Grimsby Borough 2-3 Eccleshill United
The Eagles Fly High As They Win The Play-Off Final
Eccleshill United beat Grimsby Borough to be promoted via the NCEL Division One Play-offs. United struck first through striker Ashley Brown. Grimsby equalised just after a lengthy stoppage in play, due to an bad injury, through Callum Lovett and then Borough went ahead thanks to Debnam just before the hour mark. However in added time, Andrew Cooper netted from the spot and then in Extra Time Eccleshill won the tie through Harrop.
Pre-Match
I set out in search for my football fix. In the end I decided upon Grimsby Borough vs Eccleshill United in the NCEL Division One Play-Off Final to see which team we would see visiting Sandy Lane next season.
It was confirmed a week or so a go that Worksop Town were playing Cleethorpes Town in a pre-season friendly. Being the anorak I am, I visited Cleethorpes’ new home to see how the preparations were going ahead of its opening in the summer.
Kick-off
Unfortunately we entered the ground 5-10 minutes late as we struggled to find a parking space.
The first chance we saw fell in Grimsby’s favour. Josh Venney took aim from thirty yards out however Dom Smith matched it and caught the effort.
United took the lead a minute later. Ashley Brown brushed off his marker before dribbling past Steele and slotting his shot under the keeper.
Grimsby were in search of an equaliser after Eccleshill had took the lead. Luke Mascall tried his luck from range but, again, Dom Smith was alert and managed to tip over his dipping effort.
On the half hour mark, Grimsby were denied due to desperate defending by the Eagles. Adam Drury brilliantly picked out the run of Winfarrah who drilled a ball into the middle which was cleared out by Sam Bradley only to Venney. Josh Venney neatly stroked the ball through to Debnam. The captain saw his shot fizz up into the air and wide to Winfarrah who saw his thunderous volley bravely headed wide by Stor.
Moments later, Eccleshill had the chance to double their lead. Thomas Rose broke through on goal thanks to an Ashley Brown flick on. Unfortunately for the Eagles, Rose saw his shot blocked by the body of Scott Drury.
There was then a large stoppage in play due to Scott Manning breaking his Fibia and Tibia following a challenge from Daniel Trott. Our shock came when the Physio’s rolled a table from the canteen on the pitch to act as a stretcher (Eccleshill finished fourth in the league however today this player would be top of the table!) after around hour of waiting, the ambulance arrived to take him to hospital and we could restart play. Wishing a speedy recovery to Manning.
Minutes after the restart in play, Borough levelled up the tie. Daniel Trott stretched out a leg and managed to poke a pump upfield out wide to Drury. The Borough number two held the ball up for a second before crossing perfectly into the middle where Callum Lovett powered a header into the top corner.
On the stroke of half-time, Grimsby almost got their noses in front. James Petronzio crossed into the middle where Drury’s touch fizzed the ball up into the air. Drury used his initiative and produced a spectacular over-head kick which went just over the bar.
HT: Grimsby Borough 1-1 Eccleshill United
Grimsby almost instantly went ahead a minute after the break. Daniel Trott miss-kicked Winfarrah’s pass in the area which caused a scramble in the box. The ball popped back out to Trott who fired towards goal but saw his effort saved by the feet of Smith.
On the hour mark, Grimsby made it 2-1. Callum Lovett saw his strike from the edge of the area deflect towards goal. Jack Debnam reacted quickest to poked the ball past the keeper and into the roof of the net.
Minutes later, Lovett dinked a lovely ball towards the back stick however Trott had to stretch out his leg to volley and could only get his effort to land on top of the net. From the goal-kick, the ball landed at the feet of Josh Venney who set himself before seeing his rifled shot parried wide by a scampering Smith.
Borough seemed to be in cruise control at that point in time. They were inches away from extending their lead with thirteen minutes remaining. A pump upfield was superbly headed down the line by Trott for Adam Drury who accelerated down the left before pulling the ball back to the edge for skipper Jack Debnam who fired a ferocious strike which went inches wide of the post.
Borough were still creating more and more chances as they looked to wrap up the final. Winfarrah found himself with the ball at his feet on the right-hand side. He used great skill to weave around three opponents but lacked the quality finish it deserved as the winger hit his shot straight down the keepers throat and Smith caught comfortably.
As the game entered added time, Grimsby Borough seemed in full control of the game and looked like they were going to clinch promotion. However Eccleshill United had other plans as in the ninety-third minute, they levelled the game. The referee pointed to the spot after Carlton Jerome was thwarted in the area. Andy Cooper stepped up and cooly tucked the Penalty into the bottom left sending the keeper the wrong way in the process.
FT: Grimsby Borough 2-2 Eccleshill United
Eccleshill seemed to have a burst of confidence after that last minute equaliser. They almost found themselves in front two minutes after the restart. A poor pass by Venney allowed Harrop to take the ball in his stride and advance goal-wards. Harrop rounded the keeper but somehow saw his rolling effort cleared off the line by Josh Sunter.
Grimsby were almost gifted a goal in the eight minute of extra time. Debnam swung in a ball from the left towards the six yard area where United substitute Maturine nodded towards goal but luckily for him, keeper Smith reacted quickly and caught the header.
On the stroke of half-time in extra time, Eccleshill went in front. Miscommunication between Smythe and Sunter allowed Levi Maturine to nick the ball off the latter and pick out Harrop at the back stick who smashed the ball into the back of the net to send the travelling fans into raptures.
ET HT: Grimsby Borough 2-3 Eccleshill United
Grimsby had two chances in the second period of Extra Time to try and take the game to penalties. Firstly, Venney saw his free-kick from twenty-five yards out fly over the wall and disappointingly over the bar. Then, a high ball from Scott Drury was spilt by the keeper. Another scramble in the box occurred but at the last second, Smith recovered in time to pounce on the ball and avoid anymore glimpses at goal.
The Eagles defended in numbers and saw the game out to confirm that they would be playing in the NCEL Premier Division next season.
Congratulations to Eccleshill United, Commiserations to Grimsby Borough
CLICK HERE TO READ THE66POW’s VERSION OF EVENTS
Attendance: 190
Goals: Lovett (34’), Debnam (59’); Brown (23’), Cooper (90+3p’), Harrop (105’)
GBFC: S Drury, A Drury, Steel, Lovett, Smythe, Sunter, Debnam, Venney, Trott, Mascal, Winfarrah
Subs: Bradbury, Petronzio, Morrall, Lamplough, Swann
EUFC: Smith, Stor, Bradley, Mathers, Manning, Flaherty, Cooper, Rose, Lever, Harrop, Brown
Subs: Maturine, Thomas, Canning, Pownall, Labad
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