Yorkshire Amateur League Division 1 – Saturday14th April 2018
Full-time: Ealandians FC Reserves FC 6 – 3 Idle FC
Goals: A. Irving (x3)
MOTM: A. Irving
After nearly 2 seasons, Idle’s unbeaten run away from home in the league came to an abrupt end at the weekend. Ealandians once again gave Idle a lesson in desire and heart coming from 2 goals down to win the match convincingly 6-3.
Idle had in fact won every game since the last meeting between the two sides which also happened to be Idle’s only other league defeat of the season.
Idle began the game the better side catching Ealandians cold twice in the first 10 minutes with Aaron Irving grabbing both of the early goals. The first was a lovely finish into the far corner after controlling the ball well under pressure in the box. The second was a classic example of route one football. Marcus Strudwick claimed the ball confidently from a corner kick and proceeded to launch the ball down field to Irving chased and harried the defender with the ball bouncing in behind him. Irving managed to get himself in front of the defender and head the ball over the keeper who was off his line. 0-2.
That was as good as it got for Idle and the next 75 minutes of football was pretty painful to say the least.
Ealandians quickly got themselves back in the game with a pass across the box and the midfielder sliding the ball back across the keeper into the bottom corner. The home side were back on level terms soon after as the striker found his shooting boots to slot home from close range. The big man up front then found himself free just inside the box to lash a solid finish into the roof of the net. Half-time arrived and Ealandians had fought back to lead 3-2.
Although, all was not lost at this point, Idle would have to show desire and determination across the pitch if they were to get anything from the game. Unfortunately, this certainly wasn’t the case with the worst start possible to the second 45 minutes. Idle quickly found themselves 4-2 down with the Ealandians striker finding the net once again from the long ball over the top and quickly losing the plot between themselves.
4-2 soon turned into 5-2 and then 6-2. It was becoming embarrassing.
Ealandians were certainly clinical on the day with the strikers hitting the target every time they got the chance. Idle simply weren’t at the races for much of the game but did manage another consolation goal late on with Irving completing his hatrick with a bullet header from a set-piece.
Injury was added to insult as second-half substitute, Carl Brown suffered a broken ankle with his first tackle of the game. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Browny!
The full-time whistle couldn’t come soon enough. The final score was 6-3. And congratulations go to Ealandians who secured promotion to the Championship with the convincing win. The win also secured their position at the top of the league.
There was certainly a debrief in the Idle changing room after the game with several important points to be made by the players. The bottom line is we need to pull together for the Bradford & District Cup semi-final on Monday night and ensure that everyone is performing to the same level for the final two league games if we are to be in with a chance of finishing first.
By Jamie Allen
The Playmaker 
Posted on April 16, 2018
0