by Jeff King
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Tuesday 3rd September 2024
Billingham Synthonia 1 v 2 Chester-le-Street United
Another day and another game for some of those involved with the First Team. From the previous evening's FA Youth Challenge Cup there were three who started and one who was on the bench.
Reilly Everett, Ben Gallagher and Kymani Severin were the starters and Jamie Frizzel dropped down to the bench to be replaced by the returning Ollie Barnett. Severin meanwhile got the nod over Stephen Siyanbola who was on the bench.
Synners have always been a side that United have found it tough to play against and haven't had the best of fortunes against. Last season they were beaten 3 - 0 at Stokesley which is where Synners played before getting a 4 - 0 drubbing at home.
So, a tough test for United was ahead at the neat, tidy home of Stockton Town FC where Synners, still without their own ground, are based this season.
Synners started the brighter and had the first real effort on goal. A long throw by Jonathan Scotland-Peacock dropping into the United box where it was only cleared to just outside the penalty area.
Jack Winstanley first to the loose ball to crash a shot on target but fortunately for United it was straight at James Hughes who held it easily. Severin was looking bright early and a good run down the right saw him win a corner of Adam Groom.
Harley Lawton delivered and this time it was the Synners defence that only half cleared to Severin on the edge of the box but Ethan Harker recovered well for the home side to block Severin's effort.
It was end to end at the start and Billingham went close when Lewis Porritt burst forward from inside right into the United box and flashed a great right-foot shot just wide of the far post.
It felt like a goal could come at either end and on 16 minutes it did and it was Chester taking the lead. Charlie Loveday winning a free-kick on the left level with the corner of the penalty area but just outside.
Lawton whipped in a great curling ball and Reyhan Grimaud timed his run perfectly to get inside the defenders and from about 4-yards home half-volley it past a helpless Ben Fairless in the Synners goal.
United now had their tails up and a sweeping ball from Captain Dylan Wilkinson from the back found Severin who controlled well beat Groom and from a tight angle fired in a shot that Fairless scrambled around the post.
Then Barnett played a brilliant ball down the left sending Loveday clear of the defence. The speedy forward got inside the Synners area but delayed just a bit too long and was unable to get a decisive shot off.
The home side's real danger man was Porritt who set himself up for a volley from just outside the United box that brought a great full length diving save from Hughes who turned it round the post.
Groom took the corner and landed it dangerously into the centre of the box where after one or two failed attempts the United defence finally cleared the danger through Grimaud.
United were playing some lovely expansive passing football and one flowing move involving Barnett, Addis Dore and Severin saw the ball switched wide to the overlapping Dan Robinson. His dangerous cross just evading Dore's run.
The ball was retrieved on the opposite flank by Lawton who came inside and struck a great left-foot shot that took a nick off a defender and went inches wide. Lawton worked a short corner routine with Loveday and created space for a shot.
From not far outside the box he struck his effort well but once again Harker was in the right place at the right time to make a brave block and then clear the danger.
On 35 minutes though Synners drew level with a goal that Robinson won't want to see again. A ball into the far corner saw Robinson well in control of the situation but he didn't clear the ball and allowed Luke Hogan to pinch it off him.
Hogan advanced along the byline and then picked out Porritt with a lovely pull back. Porritt striding on to the pass and smashing it past Hughes via the inside of the left post giving United's keeper no chance.
Gallagher and Grimaud responded to the setback by combining well in midfield to once again find Loveday in the opposition box. Despite showing good control and trying to work an opening Loveday was unable to pull the trigger.
Gallagher then played a neat pass wide left to Loveday who spotted Barnett on the overlap and played a good pass into his path. The full back's cross was a dangerous one as Severin came in late at the back post only to be denied by Groom who hooked clear.
Synners had the last chance of an entertaining first 45 minutes when a ball up to Dan Chapman saw him hook it over his head finding Hogan in space. The Synners wide man turning well to hit a good effort that just went wide of the far post.
1 - 1 at half time and perhaps a good reflection of the game. United had more possession but Synners were strong and organised at the back. As were United and in particular Wilkinson and Everett who dealt well with the direct approach.
United were forced into a change at half-time when Frizzel came on for the unwell Barnett. They were though quickly into their stride. Gallagher trying his luck from 20-yards only to see his shot blocked.
The ball came back to Grimaud who decided to hit it from long range. This time the ball deflected to Lawton just inside the box and United's midfielder did control it well but his shot was well off target.
A driving run from midfield by Grimaud saw him find Loveday in space. Loveday showed great awareness to try and split the Synners defence to try and find Severin who was free but Joe Scaife-Wheatley made a great sliding interception to avert the danger.
United were rocked a little on 55 minutes when Lawton was involved in a tangle and went down looking in real pain. He laid motionless for several minutes before eventually being carried from the field on a stretcher. Brandon Young coming on to replace him.
Billingham took advantage of United having to reorganise with Winstanley playing a good ball into the box to find Chapman. He laid the ball off to Porritt who put the advancing Groom in on the left. Everett did well to stop the run and concede a corner.
It lead to four successive corners for Synners as they exerted real pressure on the United back line who held firm throughout the onslaught. The final corner falling to Groom who forced Hughes into a good save at his near post.
Frizzel won a good header just on halfway that found Loveday in space. He in turn found Young who made a brilliant driving run down the left which looked as if had taken him into crossing space but he was cynically upended by Porritt.
Porritt was booked but perhaps felt it worthwhile as the United free kick taken by Loveday failed to find an intended target. Young was then also yellow carded as he attempted to stop Scotland-Peacock from breaking away.
Lovely play from United almost broke through again. Wilkinson playing a ball forward to Young who's first time flick found Loveday. The return pass was great and Young this time did get a cross in towards the waiting Dore.
But Charlie Marshall this time was quick to sense the danger and put the ball out for a corner. Loveday played it short to Severin about 22-yards out but his shot unfortunately flew way too high over the bar.
Scaife-Wheatley then did well with a diagonal ball from the back to find Hogan on the right. He turned inside and delivered a great left foot cross that saw Chapman get up well and head on target from 8-yards. Hughes in the right place to tip the effort over his bar. The corner being cleared by United.
Everett then played a neat ball over the top of the Synners defence towards the breaking Dore. Marshall just getting there first but his back pass to keeper Fairless looked short with Dore nipping in.
Chester's strike did get to the ball first but as he tried to knock it past Fairless the keeper did well to boot the ball clear. It was a temporary reprieve for Synners who found themselves going behind on 78 minutes.
Loveday did brilliantly in midfield to control a ball and then create space for himself to play a decisive ball into the path of Frizzel breaking forward. The low left wing cross found Dore in a great position but he could only slice his effort when well placed.
Fortunately for United the sliced effort wrong footed the Synners defence and there was Young at the back post in acres of space to tap the loose ball home and put Chester in front.
It was almost and perhaps should have been three moments later. This time Wilkinson's ball over the top trying to find Dore saw Fairless rush from his line to clear but only to Grimaud some 30-yards out.
Grimaud controlled and with Fairless in no man's land fired at the open goal. The ball just drifting agonisingly wide of the post with the net gaping. United were then offered another chance when the referee adjudged a ball back to Fairless to be illegal.
Loveday lined up the indirect free kick at first dummying the Synners defence but then failed to touch the ball the second time and despite Dore smashing it into the net the goal was ruled out for the direct effort from Dore.
There was little incident for the rest of the game . Synners pushed but Wilkinson and co. held firm and there was always a chance that United may have had a chance on the break but nothing materialised.
It all meant that when the final whistle went United were able to celebrate an excellent away win, their fourth of the campaign, and take a deserved and well fought for three points.
A great night for Chester although at a price. Lawton has been diagnosed with ankle ligament damage that could see him out for up to six weeks and his potential replacement goal scorer Young looked to have sustained a broken wrist in an awkward fall.
With United going to league leaders Jarrow on Saturday they'll have to assess the injury situation and availability before deciding late on their line-up for yet another tough game.
TEAM : 1 James Hughes 2 Dan Robinson 3 Ollie Barnett 4 Reyhan Grimaud 5 Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6 Riley Everett 7 Charlie Loveday 8 Harley Lawton 9 Addis Dore 10 Ben Gallagher 11 Kymani Severin
SUBS : 12 Jude Anderson- DNP 14 Jamie Frizzel (for Barnett 46 mins) 15 Michael Mallaburn (for Severin 90 + 2 mins)16 Stephen Siyanbola - DNP 17. Brandon Young (for Lawton 55 mins)
SCORERS : Grimaud 16 mins, Young 78 mins
MAN of the MATCH : Reyhan Grimaud
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