by Jeff King
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 2nd November 2024
Chester-le-Street United 4 v 1 Redcar Town
Once again United produced the goods to deliver a first class performance to make it 9 wins and a draw in their last 10 games. A remarkable run that has seen them climb to 7th in the table and within touching distance of the playoff places.
But with three tough games on the horizon no-one at United is getting carried away as the old cliché of 'taking it one game at a time' is rolled out after every victory. For now though United are enjoying the rewards their efforts are bringing.
Head Coach Micky Nelson was forced into making two changes from last week's winning side against Boldon. Dylan Robson was suspended and Riley Everett was unavailable meaning Dan Robinson and Brandon Young were brought into start.
It meant a reshuffle as the versatile Reyhan Grimaud was switched from midfield to centre back with Robinson slotting back in at right back where he was playing prior to his injury. Young returning to the centre of midfield.
United started on the front foot with Robinson bursting forward from the right into the centre of the Redcar half before being upended by Jamie Lee. Michael Mallaburn floating a dangerous free-kick to the back post that just evaded Dylan Wilkinson's head.
Despite the bright start United were rocked when Town took the lead with their first attack. Jake Williams-Muthana playing a ball down the left to Mustapha Abdullahi who got the better of a tangle with Mallaburn.
The ball spinning up on the halfway line and then not being dealt with by a combination of Robinson and Grimaud allowing the extremely quick Redcar wide man to speed away from the Chester defence.
As he accelerated into the United box the Guisborough Town Loanee showed great composure to toe-poke the ball across the advancing James Hughes and into the far corner of the net.
A shock for United but they didn't look fazed and immediately went in search of an an equaliser. Redcar conceding a lot of free-kicks early on as United pressed giving Mallaburn the chance to put the Town defence under pressure.
From one of these Mice Algie in the Redcar goal did well to come and claim but then undid his fine catch by trying to release the ball early and seeing it intercepted by Ben Gallagher.
United's youngest player advancing forward with the ball but driving it over the bar from fully 22-yards to spare Algie's blushes. Then it was Grimaud coming forward from the back with purpose that put a fine ball through the Town defence.
Stephen Siyanbola was onto the ball in a flash and got inside the visitor's box where he hesitated just a bit too long and was crowded out before he could get a meaningful shot off.
United though were looking bright and got level on 14 minutes. Brilliant holdup play from Nathan Conroy saw him switch play superbly from the left to the right to find Charlie Loveday in space.
Loveday immediately cutting inside with purpose and not hesitating to unleash a low left foot shot from just outside the area. Algie got down to the effort but could only parry it straight out to the alert Gallagher.
The midfielder who had followed Loveday's effort into the box was on hand to smash home his first senior goal for The Club from inside the six-yard box with Algie unable to recover.
Redcar though almost regained the lead when Robert Keenan hit a long free-kick from just inside his own half into the heart of the Chester box. The contested ball falling nicely to Nico Weatherall.
The Town skipper hitting a crisp low left foot shot from about 16-yards that went through a crowd of players and produced a fine diving save from Hughes who pushed the ball away in fine style with a strong right hand.
It was another United free-kick that brought the next effort on goal. This time Mallaburn's delivery was headed clear by Lee only to fall nicely into Young's path. He narrowly failed to mark his return with a goal as his 22-yard effort flew just wide.
Siyanbola was in his usual inimitable style causing the Town defence problems. He held up a ball well before finding Robinson on the right. the advancing full back swinging in a great cross that Algie came to claim and spilled.
Conroy was on hand to get to the loose ball first but he could only lash his inside the box effort over the bar from a good position with Algie on the ground and the net unguarded.
Lee went into the referee's book for a foul on Siyanbola just outside the box on the right hand side as United's big number 9 turned sharply trying to get into the box. Mallaburn delivered a clever free-kick low into the near post.
Wilkinson flicked it into the six-yard box where Grimaud looked favourite to get to the ball but under challenge went crashing to the ground. The referee waved away the United penalty appeals and protests much to the relief of the worried visitor's.
Siyanbola then picked up a booking after a tangle with Keenan that seemed harsh as both players were going for the ball. Siyanbola's cause perhaps not helped by the reaction of those around him.
Chester though were more than matching Redcar now and really pressing forward. A brilliant long diagonal ball from Mallaburn was beautifully controlled by Conroy on the left who then delivered a great cross to the back post.
The ball finding Loveday who was in a good position and he made space for an 8-yard angled drive that Williams-Muthana did really well to get across to and make a brave block.
The game went into injury time at the end of the first half but just as it looked as if the teams might go in level, United struck to make both side's halftime team talks a little different. The goal actually coming initially from a Redcar attack.
As they tried to create an opening Hughes in the Chester goal smashed a long ball forward that caught the Town defence flat-footed and enabled Conroy to run through in the clear to chase the ball.
As he bore down in the ball Algie also came from his line to try and clear the danger. Unfortunately for the keeper and his side he got to Conroy first and sent the United forward sprawling as he tried to clear the ball.
This time the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Conroy after getting up and dusting himself down stepped up and fired his fierce right-foot spot-kick past the diving Algie's left hand to give United a crucial advantage.
United had been the more progressive and dangerous side in the first half and started the second in similar vein going on the attack from the first whistle of the second 45 minutes.
Mallaburn playing another great ball into space this time down the left freeing Jamie Frizzel for a run at the Town defence. Substitute Oliver Locker conceding a throw-in that Frizzel took quickly.
His alertness to find Siyanbola saw the striker just denied a shooting chance by a last ditch tackle from Weatherall. From Mallaburn's resulting corner Conroy won the ball showing great skill to create an opening that was closed by good defending from Clayton McDonald.
United though didn't have to wait long before their pressure paid off. This time it was a lovely ball delivered inside the Redcar backline that saw Siyanbola through on goal with only Algie to beat.
The ball was on Siyanbola's weaker right foot but that didn't faze him as he fired it low past Algie from about 10-yards out to record his fourth goal in four games and give his side significant daylight.
Minutes after his strike Siyanbola was replaced by Harley Lawton in Chester's first substitution of the day. Redcar had to come forward now and from a long Williams-Muthana throw Locker found space in the box.
Gallagher though showing his defensive prowess was in the right place at the right time to make a crucial block for United to maintain their two-goal cushion and with Redcar pushing forward they were almost caught out.
Algie having to come way outside his box to beat Loveday to the ball could only guide his clearance directly to Lawton. The United substitute alive to the situation tried a long range effort at the empty goal.
However, Algie managed to make a clean legal block well outside his area to deny Lawton. The same two were then involved in another dual that Algie won again in a more conventional style.
Lawton picking a ball up on the left and then cleverly using Frizzel's overlapping run as a decoy to cut inside and curl a great 22-yard right foot effort towards the top corner. Algie though did well at full stretch to palm the ball over the bar.
Mallaburn then found his way into the referee's book when he was adjudged to have fouled Keenan despite seemingly coming away with the ball cleanly but in Mallaburn's follow through the Redcar defender did go down awkwardly.
It mattered little as United made the points completely safe on 70 minutes. This time United got the benefit of a good advantage being played by the referee. As United built an attack Loveday was seemingly held back.
However, he burst free and as the ball was played through beat the offside trap and ran through into the Redcar box before coolly rounding Algie and showed great composure to slide the ball home from an angle.
Loveday equalling Siyanbola with his 4th goal in 4 games. The goal was enough to persuade the United management to give new signing Dominic Hughes the chance to get some valuable minutes as he came on for the tiring Gallagher.
Hughes was involved almost immediately. Frizzel started another excellent United move by winning the ball in defence and turning it into a quick counter attack finding the fleet-footed Hughes on the left.
He cut inside and then drove a great pass through the Redcar defence to find Conroy in a good shooting position inside the box. The forward just missing out on a second goal of the afternoon that flew inches over the bar with Algie well beaten.
Redcar to their credit though didn't let up and still troubled United as the game went into the final ten minutes. Connor Smith finding Locker once again inside the United box but his shot saw Hughes dive full length to his left to save well.
Jack Wilson then completed the United substitutions on 84 minutes. He replaced Conroy who left the field to good applause from supporters, teammates and coaching staff for his afternoon's shift.
Moments after this an altercation saw the referee brandish a second yellow card to Redcar's Lee meaning a red card followed and he was dismissed from the game. Initially going to the dugout before being dismissed from the pitch by the referee.
United then produced a superb move down the right that almost produced a fifth goal of their afternoon. An excellent one-two from Robinson to Mallaburn and back saw Robinson in around the back of the Town defence.
He pulled the ball back to Wilson who completely wrong-footed everyone by hitting a reverse left foot shot back from the direction the ball came but it went inches wide of the far post.
As time expired Redcar did summon up the energy to fire in three quick efforts on Hughes goal in a late bid for a consolation. Abdullahi firing the first of his two straight at Hughes who held it comfortably in the centre of his goal.
Then Abdullahi was slipped through the United defence by a good sliding pass from substitute Michael Woodhouse only to see Hughes deny him a second with an excellent reflex parry to keep out his angled 10-yard drive.
The final shot of the game coming from Keenan for the visitor's from fully 30-yards and although it was well struck and on target Hughes saw it all the way and held the ball comfortably.
A spirited end to the game from Redcar but in truth they had been long out of the game before the defiance. United were slicker, sharper and much more clinical in one of their best all-round displays of the season.
One of those games where everyone came out of it with credit and one where you could see the confidence, flowing ability and steely determination running through a side now unbeaten in ten league games.
TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Dan Robinson 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Ben Gallagher 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Reyhan Grimaud 7. Nathan Conroy 8. Michael Mallaburn 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Ben Gallagher 11. Charlie Loveday
SUBS : 12. Jack Wilson (for Conroy 84 mins) 14. Harley Lawton (for Siyanbola 59 mins) 15. Dominic Hughes (for Gallagher 73 mins)
SCORERS : Gallagher 14, Conroy 45 + 2 (pen), Siyanbola 54, Loveday 70
MAN of the MATCH : Nathan Conroy
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