ℹ️//SATURDAY//FIXTURE//NL2//PLAYOFF FINAL
@YarmEaglescliff v
@jarrow_fc
Comp: Northern League Division Two Playoff Final
Venue: Bedford Terrace, TS23 4AG
Kick Off: 3pm
📈CURRENT FORM//
Yarm & Eaglescliffe
2nd | WWWWWW - Goals from Tom Atkinson & Josh Marshall gave them a final day 2-1 win over landlords Billingham Town
They ended the regular season with 16 wins from their 21 league games on home soil, with three draws and two defeats completing their NL2 record to date at Bedford Terrace.
The Eagles also finished Division Two’s joint top scorers, with 101 league goals for the season. They averaged 2.4 goals scored per game in the regular season, which rises to 2.71 with home advantage.
A stat that predicated their 2-0 semi-final win over Seaham Red Star last Saturday. Second half goals from the long serving Cam Wild & Joe Dalton secured their place in the final
They were in action in midweek as they won the North Riding Senior Cup at Middlesbrough FC’s Riverside Stadium. A 4-1 shootout success claimed the trophy after it had ended 0-0 vs Boro Rangers after 90 minutes.
Jarrow
3rd | WDLLWW - Goals from Ryan Hardie, Jay Barber & Lutfur Karim gave them a 3-0 final day victory at home to Esh Winning last weekend.
Jak Wells kept their 17th league clean sheet, but Luke Hudson saw a second half penalty saved - he had previously scored all eight of his spotkicks this season.
They ended the regular season with 12 wins from their 21 league games on home soil, with 6 draws and three defeats completing their NL2 record to date at Perth Green.
Wells was their hero as he scored and then saved a spotkick in the semi-final shootout win at home to FC Hartlepool last Saturday. Ryan Hardie’s early strike wiped out an even earlier opener for the visitors, a rare Jonny Bainbridge goal looked to have won it but for an added time leveller for FC - cue Wells’ heroics.
⏪THIS SEASON//
Yarm & Eaglescliffe 2-1 Jarrow
Tom Atkinson’s first half brace put the hosts in control.
Jarra’s reply came nine minutes from time courtesy of Noah Cunningham.
Jarrow 1-2 Yarm & Eaglescliffe
Luke Hudson put the host ahead with a 24th minute goal, a lead they held until two minutes before the break yet they headed into the half behind.
A 90 second two-goal salvo for the visitors turned it around late in the first half, Steven Roberts & Tom Atkinson with the goals.
Skipper Hudson’s day soured with a red card early in the second half.
🔙PREVIOUSLY IN THE PLAYOFFS//
Y&E have gone one better than their exit at the semi-final stage last year, a 3-0 home defeat to Thornaby - who went on to win the final.
Jarra, who beat Chester le Street United on penalties, then lost to Thornaby on spotkicks in the final.
🔮OUR PREDICTION//
The Eagles have to just edge the favourite tag with the points gap they finished the season with and an impressive home record but Kenny Malia has his Jarra side well drilled and will head down the A19 in confident mood.
Their regular season first goal averages both are just after the half hour - Y&E slightly the quicker at 31.2 while Jarra come in at 33.7 minutes but both were regularly quick out of the blocks.
It could really go either way this one but we’d be hard pressed to back against the hosts but we certainly wouldn’t rule out the South Tynesiders - or a penalty shootout to separate these two.
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