Easington Sports finally managed their first 3 points of the season in a game labelled a must win match by manager Craig Pearman. After a slow start to the campaign, Sports could not afford a bigger gap to grow between themselves and the sides fancied for title contenders. A goal a piece for James McMahon and James Hastie plus an own goal meant that Easington ran out comfortable winners in the end.

With the added pressure of needing the win, Sports controlled the opening exchanges but lacked the quality on the ball to establish more fluent passages of play. James McMahon and Matt Keenan combined well for the first goal of the game on 16 minutes. The visitors defence were caught napping and McMahon latched onto a near post delivery to volley home with the outside of his foot. The goal seemed to settle the nerves a little and John Travers and Matt Keenan in the midfield were able to break up play effectively before bringing the pace of Stidder and Grant into the game. Both players began to knock decent deliveries into the box, however, the Shrivenham defence just managed to clear the danger. The crucial second goal of the game was scored by Sports. Another well directed ball into the box was contested by Elliott Williams and a defender but the visitors player could only manage to head the ball into the top corner giving the keeper no chance.

Easington then seemed to stop doing all the things that brought them success in the early stages of the game and Shrivenham came back well to create nervy moments for the home side. The former Oxford City Nomads player Rhys Denton began to influence the game. Meadows had to be alert to make two good saves from Denton’s free kicks on the edge box and then the home keeper reacted well to a knock down from the big Shrivenham striker to smother at Bilko’s feet in the six yard box.

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first and Richard Meadows was booked after colliding with the visitors striker just outside the box after a rash decision to clear the ball. Shrivenham build up a head of steam and the back four had to work hard to defend the edge of the box and to keep their shape to keep the 3 pronged attack of Shrivenham at bay. Williams in particular put in an assured defensive display to nullify the goal threat of the key Shrivenham player Denton. Craig Pearman rang the changes around the hour mark and within 10 minutes Pete Moulder and James Hastie had come on to offer more of a physical presence and some experience to the side. Both were soon into the game with Moulder holding the ball up well bring Stidder back into the game whilst Hastie (pictured) freed up Matty Keenan to push on in a more attacking role in midfield. The all important third goal came for Sports after a 5 minute spell of pressure and intelligent balls into the box. A superb corner from Carl Standen was powerfully headed towards the goal by McMahon and Hastie was on hand to volley in from just under the bar. There was still time for 16 year old Josh Sole to come off the bench for some much need experience and for Shrivenham to provide a late flurry which saw the impressive Carl Standen clear a cross-come shot off the line.

It seems the opening matches in August leave Sports in an undefeated position and with no fixture next week it gives the likes of Fitton, Pearman, Williams, Robinson and Keller more time to fully recover from their injuries. Easington’s next game will be away against Clanfield on the 5th of September.

Team that started: Meadows, Travers, Nicholls, Williams, Standen, Stidder, Travers (Hastie), Keenan, Grant (Sole), McMahon, Robinson (Moulder)