by Jeff King
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Tuesday 6th August 2024
Yarm & Eaglescliffe 0 v 1 Chester-le-Street United
If ever there was a game that could give United hope and possibilities for the season this may well be it. The Management Team will not be getting carried away but this was the type of game United would probably have lost last season.
On a pitch that was best described as 'poor' and one that certainly did not help United's passing game they dug in, battled hard, kept their shape throughout the 90 minutes and showed a lot of steel and determination.
They also turned the tables on a side that had won their two previous home games scoring eight goals and only conceding one. A team that United lost 1 - 0 in both league encounters to last season. They need to build on this going forward.
Unsurprisingly with a clean bill of health and a win in their pockets John Gamble named an unchanged line-up from Saturday's victory as the faced a side who had won their last two games both at home.
To say the start of the game was lively would be an understatement as both teams realised earlier that long and direct might be the only way to force the pace on a surface that didn't give much encouragement to ball players.
Stephen Siyanbola found himself cautioned for the first late tackle of the game on Daniel Jones inside the first two minutes. Harry Stewart-Titchiner then found himself on the ground inside the United area as James Hughes slid out to challenge him.
The Yarm striker going down and amid vociferous appeals the Assistant started to raise his flag and then put it down again. The referee stopped the game and conferred with his Assistant before turning away the home side's appeals.
Seconds later United were indebted to Hughes when a long ball at the heart of the United defence fell kindly for Stewart-Titchner who's first time effort from 8 yards out was brilliantly and instinctively blocked by Hughes' flying save.
United then had their first opening when Dan Robinson burst forward from the right back spot before being dripped just outside the box. Harley Lawton swung in the free kick but it went well wide of the target.
Charlie Loveday had made his usual customary good start and won a corner off Sam Conway after a good run down the right. Lawton took and delivered the ball into the six-yard box but Yarm Keeper Will Lawrence came and claimed it well.
Reyhan Grimaud became the next United player to try and run from midfield only to be fouled 25-yards out. This time Michael Mallaburn tried his luck but although well struck his effort was always rising and cleared the bar comfortably.
Mallaburn did get United's next free kick given for handball on target but it presented no problems for Lawrence who held it easily. United were trying or even having to play on the counter at this stage and came up with the best move of the game thus far.
Jamie Frizzel made good progress down the left before finding Addis Dore who's delightful first time flick freed Lawton on the left. He fired a superb ball across the Yarm box where Ross Harrison did well to turn away from the incoming Siyanbola.
Yarm were starting to create real pressure on the United defence with their direct play and use of the flanks. The ball seeming to go quickly from one side to the other. One such attack almost brought the home side a reward.
Conway finding himself with crossing room fizzed a ball across the United six-yard box where Hughes did superbly to get a hand to it and divert it away from the predatory Tom Atkinson who was unmarked and waiting to pounce.
Yarm were putting lots of balls forward and creating pressure with seeing any clear cut chances falling as United's back four and Keeper dealing with the bombardment at the cost of corners.
One such moment was delivered by Sam Lawrence to find Josh Marshall who turned the ball into the middle where Jones did well to get a header on target but it was weak and Hughes saved easily.
Jones seemed to be up with his attack as much as being in defence and crashed a shot just wide from 20-yards after Atkinson's presence caused concern to United's back line.
In truth the game though was devoid of both quality openings and chances were at a premium as neither side could find any fluency. Dore in particular although looking lively and trying to combine with Lawton saw their efforts unrewarded.
The half ended with a rather unsavoury incident that led to a red card for Yarm's Marshall. There was no doubt he was going for the ball but when you have two feet off the ground miss the ball and take the man, Frizzel in this case, then you give the referee little alternative.
To Frizzel's credit the United left back got back up after a second red card challenge in successive matches and limped his way down the tunnel as the referee ended the first turgid 45 minutes.
The questions on many United lips at half time were mainly two-fold. Would Frizzel recover and would Gamble withdraw Siyanbola who seemed susceptible to a second yellow and a red card himself as he put himself about up front much to the annoyance of the volatile home technical area.
The answer to both conundrums was answered as the team's emerged for the second 45 minutes. Both were still on and both would continue for the time being. Siyanbola winning an early corner for United off Sam Lawrence.
Mallaburn's delivery though was poor and no chance was created although there was another tussled involving Siyanbola with Gamble immediately responding by withdrawing his big centre forward and sending on Dan Walton in his place.
Leo Cheesebrough then fouled Lawton midway inside the Yarm half. Lawton floated the ball in and Dylan Wilkinson got a header on it that deflected off Jones for a corner.
Lawton taking and whipping in a low dangerous ball to the near post that Will Lawrence did very well to get too first and punch it away on the stretch from the waiting Chester forwards.
It was a game of free kicks and corners that weren't really being delivered well and when they were the chances were wasted. Cheesebrough's ball into the United box being met by Harrison who headed well over from a reasonable position.
Conway then did well on the left to create space but his cross was too deep. Joe Dalton retrieved it on the opposite flank but as he advanced dangerously into the box he was dispossessed by the impressive Frizzel who had recovered well from his first half knock.
United did manage to string one decent move together when Dan Robinson's clever ball forward was headed neatly into Loveday's path by Walton. Loveday edging into the box before cutting the ball back dangerously to Dore.
The young striker controlled well before firing in a great goal bound effort that saw Jones bravely block to avert the danger. Stewart-Titchner then did well out on the left in a breakaway from Yarm to find Atkinson inside.
Yarm's top scorer though could only smash his long range effort wide of the post with Hughes watching it comfortably all the way. Then a Josh Larkin on-target from just inside the area effort hit Grimaud and bounced to safety.
As the game went into injury time United almost carved out a chance. Wilkinson's clever long free kick was headed into the danger area by Frizzel and Grimaud got in front of the Yarm defence but just couldn't connect.
The just as the game looked destined to finish goal less United struck. Lawton did well to get a bouncing ball inside the box to Walton. He cut across the box before turning an 8-yard shot back at goal with the ball going through the legs of Will Lawrence to hit the back of the net.
A great moment for the substitute as he bagged his second goal of the season which looked certain to give United all three points. However Yarm had one last flashing chance as a long ball from the kick off was headed out by Wilkinson.
It fell to Yarm substitute Charlie Fixter on the edge of the box but his well hit half-volley was inches wide of the post. It was the last chance of the game as United celebrated a great three points on the road.
Two home games on the 3G pitch, two losses and then two away fixtures on difficult turf pitches and two wins. Who said football's 'a funny old game.' This was a game that lacked quality and style and certainly not a classic.
But United won't care about that as they pick up two wins in a row before they return 'home' to The Ford Quarry Hub this Saturday against Thornaby F.C.
TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Dan Robinson 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Reyhan Grimaud 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Ollie Barnett 7. Charlie Loveday 8. Michael Mallaburn 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Addis Dore 11. Harley Lawton
SUBS : 12. Dylan Robson - DNP 14. Harry Marr - DNP 15. Dan Walton (for Siyanbola 51 mins) 16. Kymani Severin (for Loveday 65 mins) 17. Ben Gallagher - DNP
SCORER : Walton 90 + 2 mins
MANAGEMENT MAN OF THE MATCH : Jamie Frizzel
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