The first day of the new year brought with it the now traditional South Yorkshire postponement. After consulting a quorum of the Lancashire Branch of BFCLSC (Becko, Webbo and FWP), who had assembled in the White Lion in Sheffield (fine pub), I decided to retrace my route over the Dark Peak to watch the Unibond League Premier Division match between Stalybridge Celtic and Hyde United. This fixture appeared to hold a number of attractions. Firstly, it was one of those institutions that has long disappeared from the senior game, a local Derby over the Christmas period. Secondly, 2nd versus bottom offered the prospect of a ‘goalfest’. But most importantly it provided an opportunity to have a look at Earl Davis during his loan spell at Stalybridge.
As it turned out Stalybridge now has a strong Clarets connection, not only being managed by David Miller who is now an established figure in the non-league scene in the North West, but also featuring Phil Eastwood in a starring role. I believe Phil left Burnley at the end of the 1998/99 season after making 12 appearances in the 1st team (eight as sub.) and scoring one goal in a 4-1 defeat away at Preston. He also had the honour of being sponsored by our President Peter Pike. I last saw him playing for Morecambe a couple of seasons ago but now that he has dropped down another step in the pyramid he seems to have found a level where he really stands out as his record to date this season of 18 goals in 32 appearances testifies. Also bear in mind that Stalybridge are 2nd in their division and that the next highest scorer had only eight goals to his name!
Eastwood started on the left side of a front three and impressed immediately with his ball control, passing and dangerous crosses. During the first 20 minutes he went close with a snap-shot and could have had a penalty if he had gone to earth, before scoring the opening goal on the half-hour when he passed the ball beyond the keeper to round off a training ground free-kick (full marks to Mr Miller on that one?). His second half performance was not quite as inspirational as Stalybridge went on the rampage and other players came into the picture. I thought that this may have been because he was moved to centre-forward where he did not have the same opportunity to run at the opposition. Nevertheless he did score a further fine goal with a powerful shot from the left as his side eventually ran out 6-0 winners.
Stalybridge’s superiority made it more difficult to assess Earl Davis’s performance. He played a standard central defender’s role in a flat back four and had relatively little to do although this was all done competently. For a big man he did not seem particularly commanding in the air although he did go up for all the set pieces and went close on one occasion. His standard defensive ploy was the long punt upfield, generally on the volley which does require both good timing and the ability to hit the ball cleanly if it is to be performed successfully, which he seemed able to achieve. It was not until well into the second half, when Stalybridge’s victory was assured, that he ventured over the half-way line with the ball for the first time. He may of course have been operating under orders but, on this performance, he is definitely not the sort of central defender who can carry the ball to the opposition in the manner of The Legend or King Arthur. He struck me as very much a reliable no-nonsense stopper but I would want to see him up against forwards who gave him a much harder time in defence before passing judgement on his full potential. Suffice it to say that I did not think anyone watching would have singled him out as a potential First Division Nationwide League player. But then I said the same about Dimi.
