by Jeff King (With Thanks To Colin Wotherspoon)
Wearside League Division 1 - Saturday 2nd November 2024 Chester-le-Street Reserves 3 v 1 FC Hartlepool Reserves
United's reserve lads put in a solid performance once again and with the limited number of players available it made the result all the more pleasing.
Chester started the game well on the front foot against a lively dangerous young side in FC Hartlepool creating good chances from the off. But it took until 25 mins before they eventually went in front.
Good work down our right side by Jonathan Beattie and Evan Cubby eventually saw a great cross met with a well timed run into the box by Leo Fasuan who swept the ball past the keeper to put us deservedly 1-0 in front.
United's second goal was worth waiting for. Ollie Dixon picked the ball up on the left hand side 25 yards out. He ran inside towards goal and when he was met by Hartlepool defenders he used them to bend the ball around them.
The ball finding its way into the top right hand corner giving g the keeper no chance, a goal fitting to win any game of football.
Hartlepool to their credit started to get back into the game and almost reduced the score on the stroke of half time when their striker found himself 1-on-1 with Rylie Irwin.
United's big keeper doing brilliantly to block and hold onto the ball to allow his side to go in at the break with that two advantage.
At half time the coaching staff reminding their players how that it was important to make better decisions in the final third to get that all important third goal.
But again we had some great opportunity’s to finish the game through good build up play but didn’t either make that final pass or shot on goal.
Hartlepool got a goal back on 70 minutes and this made the next 10 minutes more nervy for United who eventually restored their 2 goal lead when a great cross from Lawrence out in the left was met by a great header from Anderson to make it 3 - 1.
Hartlepool to their credit would not lie down and with United on the attack they won the ball back inside their box and broke quickly on Chester resulting in the referee deciding the tackle made by Dan Walton on their striker was a penalty.
But again Irwin did brilliantly to save the resulting kick to keep our 3 - 1 advantage and then just before the end of the game he made another great save tipping the ball over the bar from a thunderbolt strike from 20-yards out.
TEAM : 1. Rylie Irwin 2. Jonathan Beattie 3. Jack Barker 4. Keane Mitchell 5. Dan Walton 6. Matty Henderson 7. Evan Cubby 8. Ollie Dixon 9. Jude Anderson 10. Leo Fasuan 11. Harvey Lawrence 12. Alex White
SCORERS : Fasuan, Dixon, Anderson
Colin Wotherspoon's Post Game Comments :
"Overall a pleasing performance and result that keeps us in a strong league position (United are in 5th place)."
"Rylie Irwin just shaded Man of the Match with 2 outstanding saves plus the penalty save but both our full backs Jonathan Beattie and Jack Barker deserve a mention as both put in very good performances."
"But the highlight of the day for me was the strike from Ollie Dixon, sheer class!"
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