Easington regained the advantage in the race to the title in an excellent end to end match away to Brackley Town Development side. This was a local derby with something for everyone. Brackley started strongly and were on top for large spells of the first half. Their attractive pacey brand of football meant they had lots of possession and the young side exploited the space out wide well. Throughout the whole match Easington had to use all of their experience to limit the home team to few chances and in the first half they defended the edge of the box superbly. A clear sight at goal was hard to come by for both teams and Steve Howkins and James McMahon were at times frustrated by the service into them. Easington eventually took the lead on 32 minutes after some brilliant individual skill from Howkins. The big front man picked up the ball just inside his own half and drove into the box. Some neat footwork to cut inside completely wrong footed the defender and then Howkins curled a low left foot shot into the far corner of the net. Brackley deservedly equalised in the 41st minute although it was through a controversial penalty decision. The Brackley player controlled a through pass with his arm and flicked the ball onto the hand of Matt Keenan. The referee missed the first handball and despite the visitors’ appeals to speak to the linesman, the penalty stood and it was duly dispatched past Darren Booker. In a frenetic end to the half Easington could have regained the lead after Howkins went through one on one with the keeper. Unfortunately his shot went just past the post.

The second half was even more entertaining than the first. Brackley flew out of the traps and took the lead with their first attack of the half. A long range effort was not dealt with and Matt Johnson was on hand to tap the rebound into the net. Easington were clearly rocked by the early goal and it took a fantastic save low down to his left from Booker to prevent the home side from extending their lead. Brackley were now in the ascendency and manager Craig Pearman made a crucial decision to take himself off in order to re-shape the formation. With Steve Howkins now playing as one of the back three Craig Robinson came on to threaten the Brackley back four with his pace. Robinson made an instant impact and on 65 minutes he was taken out in the box for a penalty. This time, the linesman stepped in before the kick could be taken and the decision was reversed, giving the home defender a free kick. The decision was blatantly the wrong one, and this alongside the Booker save minutes early, proved to be pivotal in the outcome of the game. Further changes to bring Sammi Ibrahim and Conor Grant on meant that for 15 minutes the pressure was all on the home side defence as Sports raised their game to overcome the injustice. Easington bombarded the box testing the home keeper and James McMahon totally dominated the aerial battle. Sports twice went close when Carl Standen and then Andrew Stidder narrowly failed to connect with the flick on headers. The equaliser was coming and a sharp turn and shot from McMahon on 70 minutes squirmed under the body of the keeper and into the net. By now the young Brackley defence were starting to feel the pressure and moments later a poor defensive header was smashed back towards the goal from Andrew Stidder; his shot just fizzed past the post. Sports were well on top and they took the lead through their own young starlet Conor Grant (see picture). He latched onto a through pass out pacing the defence pushing the ball past the on rushing keeper before finishing from a narrow angle after being forced wide. 2-3 just three minutes after equalising. The game really became stretched and even more end to end than before. Brackley continued to build from the back with some slick passing, however, it was Easington that were able to create the clearer chances on the counter attack. Stidder side-footed over the bar after some good link up play with Robinson. He then eventually extended the lead showing good composure to make amends in the 89 minute with a well taken goal to lift the ball over the stranded keeper to make it 2-4. Easington defended well to close out the match and to take all 3 points which took them back to the top of the table.

With just 6 games to go, Sports are going to need to maintain this level of consistency right up to the end of the season. Next week will be a very tough game against the only side who have convincingly beaten Sports this season way back in the early Autumn.

3pm Kick off against Chinnor FC at Addison Road