30th April 2022
East Harling vs Sprowston @ East Harling Memorial Field - East Harling
Anglian Combination Division One (Step 8)
14:30 KO
Free entry
Attendance >100
Half-time score: East Harling 1-0 Sprowston
Goals:
East Harling: Webb - 43'
East Harling: Pain - 63'
East Harling: OG -74'
Leigh Simon's recorded the goals, see the links below:
Final Score: East Harling 3-0 Sprowston
The place to be this Saturday in the local area was East Harling for their game against Sprowston in D1 of the Anglian Combination. Earlier in the week, East Harling were guaranteed promotion to the Anglian Combination Premier for the first time in their history after Aylsham had beaten Sprowston, however, with Aylsham only two points ahead of East Harling in the table, a win for them today would put them in contention for the title. Sprowston on the other hand were playing for 3rd place, which would put them in contention for a promotion too, so it was going to be a hard fought game from both teams.
As expected the game was tight, with Sprowston seeming to have the upper hand in the midfield, but East Harling were looking dangerous on the break, primarily through winger McGeachy. In the 10th minute, Sprowston had a chance from a corner, it was headed back into the box and striker Moore poked the ball over. In the 13th minute, from yet another corner, Moore got to the ball first again, but headed over. In the 17th minute, a long ball put the Sprowston No. 11 through down the left wing, and as he cut in, he noticed the Harling keeper off his line, but blazed his strike over. In the 18th minute, another long ball down the left released the No. 11, the ball bounced awkwardly and he managed to gain possession of the ball, beating the Harling defenders, but fired his strike wide. Sprowston were on top, and in the 19th minute, they had the best chance of the game so far to go 1-0 up. The No. 7 slipped the ball through to the No.10, he was through 1-on-1 on goal, but the Harling keeper was out quick to close the angle, and he stopped the strike with a brilliant save from an outstretched leg. Immediately after, East Harling broke quickly and nearly scored themselves just 20 seconds later, McGeachy was put through on goal, but his strike was wide of the goal.
Following this frantic 10 minutes, the game calmed down and became an attritional battle in the middle of the park, with neither team able to carve out any noteworthy chances. That was until the 43rd minute, when a deep cross in from East Harling winger Kindred curled into the danger area, and striker Webb beat the keeper to nod the ball home and put East Harling into the lead just before the break.
In the second half, Sprowston came out strong, and were creating the better chances. In the 54th minute, the No. 10 battled hard and scrabbled for the ball at the edge of the box, he managed to slide the ball out to the No. 8 whose scuffed strike from the edge of the box travelled wide. In the 60th minute, a pinpoint ball was whipped in to the danger area, and striker Moore managed to get to the ball first with an outstretched leg, but he was unable to guide the ball goalbound and it flew wildly over the bar.
From the hour mark, East Harling grew more into the game, and went up a gear to secure the win. In the 62nd minute, a ball through from substitute No. 16 was heading for Webb, but he dummied and let the ball run through his legs, and this put winger McGeachy through on goal down the right, 1-on-1, and from a tight angle he fired in a shot at the near post and it was pushed out for a corner. The corner was swung into the far post, and captain Pain rose high to power in a bullet header from close range to emphatically put East Harling 2-0 up. East Harling were proving to be the more clinical side of the afternoon.
After the 2nd goal, Sprowston tempers flared up, ultimately resulting in a yellow card and 10 minutes on the bench for Moore for dissent, protesting a perceived foul. With their man advantage, Harling pressed hard and began creating a whole slew of chances. In the 71st minute, McGeachy down some good work down the left, squared the ball back to the No. 11 whose shot was deflected wide for a corner. The corner was whipped in by the No. 8, again it travelled to the far post, and again captain Pain was unmarked to head the ball, but this time it went narrowly wide. In the 74th minute, East Harling had another corner, the No. 11 put in another in-swinger, and the ball was bundled into the net to stretch the lead out to 3 goals. At first it had looked like Pain had scored his second, but fans closer to the goal reported it was actually an own goal, although the player was under big pressure from Pain.
The third goal appeared to kill off Sprowston, and for the final 15 minutes it was all East Harling. In the 79th minute, down the left wing, McGeachy produced an amazing piece of skill with a neat 180 degree turn and blistering pace, he burst through and was bearing down on goal, he cut back to the No. 6 whose first time hit effort was fired over. In the 83rd minute, substitute Hunsdon intercepted a back-pass, and with keeper Stefanov back peddling frantically, his strike beat him, but was cleared off the line by a Sprowston defender who done excellently to get back in-time. In the 85th minute, McGeachy got the ball on the right and sent through substitute Bray, he hit the ball first time, at the near post and it was covered well by Stefanov. In injury time, a long ball was fired up to McGeachy, keeper Stefanov charged out to contest, but McGeachy won the ball, and leaving Stefanov on the floor, he ran with the ball towards the goal, but he was well marshalled by 2 scrambling Sprowston defenders, and struggled to find any way through, eventually opting to strike the ball from outside the box and blazing over in frustration. But, it did not matter and East Harling ended the 2021/2022 season with a fine win against strong opposition, although news came in that Aylsham had also won, so they had to settle for 2nd place, which is still a great achievement for sure.
That was an enjoyable game, and it was clear that both teams were top sides in the division. That was my first time seeing East Harling, and they look a well-oiled outfit, and presuming they keep most of this team together, I think they could go well in the Premier Division next season. They finished both halves strongly, and were unlucky not to score 1 or 2 more. Having said that, I think Sprowston were on-top for large parts of the game, and they certainly deserved the opening goal, and had they got it, it could have been a completely different game. Luckily for them, the result didn't matter as Easton drew, meaning they had secured 3rd place, and it is sounding like promotion could also be on the cards presuming Heacham move up into the Thurlow Nunn, at least according to their Twitter feed. I wish East Harling all the best next season, and I will look to be back, I really liked the clubhouse and overall set-up, and I look forward to the games against Mundford, which I will try and make.
Line-Ups:
EAST HARLING (not in order): Kieran Brown, Liam Kindred, Ryan Laws, Asa McGeachy, Hayden Pain (C), Jordan Scent, James Sillet, Matt Venables, Charlie Webb, Jamie Woodcock, John Woods. SUBS: Callum Bray, Shaun Hunsdon, Reece White.
SPROWSTON: Ruslan Stefanov, Christopher Curtis, Shaun Wones, Daniel Bowen, Ross Pickersgill, Jack Hurrell, Matthew Eves, Tom Blake, Connor Charlesworth, Charlie Roe, Kane Moore. SUBS: Danny Rogers, Josh Craske, Joe Pinches.
Comments