Colliers come from behind to beat Newcastle Uni
Easington Colliery came from two-nil down to win 3-2 at Newcastle University on Saturday afternoon.
Ryan Redford put the students ahead after just two minutes, and their lead was doubled through Tom Iversen in the 25th minute.
James Fairley halved the Colliers’ deficit late in the first half, and Matty Weirs equalised just before the break.
Easington’s winner arrived through Fairley in the 85th minute, and the win puts the Colliers in a good position as the playoff race continues.
Upon kick-off at a blustery Prudhoe, Newcastle University had the wind on their side in the first half, and they made it count by taking the lead after just two minutes. A cross to the back post found an unmarked Redford, and he was able to convert. From an Easington perspective, it was too easy.
In the 15th minute, Luke Pearn had a big chance to pull the Colliers level. A ball through the middle released Pearny through on goal, but Newcastle University goalkeeper Max Richardson narrowed the gap and saved well.
Eleven minutes later, in the 26th minute, Newcastle University doubled their lead. Iversen took aim with a low shot from 18 yards, and it picked out the bottom corner.
Two goals down and still against the wind, the Colliers had to make sure the game didn’t get away from them, and they did that by pulling a goal back in the 40th minute. An attack down the right eventually led to the ball dropping to Fairley, and he drilled the ball into the far bottom corner.
Two minutes into stoppage time in the first half, the Colliers equalised. Pearn and Callum Stanton linked up on the left with Stanton whipping a low cross into the penalty area, and Weirs was in the area to convert.
The Colliers went into the break level, and that didn’t look likely with 10 minutes of the first half to play.
Heavy rain swept around Essity Park early in the second half, and it was a second half where the Colliers started well. Fairley curled a 48th minute free-kick not far wide, before Stanton had a shot deflected for a corner.
A number of Easington substitutions came to nothing on the hour mark, and then Fairley shot wide halfway through the second half.
In the 74th minute, substitute Jay Roper shot a decent chance over the crossbar, and then Newcastle University had a chance as a wide free-kick was flicked wide.
In the 85th minute, the Colliers scored their winner. Roper’s ball through the middle released Fairley through on goal, and he charged down on goal before a composed chipped finish dropped into the net.
It was another good three points for the Colliers who continue to be in a very good spot in the quest for the playoffs.
Full-time: Newcastle University 2-3 Easington Colliery
Net up for me is Easington Colliery vs Newcastle University on Monday night.
Newcastle University: Richardson, Gavaghan, Redford, Pennington, Carr, Foster, Topel, Miller (c), Foster, Morris, Iversen
Subs: McKee, Pearson, Douglas, Osiyemi, Manning
Easington Colliery: Hopkinson, Barnett, Eltringham, Kenney, Bott, Nelson, Stanton (Hunter, 84′), Fairley, Pearn (Roper, 64′), Guy, Weirs (c) (Fryatt, 80′)
Unused subs: Ford, Elliott
Admission: £5 adults, £2 concessions
Programme: Don’t know
Attendance: 38
Referee: Jack Whitfield
Connor's Football Travels 