Thursday’s win on penalties over Gateshead was a great win really. Yes, it was chiefly Gateshead’s under-19 side but there was a couple of fringe players in that squad and it was still a very good and very fit side. To beat the finalists of two years ago shows Easington Colliery could be a real threat in that competition. Mind, Consett away in the next round will prove to be a very tough challenge. They’re a very good side in the First Division and they’ll certainly be used to playing on their plastic pitch. Mind, we’ll be going there looking for a spot in the quarter finals. Easington certainly won’t be any push over. Today it was back to league action though with a tricky trip to Whickham. Whickham are a very good side on their day but they can also have off days. They held Consett to a 0-0 on Tuesday night too. I’ve been to Whickham once this season so far and that was when they hosted Charnock Richard in the FA Vase. To be honest, they didn’t really perform that day while Charnock Richard were a very good side. However, Whickham can be and are a much better side than their performance in the FA Vase suggested. Today was actually the first time I’ve ever been to Whickham on a Saturday. I think I’ve been to three Sunday games at Whickham (all in either the FA Cup of the FA Vase) and one Friday night game when they hosted who I seem to remember being Heaton Stannington.

Match report:

Ten-man Easington Colliery snatched a point at Whickham on Saturday.

Having to play the final 10 minutes with 10 men, Easington managed to hang on to a point in a hard-fought goalless draw at The Glebe.

Joe Kerridge was sent off for a handball on the line and the resulting penalty bounced back off the crossbar.

Easington’s best chance came the way of Luke Page but his header from a pin-point Joe Kerridge ball flew narrowly over.

Whickham could have pinched the points in additional time but a superb save from Kyle Donaldson meant the Green Army travelled home with a well-deserved point.

Manager Paul Frame made four changes from Thursday’s game against Gateshead with Joe Kerridge, Jack Pounder, Shaun Smith and Luke Page all coming back into the team.

Easington started brightly and after a Luke Page shot had been a blocked, a direct ball over the top played Nathan Renton in and he rounded the ‘keeper. Renton had to steady himself to find his balance and when he did, he curled an effort towards the far top corner which was just say too high.

Other than this early chance, there wasn’t a great deal happening in the opening exchanges with Easington looking to get used to the bobbly pitch.

Following a lucky bounce, the ball fell kindly to Whickham’s Steven Aiston who was falling to the floor when he managed to stab an effort towards goal but Kyle Donaldson saved comfortably. The fall prompted a few penalties shouts but an unimpressed referee waved them away.

In the 22nd minute, Dylan Nesbitt managed to get a shot away for Easington from 18 yards but it lacked power and was comfortable for Neil Postlethwaite.

The ever dangerous Joe Kerridge drove down the wing for Easington in the 23rd minute and he took the ball round the ‘keeper but his final touch was slightly too heavy and the ball rolled behind for a goal-kick.

Soon after, Steven Aiston whipped a superb ball into the Easington penalty area but Shaun Smith crucially rose to head clear just as Joe Mole was climbing behind him.

Route one football gave the Green Army a chance on 26 minutes as a Kyle Donaldson free-kick was flicked on to find Jack Pounder but his header failed to find the target.

Whickham could have taken the lead a minute later as a long throw was headed down to Kyle Wharton but he could only blaze over from eight yards when he should really have found the target.

Chris Pearson took responsibility for an Easington free-kick which Luke Page won seven minutes from half-time but the Easington skipper’s low free-kick was a comfortable save for Neil Postlethwaite.

What was nearly an own goal almost gave the Green Army the lead just before the half-time whistle as an Easington cross was sliced just wide by a defender.

Half-time: Whickham 0-0 Easington Colliery

The opening eight minutes of the second half was quite flat but it came to life with Easington’s Joe Kerridge burst down the flank in the 54th minute. The former Newcastle United youngster played a great cross-field ball to find Dylan Nesbitt and Nesbitt drilled a teasing low ball into the six-yard box where a Whickham defender sliced behind for a corner as Jack Pounder lurked. The resulting corner dropped for James Atkinson who quickly turned and fired a shot which forced a clever save from Neil Postlethwaite.

Joe Kerridge then took responsibility of a dangerous free-kick for Easington and his effort was curling towards the bottom corner until Postlethwaite turned the ball away and Luke Page headed over from the resulting corner.

Good combination play from Joe Kerridge, Peter Jones and Luke Page saw them all link up to find Jack Pounder but the former Ryhope CW man could only blaze over while off balance.

Meanwhile, at the other end, with the deadlock still to be broken, David Fitzpatrick found room for a shot but could only blaze over.

Eleven minutes from time, Easington Colliery had a great chance to score what was probably a winner. Joe Kerridge whipped a superb cross into the penalty area and Luke Page lost his marker for a free header but it was slightly too high. Had it been on target, the ‘keeper would have been beaten.

Then came the moment of controversy as Easington were reduced to ten men. A corner came into the penalty area and was flicked towards the far corner where Joe Kerridge kept the ball out with his hand. The referee immediately pointed to the spot and sent Kerridge off. Ross Pearth took responsibility for the penalty but excitement possibly got to the Whickham captain as he blasted his effort off the crossbar and Easington cleared.

Despite playing with ten men, the missed penalty seemed to give Easington a boost and a couple of quick breaks could have created some chances had the defence not been quick enough.

An Easington free-kick was whipped into the penalty area on 87 minutes and it dropped to James Atkinson who could only blaze over and then Dylan Nesbitt had an effort which was saved.

The games final chance forced an incredible save from Kyle Donaldson. A Whickham corner was cleared as far as Mark Fitzpatrick who’s volley was superbly saved by Kyle Donaldson which ultimately claimed Easington’s point.

Full-time: Whickham 0-0 Easington Colliery

Next up for me at the time of writing is probably a game on Tuesday night.

Whickham Team: Postlethwaite, Brown, Souter, Jelley, Martin, Pearth (c), David Fitzpatrick, Wharton (Mark Fitzpatrick, 68’), Mole, Aiston, Candlish

Unused subs: Rook, Cuuran, Clasper

Easington Colliery Team: Donaldson, Kerridge, Nesbitt, Pearson (c), Atkinson, Smith, Kenney, Page, Pounder, Renton, Jones

Subs (All unused): Adamson, Martin, Croft, Thompson

Admission: £5 Adults, £3 Concessions. Free for me

Attendance: About 35

Programme: £1

Sausage roll: £1.50

Can of Coke: 50p in the tea hut, £1.10 in the clubhouse

Referee: Lee May