August 2014 (Part 2)

It might as well rain until September...

The second half of August turned out to be as miserable as the first, with poor results on the field - and I don't just mean watching Easington! Ironically, though, the most despondent I felt about any scoreline was one of the few successes - City's 2-1 win over Lokeren. And that's because Jordan Remacle's strike for the visitors just after half-time proved enough to send them through.

Saturday, 23rd August

CML North Division

Easington United 0 Clay Cross Town 2

The start of the Bank Holiday weekend and the start of a busy few days of live action. Clay Cross arrived after an indifferent start and with members of their management saying they were in for a bottom half finish this term. Such comments would appear to be slightly off-mark given their recent run!

As for us, this was a battling display and one we all felt deserved more than another home defeat. My official view on it can be read here.

The brief Clay Cross match report is here.

All pictures (which are also available on our Facebook page) are courtesy of Burt Graham, as are all the Eastenders action shots this month.

Monday, 25th August

CML North Division

Easington United 0 Appleby Frodingham 4

If Saturday's performance had offered encouragement, this was like a kick in the knads! This was easiest the poorest display I'd seen so far this season. And the weather was kack. And I got a bollocking in the pub for lack of players going back. Happy bloody Bank Holiday. Not. Read about it here. View the pics here.

Tuesday, 26th August

Pre-Season Friendly

Easington United Reserves 3 AFC Preston 2

Ah, an oasis of optimism amid a sea of despondency! Not that I got to savour it - the Stiffs being already three goals to the good by the time I got there. Gav's header (pictured) and a couple of excellent strikes from t'other 'Kettle, Mark, put the Reserves in command against their First Division opponents. The ex-Amateur League side fought back well after the break - aided by a constant shake-up of resources by Clarkey - and Daniel Collier was one of two scorers for the visitors...looking a stone or two bigger than he did before he left us for the ERCFA Defaulters List :-) 

You can see if you think I'm right by viewing the pictures here.

Wednesday, 27th August

Pre-Season Friendly

Sporting Withernsea Wolves U18s 2 Olympic SSC 1

The long-term future of our club could well be dependent on the progress of our official Club-Link partners Sporting Withernsea Wolves. Therefore the launch of an Under-18's side to complement their U16 and U14 teams should - hopefully - be to our benefit. And on this evidence, there are some handy young players about. Goals by Jordan Medcalf (pictured) and Korben Harman clinched a first day win over their open-age opponents. 

Thursday, 28th August

UEFA Europa League Play-Off Round, Second Leg

Hull City 2 KSC Lokeren 1

(Agg: 2-2; Lokeren win on away goals)

Two tweets I posted in the immediate aftermath of this gut-wrenching result probably sum up my feelings best. The first read: "Home. Bitterly disappointed and angry that it's een as some sort of blessing. It's not. It's a missed opportunity. #TypicalCity #hcafc". It received 413 views, 8 retweets and 6 favourites. I think I'd made a good point!

I added a second tweet before going to bed: "On purely selfish grounds I'm also gutted that I won't now get the chance to sing #CaravanofLove on a Europe-bound ferry full of #hcafc fans!" 

And in the morning I posted this on Facebook:

"Well, it doesn't feel any better this morning but I refuse to blame Bruce for last night. True I'd like to have seen a "stronger" starting XI but even with the team he fielded City should have done better. But we simply weren't good enough. I don't think I'll ever see Aluko have as poor a 90 mins as he did last night; he wasn't the only one. But what really winds me up is people saying we should concentrate on the Premier League. Sums up all that's what wrong with English football - the money of the PL. I grew up watching Sportsnight showing the likes of Leeds & Liverpool involved in big European games. The atmosphere & excitement was tremendous.We could have had a proper taste of that - certainly the aperitif we did experience was promising. Still, if people would rather visit Stoke, Leicester and Burnley than go to the likes of Milan, Brugge, Eindhoven, Monchengladbach etc then they've got their wish - I know which I'd have preferred having the chance to do."

I think I made my point. City going out of Europe had really p____d me off!

An official account of the night's events can be read here if you can bear to do so. I can't. Still.

Friday, 29th August

Super League

Hull FC 28 Hull KR 0

I must have really upset the "big man up top" given this latest setback. As if City's European exit and our current travails at First Team level weren't already seriously testing my faith in sport, Rovers then decided to put on perhaps the most gutless derby performance I have ever witnessed. From the highlight of a nice pint of Leeds Bewery Pale in Pearsons things went downhill quickly. Persistent drizzle ensured we were soaked by the time we'd walked from Prinny Ave to the dry environs of the Upper West at the KC. The walk back, after watching THAT, was even worse. Still, we and most of the Rovers contingent stayed to the end; yes, a small percentage emulated the "Wigan Walk" but compared to the black and white exoduses I've seen at previous derby games, the Rovers fans' loyalty was to be applauded. The only consolation was that a good side would have put 60-70pts on us!

So, no Play-offs for either Hull side this season. About sums things up nicely. Dullers can read about it again here.  Picture courtesy of the Hull Daily Mail.

Saturday, 30th August

CML North Division

Welbeck Welfare 2 Easington United 1

Buying a new car in Evans Halshaw meant I avoided seeing the most predictable result of the season - a second successive loss at perennial basement club Welbeck. I think I'd known all along that the day would end in disappointment - whether I made the effort to go or not. And, following the City and Rovers results, well, don't they say things come in three's? Even the prospect of finally getting to see the completed new development at Elkesley Road (pictured) wasn't enough to sway me.

As it was, I caught the result via Facebook in the car showroom, just prior to heading off for a lovely tea at the Home Farm. It was the climax of a "family day" I'd promised Mrs Slush at the end of a sporting week/month.

I think I made the right choice.

A report of sorts can be read here.

So, August 2014 - a month to forget. Roll on September...I think!

April 2014

What a mixed bag!  April 2014 saw Hull City playing only their second ever FA Cup semi-final, winning an eight-goal thriller to reach their first ever FA Cup Final.  The day before we’d finally ended our own eight-match losing run by winning at fifth-placedNewark Town in a real “old school” Easington performance.  And the night before that (Friday – do keep up) Rovers had bounced back from their Challenge Cup exit to win atWarrington...which they rarely do.  It was a fantastic sporting weekend – and I missed all of it thanks to a pre-planned weekend in London and at Harry Potter World for the Elder Slushette’s 11th birthday treat. 

Whilst I could at least listen to the Robins’ win on the radio, news of the 1-0 win at Newark was learnt via mobile updates while being dragged round Hamleys Toys and the M & M Store!  As for City’s rollercoaster ride against the Blades, well that was followed by Twitter on the coach, with a fast fading battery...agonising is not the word.  Still, it provides me with yet another item for my father-of-the-bride wedding day speech...

The rest of the month brough an aforementioned cup exit for Rovers, a magnificent first Hull derby of the season and some decent local football...

Saturday 5th April

CML North Division

Easington United 2 Harworth Colliery 3

This was most certainly one that got away, but simply by virtue of this fact it probably helps explain why we are where we are in the table.

The match report can be read here.

Facebook pics can be found here (Burt) and here (Craig).

Sunday 6th April

Rugby League Challenge Cup Round 1

Hull KR 24 Warrington Wolves 28

Hopes of a decent cup run – and chance to really gloat over the Dullers’ exit the preceding Thursday – were dashed by Warrington’s second half comeback at The KC Lightstream.

It was the Younger Slushette’s first visit to the ground (her previous taste of Rovers having come courtesy of a derby defeat at the KC) and my first taste of the new North Stand.

In truth that was the most impressive part of the day, the superb new structure being home to some excellent pre-match entertainment from Half Deaf Clatch (even if I’d have preferred that on offer for the Wakefield and Bradford games – The Happy Endings, complete with the sumptuous vocal talents of Emma Fee).  Free face painting for the kids, plenty of photo opportunities with Rufus The Robin and the improved catering areas added to a real feel-good factor about the place.  Rovers can certainly be proud of it.

Just a shame about result, which according to many comments I heard on the way out, signalled the end of the Robins’ season...in April!

At least the Elder Slushette's birthday tea in the Crown at Kilnsea (complete with Timothy Taylor Landlord) helped offset any immediate post-match disappointment :-)
The official BBC report is here.
Action shot courtesy of The Warrington Guardian.

Wednesday 16th April

CML North Division

Bentley Colliery 1 Easington United 2

A weekend excursion to London and Harry Potter World to mark the Elder Slushette’s 11th birthday had not only scuppered my hopes of seeing Hull City reach the FA Cup Final for the first time ever but also meant I missed a first ever trip to Newark Town’s Station Road ground and, more importantly, a rare Easington away win!

As such I was determined not to pass up the opportunity of catching the lads next time out, which involved tying in the weekly visit to our Hessle office with a dash down the M18 to The Avenue.

Throw in the prospect of the League’s best meat pies, one of the funniest PA announcers in the country and a meet-up with a former Hull City skipper afterwards and it was too good to miss...and that’s before you throw in a second successive away win!

In the event the pie more than lived up to expectation.  Pete on the mic also kept me entertained: “Welcome to Bentley Colliery versus Easington You-narted. Easington’s colours are bot...bottle and go...er, green and yella!”  As for the former Tiger, that came in the form of Stuart Croft, scorer of City’s winner at the very first “away” match I saw back in 1980.  More of this can be found in my other blog in due course.

All in all it was one of the best trips this season – and that’s despite having The Pistol and the PPE nowhere to be seen!

My match report can be read here.
Photos of the game can also be found on our Facebook page. 

My other blog is A Hull Of A Time.

Thursday 17th April

Super League

Hull KR 21 Hull FC 20

Although disappointed when first learning that the switch of the Easter derby from the traditional Good Friday date to the preceding night, in the event the move proved a good one as the teams served up a thriller in front of an atmosphere that – if my own behaviour is anything to go by – was helped enormously by the quaffing of much tea-time ale!

A late afternoon trip down Hull’s real ale quarter - taking in decent ales at Lion & Key, The Manchester Arms and Hawkes Bar (complete with dimpled glass (it doesn't take much!) - was followed by the introduction of three “Smoggies” (one works colleague from ‘the Boro and two of his mates) to the world of “Hulking Stan Rovers” and the game “rrrrrrrrrragby leeeague”. 

I think they enjoyed it.  I know I did.

For a match report read here.

Saturday 19th April

CML North Division

Easington United 2 Clay Cross Town 1

And the run goes on!  The first of the Easter Double-Egger saw opening day opponents Clay Cross travel north and return empty-handed following another solid showing.

It was one of those performances reminiscent of the first season in the CML – passages of excellent football, flashes of individual brilliance and plenty of good old fashioned backs-to-the-wall defending.  Hopefully, it bodes well for next season...

My match report can be read here.

The Clay Cross report can be found here

Facebook pictures can be found here (Burt) and here (Craig).

Saturday 26th April

CML North Division

Ollerton Town 3 Easington United 2

Ollerton is one of those places that for some reason I always know for certain before going that we’re not going to come away with anything.  And this time was no different, mainly because of the early dismissal of Anthony Barnett for denying a goal-scoring opportunity...even though the ball ended up in the net anyway!

That said we put up a really good scrap and to hear the “elder statesmen” of the home support turn on their side after Jamie’s first goal was not only very, very funny but also testament to the effort the lads put in.

A decent pint of Mansfield Cask Ale afterwards was a bonus...lack of any food was not ;-)

Our report can be found here.
The Ollerton report can be read here.
Facebook page pics can be found here.

Tuesday 30th April

South Holderness Cup Round 1

Easington United Reserves 7 Bilton Athletic 1

Ah, the South Holderness Cup – that traditional end-of-season competition in which games are played in front of big crowds on gorgeous spring evenings.  Hmm, this one took place in conditions normally akin to those experienced in November and was watched by just enough people to form two touchline five-a-side teams.

Still, at least those present managed to catch the Reserves’ first win in 28 games; and that after falling behind inside five minutes!
A brief report can be read here, while Facebook page pics can be viewed here.

Time For Action

I hinted at the back end of last season that the blog may struggle to survive in the form you've become accustomed to.  And such "fears" on my part have been realised this past month or so, with increased commitments at work and play meaning regular updates have been impossible.

So, in a taster of things to come, here's a whistle-stop tour of Slush's Sporting (& Not-so-Sporting) Sorties during September/October...

 

Saturday 22nd September
CML North
Easington United 1 Clay Cross Town 2

Attempts to bounce back from the defeat at Kiveton Park were spiked by a very impressive Clay Cross Town (formerly Parkhouse) at Low Farm.

In what turned out to be Jimmy Neilson's last game for the club (for now?) and Darren Eades' first and last for the club (for now?) two Phil Lowry goals brought the visitors victory.  The margin of the win could have been greater but for a fine goalkeeping display by Charlie in his 100th game for the club.  As it was even he couldn't prevent a fourth defeat in a row.

Match report and pics can be found here.  Colin Brammer's photos can be found here, while the Parkhouse report can be found here. 

Saturday 29th September

ERCL Division 1

Easington United Reserves 3 Hornsea Town 0

One effect of Mrs Slush's new weekend working commitments is my inability to travel to every away game in the CML this season.  Of course, this in turn presents the opportunity to catch more of the County League squads' action at the Farm.

The Reserves have started the season brightly and came into this game unbeaten in their four matches to date.

In fairness, Hornsea provided perhaps the least resistance of any opponents yet and Thommo had the Stiffs ahead after just 14 seconds.  By the break it was 3-0 and the points were assured, manager Gav's sublime finish and Thommo's second completing the scoring.  It could have been more...as this photo of Gav will testify.

A report can be found here, accompanied by plenty of shots from new man with the lens Craig Stephenson.

Tuesday 2nd October

Football League Championship

Hull City 2 Blackpool 3
 

My first trip of the season to the KC Stadium and my first glimpse of Steve Bruce's Tigers.  And, despite the result, it was one that left me very optimistic about the future.

Aside from some glaring individual errors at the back, that contributed directly to all three Blackpool goals, this was a fine City performance.  Going forward the Tigers looked far more potent than when I'd seen them last under Nick Barmby. 

Unfortunately, any sense of positivity taken from the result soon dissipated - first with the usual doom 'n' gloomers on the post-match Radio Humberside phone-in, then thanks to a closed section of the Clive Sullivan Way, which meant gridlock getting away from the ground and an eventual half-past-eleven arrival back in Easington.
The BBC report of the game can be read here. 

Friday 5th October

Geno Washington & Yo Yo Blues 

Payback @ The New Adelphi Club



Had this been a normal blog post, or a review of the type I used to write regularly for Hull, Hell & Happiness and other such 'zines, I'd have no doubt waffled at length about the memories stirred by this first visit to The Adelphi (or "New Adelphi" as it now is) some, ooh, fifteen years or so since my last such trip.  

Still, I was very honoured that after such a gap in attendance, owner Jacko still recognised me.  I was equally pleased that the Adelphi's reputation for selling fine cask ales was also still very deserved...although given that we arrived at 8pm, Geno didn't come on stage until nearly three hours later and that my drinking companion for this period was First Team boss Sumo, well, you can guess the rest.

Tipple of choice this evening was the Hawkshead Lakeland Gold, although I also tried a lovely - and apparently very rare - Great Newsome offering, Frothingam Red and a very unique (to my taste buds anyway) Citra beer from Oakham Ales that smelt like perfume and, if I'm being honest, didn't taste much better (though Jacko swears by it!).

Suffice to say, by time the star of the night arrived on stage, I was well and truly on the way to inebriation.  Still, it didn't prevent me lapping up one of the true stalwarts of the Soul scene in this country.  As Burnsy of local radio fame would later tweet, if you look up "showman" in the dictionary it should say "Geno Washington". Yessirree.
Picture lifted from those very nice people who maintain the New Adelphi Club's Facebook page - I'm sure they won't mind!

Saturday 6th October

CML North

Brodsworth Welfare 3 Easington United 0

Possibly the lowest point of the season to date, defeat at previously winless Brodsworth Welfare was one that left Sumo with a bitter taste in his mouth.  With the marvellous power of hindsight, however, it's perhaps worth pointing out that he hadn't seen anything yet!

Plus points of the day were virtually consigned to the ground - easily the finest played at so far, which perhaps isn't surprising given the level the hosts were at up to a season ago.

As for the lack of real ale in the clubhouse - my excesses the previous night meant this wasn't a problem.

I seem to recall it was a fairly quiet ride home from South Yorkshire...
I feel quite guilty not devoting a full post to my first visit to this famous old club but such is life at the moment.  Perhaps another day.  Still, for those who can bear it, the official report I posted to the club website can be found here.

Saturday 13th October

East Riding CFA Senior Cup R1

Easington United 3 St Andrews 3

(AET; Easington win 2-1 on pens)

A win at last! Admittedly not in the league but given our recent record in the County's prestige cup competition, this victory was not to be sniffed at.  Of course this being us it wasn't straightforward - Saints levelling matters in the final minute of normal time and both teams producing a penalty shoot-out of woeful quality!  Still, we were into round two and it's five years since we could last say that... 
My official report and Burt & Craig's pictures can be found here.

Saturday 20th October

East Riding CFA Senior Country Cup R1

Easington United Reserves 4 Driffield Rangers 6

 The Stiffs did their best to compensate for my having to miss the much-anticipated trip to CML North title faves AFC Mansfield; a battling performance against their Premier Division opponents proving not quite good enough to avenge last season's quarter final defeat by the same opponents.

Still, as the score suggests, this was a game full of end-to-end entertainment and some quality goals, not least Gav's final one for the locals - a shot from the centre-circle immediately after Driffield had gone 6-3 up.
Check out my official club report here, along with Craig's photos.



Tuesday 23rd October

Football League Championship

Middlesbrough 2 Hull City 0



A throwaway idea by a group of lads at work - some hailing from Teesside - culminated in this, my first visit to the Riverside.  And as with most memories of previous City away games against the Boro, at the old Ayresome Park, it won't live long in the memory.

Suffice to say the Tigers were a pale imitation of the team I'd seen, albeit in defeat, against Blackpool a few weeks earlier.

We never really looked like coming away with anything more than a point and once the hosts had taken a second half lead, even that propsect disappeared all too quickly.

The main plus pointd of the trip came with the pre-match meet-up in Dr Brown's, a pub that served decent grub alongside a selection of cask ales.  Northumberland Carnivale and Thwaites Crafty Devil would help numb the pain of the City display to follow.

Oh, and Tom Cairney - sat directly in front of me in the away end - quite liked my Brazil comparison as the Tigers strung umpteen passes together in the first half.  At least I think it was the joke he was laughing at... 
Not that I'll bother reading it again but the BBC report is here.

Saturday 27th October

CML North

Easington United 1 Thoresby Colliery Welfare 0

We said goodbye to Brian Pratt the day the First Team finally brought their eight-match winless run in the CML North to an end. 
Bri - or "Big Wezzie" as he liked to be known - was one of the numerous "Comforts" from the West Riding i.e. someone who'd "come for't week" and never gone back!  During his time in Easington he became a well-respected member of the White Horse pub cricket team, for whom he regularly umpired, and a junior football coach at both the local primary school and the village under-14's team.
Above all he was a staunch supporter of all sport in the village and, despite some personal troubles and health issues in recent times, was always ready to stop and have a chat.  He will be missed.
I'd like to think Big Wezzie would have been smiling from up on high as Wilks stretched to grab this game's only goal.  There's no doubt he'll certainly have had comment to pass on some of the stuff that's gone on those aforementioned eight games!

A report of the game, with pictures, can be found here.

 

Big Wezzie's departure would appear an apt place to close this first "backblog".  November's "highlights" to follow...just not sure when!