Colliers beat Bedlington to progress to playoff final
Easington Colliery claimed an impressive 4-0 win at home to Bedlington Terriers to progress to the Northern League Division Two play-off final on Saturday afternoon.
Mark Davison, Brad Forster, Matty Weirs and James Fairley were all on the scoresheet for the Colliers in an impressive performance.
Upon kick-off, Callum Guy had an early shot for the Colliers saved, before Bedlington’s first half chance saw Ben Franklin fire well over.
Around the 10 minute mark, the Colliers had a good spell with plenty of possession – some of it dangerous – and a couple of corners.
The deadlock was broken in the 20th minute. Callum Stanton was released down the right and he drilled a low ball into the penalty area where Davison was on hand to blast the ball high into the net.
Forster then headed wide for the Colliers, before the same man doubled the Green Army’s lead in the 28th minute. A cross was flicked on to find the Easington captain, and he was left with a simple header to make it two-nil.
A third arrived in the 33rd minute. Great work from Stanton put pressure on the Bedlington defence, and he blocked an attempted clearance from the goalkeeper. Callum picked up possession and passed across to Weirs who was left with a simple finish.
Playoffs are usually trappy tight games without many clear cut chances, but the Colliers had flown into a three goal lead with 10 minutes of the first half to play.
There was good chance from Guy late in the half, but Finlay Hodgson in the Bedlington goal saved well.
A three goal lead was taken into the break, and the good Easington crowd were very pleased with the first half.
Early in the second half, Fairley looked to lob the goalkeeper on a couple of occasions, but the Bedlington stopper was able to backtrack to save both times.
In the 63rd minute, Forster headed narrowly wide from a lovely Dane Eltringham cross, and then Ant Lowerson was forced into a good save to preserve the Colliers’ cleansheet.
Ten minutes later, Stanton burst forward and put a low ball across the face of goal, but it was just too far in front of numerous Easington players.
With 10 minutes to play, the Colliers scored their fourth and final goal. Fairley took responsibility of a corner, and he curled it directly into the near post.
In added time, Easington had good chances to extend the lead through Luke Pearn and Ryan Taylor, and in truth, it should have been five, especially with Pearny’s effort.
It wouldn’t matter though as the final whistle soon followed and the Colliers claimed a very good win.
The Colliers will now travel to Newcastle Blue Star on Wednesday night in the play-off final. A spot in Northern League Division One awaits the winners.
Full-time: Easington Colliery 4-0 Bedlington Terriers
Next up for me is probably a game on Monday.
Easington Colliery: Lowerson, Kenney, Eltringham, Trewick, Bott, Forster (c), Stanton (Fryatt, 82′), Fairley, Davison (Taylor, 77′), Guy (Elliott, 71′), Weirs (Pearn, 82′)
Unused sub: Barnett
Bedlington Terriers: Hodgson, Fazakerley, Watson, Anderson, Ames, George Hayton (Luaba, 62′), Thompson (Lawrence, 86′), Franklin, Matty Hayton, Roys, Dinsley (c) (McRoberts, 46′)
Unused sub: Wilson
Admission: £6 adults, £4 concessions, £2 under 16s
Programme: £2
Attendance: 310
Referee: Tom Lishman
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