with Ossie on the wrong side of it, getting some hefty stud marks to show for it! Having seen a tense first half unfold, the ref had seen enough and blew to send us into the dressing room; 0-0 but in our heads we knew we had to do more to get the result we came for!
HALF-TIME: EASINGTON LANE 0 - 0 DURHAM UNITED
***
As we came out for the 2nd half, everyone was collecting their thoughts and stretching their legs for another gruelling 45 minutes. Everyone but Freddie Walton, who skied a practice free-kick 1 minute into the half-time break and spent the next 30 minutes with a torch in the hedge.
Inside the changing room, the half time break was a tense one and the next 45 minutes could define the trajectory of our season. Ollie England came into the battle and we had kick-off with Ellis sending the ball long (evading their attacker this time) and the game was back underway…….
They caught us by surprise with a counter attack early in the 2nd half; they possessed pace in the final third and tried to burst through our back line. We remained solid and quenched the initial threat, but the second wave caught us out, and the ball ricocheted into the path of their striker.
The clinical edge had evaded both teams so far this game, but the tide had shown signs of change, and this was clarified with a sweet connection from their striker through the legs of Archer and into the net. 1-0 to Easington Lane.
***
We were behind and didn’t have the luxuries of the Maiden Castle carpet to fall back on. We had two choices…… we either fought back and showed them why we were unbeaten so far in Wearside, or we gave in.
Sure enough, we chose the former. All we had to do was make a dent in their defence and their polished performance would faulter. They were strong and could run, but we know what we can do with the ball on the floor.
We had our chance early in the second half. Their keeper lost his bearings following a ball through the middle and found himself outside his box. Gwillim pounced and with a constant eye for goal he tucked it away to make it 1-1. We were back in it!
Momentum is a big thing in football; when you're down, getting back into the game is tough, but when the ball hits the back of the net, the energy shifts.
The second substitute to enter the match was Walton…. ‘Are you warm?’ Cam said….. ‘Yes, Cam’, Walton replied, having just ran back from the hedge with a mitre football in hand.
Having started on the bench this time round, I had a great view of proceedings. However, when I was told to warm up 10 minutes into the second half my recollection of events became slightly skewed. But soon enough I entered the field of play. The pace was hot!
For the next 10 minutes we managed to get our foot on the ball and played some intricate passes in their final third. The midfield link up was fluid and their dark arts were starting to get the better of them.
Building through midfield, we delayed and delayed until a shot came from the edge of the box, deflecting off Dinan and trickling past their (substitute) keeper into the bottom corner. 2-1
***
We delayed the restart as much as we could, taking a slow walk back to get set. The game continued with the same ferocity and, as the trailing team, they came out the blocks with even more vigour!
Defending a lead is also a tough prospect and it's safe to say we couldn’t protect it for long…
They set up an attack down the right flank, crossing the ball into the box, before being blocked by Merrett. The resulting corner led to a scramble in our 6-yard box and the ball was flicked into the top of the net. 2-2. It was a sucker-punch seeing the ball ripple the net knowing we needed another late goal!
Again we sent it long from kick off and moved up the pitch, pouncing on second balls and throwing ourselves around. It was now the dying minutes and the clock was ticking. Mez carried the ball out from the back, and carried it a bit further, and a bit further still and a little further…. And now he was 2 vs 1.
Due to the power of a must-win mentality, some would say, he made his way right through the heart of their defence. He found Phil and received it back on the classic CB to striker one-two!
And again he carried it further before deftly slipping Phil in on goal. Phil did what he does best, sliding it past the keeper to make it 3-2.
***
Alex Ferguson once said ‘We never lose, we just run out of time’, and today time was on our side, making it 3-2 right at the death! Four minutes remained before we could celebrate, and this felt like a very long 4 minutes. Getting behind the ball, clearing the ball, scrambling it away from our goal. Repeat.
We got through on the attack after a long stint of defending our goal. Walton lined up an edge of the box shot, ready to give us a one goal cushion. I think he may have caught a bobble because the ball actually missed the hedge this time and flew straight out of sight into the field behind (game management)!
But soon enough the ref blew the full-time whistle, and we were victorious. Phil’s uncle was the only travelling fan and offered some great support (thank you).
We headed in after shaking hands. The Wearside games are a phenomenon in themselves…. For 90 minutes it’s a brutal battle and then come full-time the handshakes with the opposition are very respectful.
After a powerful message from Cam and Mez, we grabbed a hot-dog (or three if you're Ossie) and headed back to Durham. A great win under the lights in Easington and the momentum remains!
FULL-TIME: EASINGTON LANE 2 - 3 DURHAM UNITED
***
Player of the Match: Freddie Merrett
Line-Up: Harry Archer; Morgan Lant; Freddie Merrett; Ellis Challinor; Ossie O’Neill; Alex Dinan (Goal 70'); Seb Hopkins; Rory Edwards; Fin Gwillim (Goal 65'); Phil Kay (86'); Ben Crew
Substitutes: Patrick Dixon; Chris Wild (75'); Ollie England (45'); Charlie Bramwell (65'); Fred Walton (60')
Written by Charlie Bramwell
Edited by George Gompertz
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