Colliers start season with win at Jarrow

Easington Colliery started their 2021-2022 Northern League season with a 0-1 win at Jarrow on Saturday afternoon.

Jack Pounder’s 19th minute strike proved the difference between the sides, but in truth, it could have been a lot more.

Manager Lee Haldane missed the game, but Paul Wardle and Stuart Niven took charge and with 21 players at Perth Green, five had to miss out on the matchday squad.

Luke Page and Dylan Elliott both started their first competitive game since their return, while there was also first competitive starts for Dan Maddison and Adam McGuinness.

Upon kick-off, the Colliers started well and controlled most of the ball, but it was Jarrow who had the first half chance as Liam Murray headed wide.

In the ninth minute, the Colliers had a big chance. A cross was flicked on to Maddison whose volley was superbly saved by Wells. He pushed it out wide, and the Colliers quickly lifted a ball back into the area, but this time, Pounder’s header was just wide.

Elliott fired wide as the Colliers started to mount pressure on the hosts, before the deadlock was broken with the game’s one and only goal in the 19th minute. Luke Pearn burst down the wing before pulling it back to Pounder. His effort was well saved by Wells, and Scott Wallace was there to head it off the line, but it dropped straight back to Pounder who fired the ball into the net to put the Green Army ahead.

Wells had to produce another good save to deny Pounder a couple of minutes later, before there was a quiet spell. The Colliers were still in control, but there weren’t any clear cut chances.

Alex Lawrence was forced into a save to deny Jason Blackburn’s header in the 36th minute, but there was an obvious handball in the build up.

In the 39th minute, Niall McGoldrick went close for the Colliers. Elliott’s pinpoint corner picked out the towering McGoldrick, but Wells was once again on hand to save McGoldrick’s header.

One more chance remained in the first half, and it fell to Pounder, but it couldn’t find the target.

Following the break, good work from Elliott and Pearn for the Colliers meant a cross found Pounder, but his volley darted wide.

Ten minutes later, Elliott had a big chance of his own. Good football from the Colliers put the former Hartlepool United man in on goal, but his effort was well saved by Wells.

if it wasn’t for Wells, the Colliers would have put the game out of sight by this point.

In the 70th minute, a goalline clearance prevented the Colliers. Cahill-Taylor raced down the left wing before pulling the ball back to Elliott. His shot passed Wells, but a Jarrow man was on the line to clear.

Jarrow had a rare chance as Blackburn headed wide, before Page drilled an effort just the wrong side of the far post after a mazy run for the Colliers.

Little happened in the final 10 minutes as the Colliers managed the game well.

One chance did remain, and it was when Jarrow were awarded a dangerous free-kick in the third minute of added time. It was aimed at the near bottom corner, but it thankfully bounced wide and the Colliers took all three points.

Next up for the Colliers is a home game against Sunderland West End next Saturday.

Full-time: Jarrow FC 0-1 Easington Colliery

Next up for me is Horden CW vs Boldon CA on Tuesday night.

Jarrow FC: Wells (c), Robinson (Toward, 67′), Wallace (North ,74′), Little, Summers, Waller, Smith, Leech, Blackburn, Murray, Shaw

Easington Colliery: Lawrence, Lincoln Barrow, Ashton, Elliott (Chapman, 72′), McGoldrick, McGuinness, Middleton, Page, Pounder (Cassidy, 82′), Maddison (Cahill-Taylor, 59′), Pearn

Unused subs: Wilson, Ord

Admission: £5 adults, £3 concessions

Programme: £1

Attendance: 162

Referee: Chris Joyce

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