by Jeff King
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 14th December 2024
Alnwick Town 0 v 1 Chester-le-Street United
After falling victim to Storm Darragh the week before United faced their longest trip north looking to get back to winning ways in The League and maintain their outside chance of a play-off place.
They had in their last outing won a penalty shoot-out against Esh Winning in the Brooks Mileson Memorial 5 - 4 after a creditable 2 - 2 draw in the 90 minutes. But they hadn't had a chance to build on that until the visit to Alnwick.
There was also another good reason to come away with a win after back in August, Alnwick had arrived at The Ford Quarry Hub and handed United their biggest loss of the season, 5 - 0.
Team news saw United make two changes from their successful cup exploits. Brandon Young was injured so Ben Gallagher came in and with Stephen Siyanbola out suspended Nathan Conroy was asked to lead the line in attack.
On the substitute's bench there were a couple of interesting selections. Recent signing and Park View Academy student Alex Clark being involved with the first team for the first time.
Plus, a huge bonus as last season's top scorer Kobe Bewicke is in-between seasons from Collegiate USA football and was home for an extended Christmas break. Making himself available he also was on the bench.
Despite being in the bottom reaches of the table, the home side made the brighter start to the game attempting to take advantage of the pitch's slope. An early Evan Wilkinson 20-yard curler going wide from the game's first chance.
Then a Jamie Frizzel foul on Max Anderson gave Alnwick a dangerous free kick not far outside the box on the right hand side. Luke Baston's delivery though evaded everyone and drifted wide of the far post.
Alnwick then forced a corner that Baston delivered seeing Scott Shepherd get on the end of it unmarked in the 6-yard area but he put his header over as he stretched to meet it.
Then a lovely move down the right saw United struggling to contain Alnwick until Captain Dylan Wilkinson stepped in to stop Jaymie Shell getting a shot in on goal. From the resultant Baston corner Wilkinson was there again to clear.
Wilkinson was certainly marshalling his defence superbly as Town continued to press. Josh Iley playing a ball right to Baston who whipped in a dangerous cross that United's skipper cleared well in front of Anderson.
Alnwick forced yet another corner as Wilkinson defended well and Baston swung the ball deep into the six-yard area where James Hughes showed great hands under pressure to claim well.
Finally United broke the Alnwick dominance and won a corner of their own. From it Harley Lawton set Jet Fittolani up on the right-hand side of the box but his cross-shot was well blocked by the home side's Wilkinson.
Then from a Michael Mallaburn corner Reyhan Grimaud had a half chance about 12-yards out but he scuffed his first effort and when the ball broke back to him his second effort was easily blocked.
Alnwick's best chance seemed to be from a set play. Another Baston corner saw Shepherd get in a neat downward header but Hughes was able to get down low to save well at his post.
United were having to deal with balls into their box as a regular occurrence. Gallagher helping out his defence with not one but two clearing headers. The second fell to Yannick Aziakonou who's snapshot 22-yarder was well wide.
Frizzel then set-up Fittolani and the Aussie wide man saw his well hit angled drive deflected for a corner off Alnwick skipper Aziakonou. Mallaburn's delivery too deep and too far for anyone to capitalise on it.
Grimaud then played a superb ball down the right to Charlie Loveday who looked to be through 1-on-1 with Town keeper Matty Alexander. Loveday though hesitated as he tried to look for a better shot and Iley was there to dispossess him.
Just before half-time Aziakonou again had an opportunity just outside the box but his shot deflected off the alert Wilkinson for a corner. Baston delivered and the ball fell awkwardly in the Chester box.
Both Frizzel and Conroy failed to clear the danger well enough and Shepherd once again up for the set piece had a great chance from about 10-yards out but he flashed his effort just wide of the post.
Half-time came with the score line blank which would have pleased United more than Town as Alnwick had dominated possession and territory without really creating a worrying moment for the excellent Chester defence.
As the sides came out for the second 45 minutes United had made a change with Dom Hughes coming on for Fittolani who had landed awkwardly under a challenge in the first half and was somewhat dazed and unable to continue.
Despite now kicking up the slope Alnwick continued to force the pace. Usman Ogidan showing good hold-up play before slipping Wilkinson in on goal. With only Hughes between him and an opener the full back blazed wide with his weaker right-foot.
Then Aziakonou played in Josh Walker with a lovely through ball and Walker crashed an excellent angled drive on target that Hughes tip really well to tip over the bar. The resultant corner from Baston cleared once again.
United responded from a well delivered Mallaburn free kick deep into the heart of the Alnwick box. Chester's Wilkinson causing problems and saw the ball fall to Conroy 10-yards out. His on-target effort brilliantly parried by Alexander.
Joe Eggleston had been a good outlet for the home side on the right but largely hadn't troubled the United defence. However one run from him saw him mishit a cross into the box that the scrambling Hughes did really well to palm away.
Walker was first to the loose ball but fired his middle of the box effort inches over the bar as once again the home side threatened. At this stage it was all Alnwick peppering shots at the United goal and seeing the majority blocked.
One being a crucial one as Iley's shot beat Hughes but United's skipper once again put his body on the line. Alnwick then went desperately close to the opening 56 minutes following their enterprising opening to the second half.
Walker playing Shell in on goal who drove his low shot at goal only to see Hughes make an excellent diving parry. The rebound falling to Aziakonou just inside the box who shot at the open net only to see Frizzel make a superb recovering goal line clearance.
United made their second change on 57 minutes with Bewicke coming on for Dom Hughes and then five minutes later replaced Gallagher with Dan Robinson who went to right back with Grimaud switching to midfield.
Almost immediately following the change United were given a big boost to their chances as Alnwick were reduced to ten men. Walker being dismissed for a very late tackle on Riley Everett.
Everett staying down for extensive treatment before he had to be carried from the field with what looked a really bad injury. It meant a United debut for substitute Clark who came on to replace him.
Before Alnwick really had time to re-group they were dealt another blow as United broke the deadlock on 65 minutes with a superb goal. Lawton played a ball up to Bewicke just on the edge of the box. There didn't appear to be much on.
But United's returning striker showed superb footwork to spin free into a shooting position and then from just outside the box lashed a stunning right-foot shot high past Alexander into the top right-hand corner of the net.
What a strike it was and what a way to mark his return from Bewicke. Alnwick responded by making four changes all at the same time and tried to re-organise but United now had their tails up and took the initiative.
Clark set-up a great United attack that almost resulted in a second for Bewicke. The centre back's astute pass finding Bewicke who played it left to Loveday. He returned the ball neatly back into Bewicke's path but his shot was excellently blocked by Shepherd.
A goal and a man up United were in control of the game as Alnwick started to fade and couldn't find a way forward against a rock solid United defence and the safe hands of Hughes.
As time ticked down it was actually United that almost killed the game off late. Mallaburn's great ball over the top finding Loveday inside the Alnwick box but although he struck his 12-yard effort well it only hit the side-netting.
It mattered not as the referee's whistle ended a game where United were often dominated but defended well and Bewicke did superbly to create and finish his chance.
Perhaps Alnwick deserved a share of the spoils and on another day may well have gotten them but United showed real resilience and fortitude as they ended athree-match losing streak in The League and took a welcome three points.
TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Reyhan Grimaud 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Michael Mallaburn 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Riley Everett 7. Nathan Conroy 8. Ben Gallagher 9. Jet Fittolani 10. Harley Lawton 11. Charlie Loveday
SUBS : 12. Dan Robinson (for Gallagher 62 mins) 14. Alex Clark (for Everett 63 mins) 15. Dom Hughes (for Fittolani 46 mins) 16. Kobe Bewicke (for Conroy 57 mins)
SCORER : Bewicke 57 mins MAN of the MATCH : Dylan Wilkinson
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