by Jeff King
The Isuzu FA Vase Challenge Cup 2nd Round Qualifying
Saturday 21st September 2024
Chester-le-Street United 0 v 3 FC Hartlepool
United went into the Vase tie hoping to make it third time lucky as their two previous excursions into the competition had ended in defeat in the previous seasons. Unfortunately it was not to be on a day when the opposition dominated.
Chester did have chances in the game to make the final outcome different but in the end clinical finishing and good control of the game by FC Hartlepool gave them a deserved victory and passage to the next round.
United had gone into the game on the back of five consecutive wins including their last two at home in The League. Results that have seen them rise to 10th in the table two places above their opponents. But Cup football is entirely different.
Hartlepool are a tough, well-organised side and perhaps not in a position that matches their ability. They also had the advantage of holding a victory over United back in August after a 1 - 0 home win in The League.
Team news for United centred around the unavailability through injury of influential midfielder Reyhan Grimaud who had picked up a knock on the knee in the previous 1 - 0 win over Darlington Town on Tuesday.
His place in the starting XI went to Nathan Conroy which meant a reshuffle in the United formation. Conroy playing on the right side of the attack moving Michael Mallaburn into a central midfield position and Ben Gallagher dropping deeper.
United had the first real attack of the game when Mallaburn swept a good ball left to Ollie Barnett who knocked a great ball down the left hand side to Charlie Loveday.
Loveday firing in a low cross that almost reached the waiting Stephen Siyanbola but FC skipper Dean Cope was in the right place to clear his lines. He then saw his side almost get in on goal when Nathan Bayles played a ball to Leon Parker.
Parker though was denied a shooting opportunity by good covering defending by Dan Robinson who got across to dispossess the FC striker and clear.
Loveday had started lively on the left and a good run saw him pick out Brandon Young bursting into the box. Young trying to find Siyanbola with a square pass that once again Cope did well to clear.
Then a brilliant Chester move almost brought a reward. Playing out patiently from the back Mallaburn found Gallagher in space who in turn found Conroy on the right. Conroy spotting the run of Loveday played a tremendous long ball from one side of the pitch to the other.
Loveday took the ball well cut inside the box and then saw his shot blocked by Connor Gales for a corner. Mallaburn delivered but the FC defence dealt with the danger comfortably.
FC's first real effort on goal came from centre forward Mike McGee who finding space 25 yards out struck a well hit right foot effort that was off target and didn't trouble James Hughes in the United goal.
It led to a sustained period of FC pressure with McGee and Bayles at the heart of most of it but the Chester defence was holding firm in the initial stages. Adam Chainey tried his luck with a 22-yarder that Hughes fumbled but recovered quickly to smother before FC could take advantage.
The Chainey put Parker clear on the right but with targets in the box to aim for he lacked composure and overhit his cross badly. Chester then began to come more in the game and created a couple of opportunities.
A great ball forward from Mallaburn saw Loveday away from the defence and in a chase with FC keeper Lewis McDonald. Loveday got their first and nicked it past the keeper who did well to dive back and pinch the ball before Loveday could act.
Gallagher then played a great ball from his own half to release Conroy who held it up well and found the supporting Robinson. The full back's cross looked a good one but McDonald was decisive and made the claim look easy.
On 22 minutes there was a big chance for FC which caused United a real problem. Gallagher gave the ball away on half-way to McGee who was away in the clear and 1-on-1 with Hughes.
Riley Everett the defender trying to sprint back to help his keeper. McGee entered the box but Hughes spread himself superbly as he came off his line and did brilliantly to block McGee's effort.
Unfortunately in doing so Hughes' momentum carried him straight through on the recovering Everett who was clearly in a lot of pain from the accidental collision. Everett having to be helped from the field to be replaced by Jamie Frizzel.
It meant Barnett switching to centre back and Frizzel slotting in at his usual left back position. But it also meant that United in addition to already being without Grimaud had now lost their centre back who has been in top form recently.
From the referee's restart Chainey crossed from the right, Josh Daley headed down to McGee who saw Barnett bravely block his goal bound effort.
United responded well. Mallaburn robbing Cope of the ball before playing it inside the FC box to Siyanbola who held it up well and then put Loveday in on goal in the inside left channel.
Loveday's effort was sweetly struck but McDonald dived full length to his left to keep the shot out. The ball rolling towards Conroy who looked as if he was going to tap home only to be thwarted by a great covering tackle by Daley.
Barnett then played a ball down the left to Frizzel who did well to control it and then turn it inside to Gallagher bursting forward. The young midfielder showed good feet to find a 20-yard shooting chance that fizzed just wide of the right post.
This was a good spell from United and they almost turned it into profit after Loveday was fouled on the left by Gales. Mallaburn's kick picking out Siyanbola about six-yards and the big striker heading past McDonald.
The keeper may have got a touch to the ball but was fortunate to see it cannon back off the post straight into his arms to deny United the opening goal.
Hartlepool hit back with a neat move that saw Sam Cook and Lewis Green combine well in midfield to find McGee. He again showed control and awareness to find Parker inside the United area but the finish was a poor one and went wide.
It was now FC's turn to look dangerous. McGee picking a ball up in a dangerous area on the Chester right before drifting past Dylan Wilkinson and hitting a 12-yard shot that was on target but Barnett got across to block at the expense of a corner.
Tom Gavin took it and hit it long to the back post where Cope arrived late on the six-yard box unmarked and should have done better with his header that he put wide. Cope's head in hands reaction showing what he thought of the chance.
With so much open football a goal seemed inevitable and finally arrived on 40 minutes with the visitor's going in front. A ball over the top caught the Chester defence out and Chainey was in acres of space.
He played a ball inside the box to Bayles who in turn held off Barnett and fired low past Hughes who got a hand to the firmly struck 10-yard right foot shot but couldn't stop it nestling into the bottom corner.
United responded with an attack that saw then win a throw level with the FC box. Mallaburn threw it deep to Siyanbola who laid it back to his skipper Wilkinson. he managed to fire his shot through a crowd but it was the wrong side of the post.
United were then stung two minutes into injury time when FC doubled their lead. Gavin's free kick from just inside his own half diverted for a corner by Barnett. Gales took the corner that was cleared but Daley did well to win the ball back.
He found Green on the edge of the box who was given too much time to move it on to McGee inside the United area about 14-yards out on the right hand side. United not closing down the striker quickly enough gave him a great chance.
McGee took it with aplomb curling a superb shot with the outside of his right boot high into the net past the flaying hands of the diving Hughes. It gave FC real breathing space as the half-time whistle went shortly afterwards.
Two goals down it seem that it was going to be a long way back for United as the second 45 minutes opened. However, they should perhaps have been right back in the game inside the first minute of the restart.
Loveday's cross from the left finding Conroy in space inside the FC box. He showed great skill and composure to cross to the back post where Siyanbola was unmarked and only two yards from goal.
Siyanbola though on the stretch could only smash his effort of the angle of post and crossbar with the goal beckoning and an excellent chance was gone and perhaps with it United's hopes.
McGee was soon at it again at the other end. Drifting in from the left he ghosted past three Chester challenges but from a central position inside the 'D' he could only smash his shot well over the bar.
Then it was McGee again going close. this time set-up by Parker he got a great cross shot away from just inside the United area that Hughes had to go full length to his right side to turn away in great style.
Hartlepool were looking the more likely but Chester were not giving up. Siyanbola showing great desire to chase down what looked like a lost cause deep on the FC left. His low cross saw Gavin poke the ball into the path of Conroy who let fly.
The shot though well-hit was blocked by Cope to give United a corner. Mallaburn the taker finding Barnett who got up well but who couldn't direct his header on target and it sailed harmlessly over.
Loveday was then fouled by Gales on the right who was booked. Mallaburn again the taker and this time from a deep position he sent his kick into the box where Wilkinson got a header towards goal that went well over.
On 64 minutes United made a further substitution with Kymani Severin replacing Young. He though had no time to influence the game as within two minutes of his introduction Hartlepool grabbed a third to make the game safe.
Inevitably it was that man McGee. This time taking a ball just outside the Chester box drifting first to his right and then rounding Wilkinson to hit his cross shot from 14-yards out of the reach of Hughes' diving right hand and into the far corner.
United responded with Jude Anderson coming on for Siyanbola but FC were now in cruise control and although it was Anderson that almost gave his side a lifeline. It started with a corner won on the right by Severin off Gavin.
Mallaburn's delivery somehow got through to Anderson inside the six-yard box and it looked a goal over all as he hooked it towards the net. McDonald though had other ideas and somehow made a magnificent reflex save to keep it out.
Chester did create one more noteworthy chance when Frizzel played a free kick down the left to Loveday. He cut inside the pitch before laying a great pass to Mallaburn. The Chester midfielder on the run drilling a superb 25-yard effort that whistled inches wide of the post.
Hartlepool though were seeing the game out well and even made a raft of substitutions that didn't see them lose control of the contest. It did however see them go down to 10-men for the last six minutes of the game.
Substitute Assistant Referee Dan Amory who had replaced the injured Rachel Martin at half-time drawing Referee Jack Whitfield across for a discussion.
Whitfield following the advice producing a straight red card for FC substitute Fin Smith for inappropriate and abusive language aimed at United's Frizzel. It put a slight blot on FC's day who held on easily to take a deserved victory.
For United it was a disappointing day. They had chances but squandered them whilst Hartlepool were much more clinical with theirs. McGee probably the main difference between the two sides but he was well supported by his teammates.
United looked a little flat and perhaps a touch tired after a big week in both First Team, Youth Team and College team games and need to regroup and reenergise. Their next fixture in The League at Billingham Town on Friday 27th September.
TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Dan Robinson 3. Ollie Barnett 4. Ben Gallagher 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Riley Everett 7. Nathan Conroy 8. Brandon Young 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Michael Mallaburn 11. Charlie Loveday
SUBS : 12. Jamie Frizzel (for Everett 23 mins) 14. Jude Anderson (for Siyanbola 70 mins) 15. Kymani Severin (for Young 64 mins)
MAN of the MATCH : Ben Gallagher
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