Apparent Late Goal Rush Secures Win - Easington Sports vs. Shortwood United Reserves

Watching on Addison Road

For the last match of the year, I needed an early kick off at a game fairly close to London. My choices for a new ground were Sittingbourne or Easington Sports. As the walk from the station to the ground is fairly long at Sittingbourne I opted for Easington Sports. They play in The Hellenic League Division One West and they were playing Shortwood United Reserves. I have never seen a game in this division before. I had visited Abingdon United for an FA Cup tie a couple of seasons ago but never actually seen a game in this division. I'd always enjoyed my visits to Hellenic League grounds, Brimscombe and Thrupp being a particular highlight earlier this season. Before this fixture, Easington were towards to the top of the table with Shortwood not far behind them in mid table.

Last kick off shot of 2016

Shortwood have a glorious chance in the opening minutes as a ball forward is well controlled by the forward and he rounds the keeper only to see his goal bound effort stopped by a sliding defender. Easington have a couple of chances to get balls into the area and these fail to sufficiently test the Shortwood keeper. Then a searching ball forward just eludes the reaching of the stretching Shortwood striker. Easington come desperately close to the opener when the attacker gets free of his marker at a corner and he thunders a header against the post. Despite the heavy pitch it is a really open game and Easington are relived when a Shortwood ball across goal manages to elude everyone. They come closer just before half time as the Shortwood attacker finds space in the box and forces the Easington keeper to save with his legs. 

An Easington cross in the first half

Easington have their tails up attacking the clubhouse end in the second half and the attacker gets to the byline before the eventual effort on goal requires a smart save from the Shortwood keeper. They then manage to get in out wide and this time the effort goes wide of the goal. Next time the attacker gets in out wide he elects to play the ball across the goal but there is no touch forthcoming. This is the point sadly where I had to catch my bus back into Banbury so I could catch my train and proceed to miss all three goals which is special even by my standards. Shortwood manage to score twice before a late Easington goal leads to a nervy finish.

First half action with the clubhouse in the background

The closest railway station to Addison Road is Banbury and this is reached by taking a train from Marylebone which takes just under an hour. I'd visited Banbury before for games at Brackley and Banbury itself and the pleasant town centre is worth exploring. To get to Easington you take the hourly 488 bus to the pub of the same name. This portion of the trip takes ten minutes or so depending on traffic. The Easington is a decent pub with a wide selection of beers and is a steady fifteen minute walk from the ground. The clubhouse sells cans as well as tasty smelling bacon rolls at half time. It also had BT Sports. At three pounds admission and programme, you are unlikely to find a better value match day experience. I fully recommend visiting Easington Sports and also recommend staying until the end of the match too.

Shortwood throw in front of the stand