Easington travelled to one of their furthest away games of the season and returned feeling a little disappointed that one point was not three. After Shortwood visited Addison Road and committed the perfect smash and grab to sneak 3 points, Sports were looking to come away with all three points, and on chances alone, they probably deserved to do just that.

Shortwood were a much stronger side than the one faced by Easington in the earlier part of the season and the 4 first teamers certainly made a difference. The home team started brightly attacking down the slope and Sports did well to weather the early pressure. Anderson Ongono was a real threat out wide on the left and Sam Mendes was influential in midfield attempting to pick out the early runs of the lively Oliver Portlock. Sports finally got into the game after a change in formation allowed the midfield to get closer to the Shortwood playmakers but also allowed them to support the isolated front two. Sam Grant and Adil Hussain worked hard to get in behind the Shortwood defence and some last ditched tackling lead to a series of corners which Sports just headed over or the keeper saved snatched efforts on goal. In an end to end game, Shortwood eventually took the lead from one of their own corners. Richard Meadows deputising for Jack Goode punched the ball clear of the penalty box but unfortunately, the ball fell to Same Mendes who smashed, a wind assisted, perfect half volley into the roof of the net off the post and cross bar to give Shortwood the lead. The goal seemed to inject further life into the Easington players and the visitors responded well. Tom Smith headed back across goal which Durrell Livous just couldn’t manage to convert on the back post whilst the home side also managed to scramble the ball clear from further set plays with pressure mounting. Sports eventually drew level in the 40th minute after another corner was well saved by Lloyd Price but this time Livous was on hand to tuck away the knock down from just inside the 6 yard box. 1-1 at half time.

The second half started in much the same manner as the first with Shortwood settling back into the game quicker than Easington. Ongono was again the outlet ball on the left and his pace and trickery lead to some last ditch clearances to defend good deliveries played in low and hard across the box. Will Hawes also read a flick on from Portlock well and he smashed a right foot shot against the foot of the post leaving Meadows again stranded. This time the ball rebounded back out and was cleared. Easington grew into the half and began to create a number of clear chances which on another day Sports might have taken. Durrell Livous cut inside from the right and smashed a low hard shot across the keeper which Price did well to tip round the post at full stretch. Adil Husain and Sam Grant were also played through with just the keeper to beat but both blazed over. Shortwood did rally and threatened again down the left. Meadows again dealt with cross at the near post which bounced up onto the bar before dropping into his hands and there was a half chance for Portlock which he failed to take as Meadows rushed out to smother. Easington finished the stronger and Josh Rose and Aaron Dosanjh were both unlucky not to head home two superb deliveries from the left from Lewis Travers which would have given Sports all three points. With the pitch deteriorating due to the weather conditions the visitors held on to get a share of the points after a committed team performance. 1-1 final score.

Team: Meadows, Spaull, Rose, Dosanjh, C Grant, S Grant, Smith, Markham, Travers, Livous, Hussain (Holloway).