by Jeff King
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 29th March 2025 Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 0 Chester-le-Street United 3
Another day, another game, another win, another three points. Once again United turned in a ruthless, relentless, mature performance as they home in on their goal. The youngsters in pole position to make the Play-Offs with three games to go.
Not that it was easy. A very difficult playing surface, howling gale forces winds whipping through the Tyne Valley and a tough Ryton side made for a difficult challenge. But United rose to the challenge met it head-on and marched on.
It was a nice birthday present for the team to give to First Team Head Coach Micky Nelson and one he, the players, coaching staff and Committee all relished and rejoiced in at the end of a very solid and competent 90 minutes.
Unsurprisingly with everyone reporting a clean bill of health, United went into the game unchanged from the excellent 9 - 0 win over Grangetown Boys Club last weekend.
The game started with Ryton having the advantage of the wind blowing west to east down the pitch. The home side immediately putting United on the back foot as they played direct and tried to get in behind the Chester defence.
The home side strung the first constructive move of the game together down the left hand side. Charlie Grieveson playing it wide to ex-Chester left-back Jack Ledger who played in Louis Calvert.
As Calvert looked to break into the box the danger was snuffed out by great covering tackle by Rehan Grimaud. Declan Bisset delivered the corner to the near post where it landed in front of Richie Hoggins but he could only poke it wide.
Chester's response was a long-throw from Dylan Robson that saw Stephen Siyanbola nod the ball down into the path of Michael Mallaburn but his first time shot from 22-yards was well wide of the target.
James Hughes then came to the rescue for United when Bisset despite looking well offside got in on goal. The angle was perhaps against the Ryton player but Hughes cut down the angle really well and a trademark 1-on-1 block.
Using the wind to their full advantage Ryton keeper Brogan Colquhon launched a massive clearance down field reaching the United area. Hughes hesitated and Calvert went for the ball but Grimaud was in again to clear the danger.
Chester skipper Dylan Wilkinson then conceded a free kick for a foul on Calvert almost 35 yards from goal. Bisset clearly fancied his chances with the wind at his back and went for goal. The ball though was deflected behind by Dan Robinson.
From the resultant corner again delivered by Bisset, Fergus Lynch flicked a dangerous header on at the front post towards the back one but Robson was well placed to clear the danger from inside his six-yard box.
This gave Ryton another corner for Bisset to deliver. This time he went deep and the ball found its way to Albe Fletcher at the back stick but his finish lacked any composure as he blazed miles over the bar from 10-yards.
At this point Ryton had been pushing hard trying to use the ferocious wind to their advantage being on top in the game territorially without really creating any clear-cut chances. United on the other hand were just starting to come into the game.
On 22 minutes that all changed as against the run of play and the wind United went in front. Great work by Harley Lawton saw him find Robinson on the overlap from right back. Taking the ball at pace he steadied himself and crossed low.
Siyanbola went towards the ball but Colquhon looked favourite to collect it. Whether he took his eye off it or was distracted he missed the gather and the ball went beyond him striking his unfortunate skipper Jack Errington.
The ball cannoning off the helpless Errington and into the empty net to give United a crucial lead in such a crucial game. Ryton responded well with a good ball from Ledger finding Calvert inside the United area.
He controlled well before trying a shot that deflected off the challenging Wilkinson's block with the ball spinning up and dropping safely into Hughes' hands.
United spurred on by that opening goal inflicted more misery and hurt on Ryton with a second goal on 27 minutes to give them a great cushion. A ball forward from Grimaud saw Charlie Loveday rise like a salmon and flick a great header on.
It freed Siyanbola clear through on goal and into the Ryton box. Colquhon though doing well initially to slide out and block Siyanbola's efforts to beat him The ball rebounded into the path of Nathan Conroy.
Conroy took a lovely touch with his right foot to drag the ball past the stranded keeper with his right foot and then calmly placed his left foot effort across the goal to the far corner to double United's lead.
Ryton probably should have got back in the game shortly afterwards when Lynch curled a a great ball into the United six-yard box to find Hoggins who could only head wide from an excellent position.
United though almost made it three when Mallaburn curled a great cross from the left to the far post and Lawton arriving late was inches away from getting a touch that would have surely been decisive.
As time ticked down in the first half Lynch hit a diagonal free kick from the right that saw Ledger smash a really high up and under into the United box. Hughes under pressure from Calvert dropped the cross.
But he was helped out by his defence as Frizzel was there behind him to beat Calvert to the loose ball and clear his lines. The last significant action of the half coming when Bisset was booked for a late lunge and foul on Mallaburn.
Possession had largely been Ryton's in the opening 45 minutes but United made the better of the amount of ball they had and took their chances when they came to stun the home side.
Two goals to the good United looked well in control as the second half began. There wasn't much happening although Ryton looked to be playing slightly better against the wind than they had when it was in their favour.
United were forced into a change on 53 minutes with Lawton limping off to be replaced by Dom Hughes. Ryton attacked well down the right with Fletcher trading passes with Calvert.
He then delivered a lovely low searching cross into the middle of the United box which Grimaud intercepted and cleared in final style. United then made their second substitution on 57 minutes with Brandon Young replacing Conroy.
Young's first contribution was a lovely through ball into Siyanbola's path but the big striker's 14-yard effort when well placed was weak and Colquhon saved easily.
Ben Gallagher then entered the fray on 73 minutes for Loveday with Ryton countering with several substitutions of their own. The changing of personnel from both sides slowed down a game that the wind was effecting.
An example being a Mallaburn free kick in a good position that he whipped into the box but carried too far in front of the waiting Chester attackers. One of the Ryton substitutes, Matty Todd did get a shooting chance just inside the Chester box.
He drilled his effort low to Hughes' left hand post but the United keeper and time and awareness to get down to the shot and smother it with comfort. Then when Grimaud fouled Calvert wide right it gave Ryton a dangerous free kick.
The ball was delivered by Morgan Dart and almost found Errington free but Frizzel nipped in to clear a dangerous situation and deny Errington a chance too amend for his first half own goal.
United were playing what possession football they could and were cruising through the game as a very flat looking Ryton side really did not put them under any relevant pressure and paid a further penalty on 85 minutes for a lacklustre showing.
Brandon Young flicking a lovely set-up header into Gallagher's path on the right. The young Chester midfielder battled well but saw his attempted forward burst thwarted by an Errington challenge.
The ball bounced into midfield and Siyanbola was first to it and without hesitation smashed a superb 25-yard right foot rocket past the diving Colquhon's left had to seal the deal for United.
Brad Hughes came on for Mallaburn with four minutes to go and he almost set up a fourth United goal late on with a corner that he flashed across the six-yard box towards Siyanbola who just failed to get a telling touch to the delivery.
It mattered not as the referee's whistle ended the contest and signalled a huge step forward for United in the push for the play-off places. With three games to go it means United are now in pole position.
Both Thornaby and Esh Winning though are still right on the heels of this Chester side. A mere point behind and all with three games to play. Mathematically Ryton are still in the race but it would take quite a remarkable turnaround for them to make it now.
For United it was job done and move on to the next challenge which will be Billingham Synthonia next Saturday afternoon at 'home' at The Ford Quarry Hub.
TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Dan Robinson 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Michael Mallaburn 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Reyhan Grimaud 7. Nathan Conroy 8. Dylan Robson 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Harley Lawton 11. Charlie Loveday
SUBS : 12. Ben Gallagher (for Loveday 73 mins) 14. Dom Hughes (for Lawton 53 mins) 15. Brad Hughes (for Mallaburn 86 mins) 16. Brandon Young (for Conroy 57 mins)
SCORERS : Errington O.G., Conroy, Siyanbola MEN of the Match : Michael Mallaburn/Dan Robinson (Couldn't be split!)
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