Colliers narrowly beaten by ten-man Crook

Despite the Colliers going 3-1 up against 10 men, Crook rallied to win 3-4.

Jake Petitjean put the visitors ahead with a penalty, but the Colliers rallied and took a convincing lead through Chris Pearson, Liam Adamson and a Kev Devine penalty.

Ellis Husband was also sent off for Crook 20 minutes in, but Petitjean halved the deficit still before the half hour mark.

Daniel Kent pulled Crook level, and an early second half strike from the same man gave Crook the points.

As is probably presumable with joint manager Devine starting, the Colliers were short on numbers.

Jack Pounder and Brennan Ball both missed out through suspension, and a host of injuries ruled more of the Colliers’ squad out.

Three players were listed on the bench – Sam Naylor, Kyle Middleton and Josh Home-Jackson – but Home-Jackson was injured, Middleton was carrying a knock and Naylor is a goalkeeper.

In an all action start, it took Crook less than six minutes to break the deadlock. Good football eventually found Petitjean, and Keith Finch had committed to coming out. Finch clattered Petitjean, and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Petitjean dusted himself down to take responsibility, and he blasted home despite Finch getting a hand on it.

However, the Colliers equalised just two minutes later. The ball was worked to Pearson on the edge of the penalty area, and his drilled effort picked out the bottom corner.

Still with not even 11 minutes played, the Colliers took the lead. James Talbot’s perfectly weighted ball gave Adamson a chance and he lobbed the ‘keeper with a first time effort. It was very slow going into the net, but it eventually got there and the Colliers were ahead.

Devine then glanced a header wide, before the Colliers’ joint manager doubled their lead from the penalty spot. Adamson pulled the ball back to David Vincent whose effort was goalbounds until Ellis Husband’s handball on the line kept it out. Unbelievably, the referee only awarded a corner at first, but he then pointed to the spot after consulting his assistant. Husband was sent off for the handball, and Devine tucked the penalty home to put the Colliers in firm control.

Following quiet period of eight minutes or so, Crook scored their second of the afternoon in the 29th minute. Petitjean was involved in a good move down the right wing, and it was eventually played into the former Stockton Town man who finished well for his – and Crook’s – second of the afternoon.

A good save from Finch denied Calum Johnstone as the first half wore on, before the visitors pulled level in the 40th minute. It was another well worked move down the middle of the pitch to play Kent in and he slotted home.

Keir MacDougall fired wide as the first half came to an end, and that proved to be it in an entertaining first half.

Following the break, Crook took the lead with their first chance. The ball was worked into Kent and his composed finish put the visitors ahead.

Finch was then forced into a good save, before Devine’s free-kick at the other end was saved by Phillip Pentony.

In the first half of the second half, it looked as though the Colliers were the team with only 10 men as Crook dominated.

However, the Colliers dominated the second half of the second half. Lewis Green’s effort in the 69th minute was crucially blocked, before the Colliers had an effort cleared off the line. Vincent’s initial effort was saved, and Adamson’s rebound looked to have pulled the Colliers level, but it was cleared off the line.

With 16 minutes to play, substitute Middleton lifted a cross towards the back post where Tom Graham-Bage connected. However, his volley could only find the side-netting.

Liam Jarvie then had an effort saved for Crook, before Vincent fired wide for the Colliers.

Adamson had a big chance in the 82nd minute, but Pentony saved with his legs.

A crucial interception then denied Adamson of a tap in, before Pearson forced a good save from Pentony.

The Colliers were unlucky not to find an equaliser late on, but ultimately, it was a defeat for the Colliers who are next in action with a trip to Brandon United on Monday.

Full-time: Easington Colliery 3-4 Crook Town

Easington Colliery: Finch, Talbot, Ashton, Pearson (c), Graham-Bage, Garside, MacDougall (Middleton, 68′), Green, Devine, Vincent, Adamson

Unused subs: Naylor, Home-Jackson

Crook Town: Pentony, Husband, Cameron Holliday, Fielding, Harwood, Dunwell (c) (Verity, 28′), Johnstone, Hume (Wilson, 78′), Kent, Petitjean, Smith (Jarvie, 57′)

Unused subs: Maddison, Christian Holliday

Attendance: 83

Referee: Dan Ranson