Disappointing Result But Still A Wonderful Day

by Jeff King

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 12th April 2025 Chester-le-Street United 0 v 1 Boldon C.A.

It's not often you can come off the pitch after a home defeat but still celebrate. That though was the case for United after a late smash and grab by Boldon condemned them to a surprise defeat.

But with Esh Winning crashing to a 4 - 0 defeat at Billingham Synthonia it made the result irrelevant as United confirmed their place in the end of season play-offs with a game to go.

A magnificent achievement from this young side that has not only shown their footballing ability throughout a long hard season but that they've learned how to deal with the physicality of a very tough League as well.

Since the beginning of September last year they have completely turned their season around and this set of players who play together so well deserve a shot at promotion.

It's also testament to the Park View Academy project, the excellent coaching staff and the supportive back room staff and committee who put in the hard yards to make it all happen.

The result and performance on the day did disappoint and it's not the way that United would have wanted to go into the playoffs. But with one League game to come at Redcar Town they can redress that balance and get back to winning ways.

That'll be the aim to get the confidence back and the momentum up as they head towards the biggest game in the Club's less than 5 year existence. It would also banish this game from United's minds.

After three games with an unchanged line-up United were forced into three changes to face Boldon. Dan Robinson was unavailable and Reyhan Grimaud only fit enough for the bench. Riley Everett and Alex Clark returning to the defence.

Harley Lawton finally succumbed to a string of niggling injuries and knocks and looks like being out for the rest of the season allowing Brandon Young to be promoted from the bench.

From the first whistle United started on the front foot although Boldon looked compact and well organised in defence. Michael Mallaburn creating the first half opening with a good win in midfield and pass to Charlie Loveday on the left.

Loveday held the ball up before releasing Jamie Frizzel on the overlap and his cross was put out for a corner by Alex O'Donnell. Mallaburn delivered but the Boldon defence cleared well.

It was Loveday's creativity that almost created a great chance for Stephen Siyanbola on 11 minutes. His ball through the centre of the defence seemed to give Siyanbola a clear run on goal but Aaron Williams did really well to get back and clear for a corner.

Mallaburn delivered to the near post, skipper Dylan Wilkinson up well to flick the ball on to the middle of the six-yard box but under pressure Siyanbola could only bundle the ball wide of the goal.

Dylan Robson conceded a free kick some 35 yards from goal with a foul on Jolas Sutherland. Sam Watts lined up the ball and tried his luck from the full distance. it was on target but straight at James Hughes who held it comfortably.

Loveday and Frizzel were causing problems on the left for Boldon and when the former released the latter United's full back got to the byline before putting in a cross that keeper Oliver Walker claimed well.

Liam Heywood then almost put Sutherland in on goal with a neat pass but Wilkinson was alert to the danger and came across well to block the striker at the expense of a corner that United cleared well.

A Robson long throw into the danger area was only partially cleared by the visitors and Wilkinson headed it back into the box. Siyanbola flicked it on and Nathan Conroy headed it back to him. United's top scorer's half-volley on the turn from 8-yards flashed over.

United were pressing but the story of the game so far was better defending than probing attacking. Conroy's ball over the top for Siyanbola who again attempted to break clear was thwarted this time by Boldon skipper Chris Spence.

Mallaburn put the corner kick into a dangerous area and Clark running at full speed from the back post just failed to get what may well have been a decisive header on goal.

In the opening half hour United had been the aggressor but far too many passes were going astray and they couldn't turn their possession into anything meaningful.

Young tried to change things with a great burst through the defence to the byline pulling a great ball back to Conroy who was well placed in the box but he was crowded out by a determined Boldon defence.

On 33 minutes the first real chance of the game fell to Boldon. James Hughes being hesitant with a clearance from his box and presenting the ball straight to Watts. Hughes being well off his goal line as Watts lined up for the shot.

He hit it well and true but a scrambling Hughes got back really well to atone for his error and stretched to his left to make a good save from the 30-yard effort.

It was United next with another long throw from Robson that say Siyanbola challenge Williams and the ball cannoning off a combination of the two. It fell to Frizzel about 16-yards out who poked his effort through a crowd but straight at Oliver.

As the minutes ticked down to half-time United were once again indebted to their fine young goalkeeper Hughes who came up with another big save on 41 minutes to keep the score line blank.

Scott Purvis playing a great ball wide right and inside Frizzel for the rampaging O'Donnell to burst into the box and deliver a great cross to the back post. Watts arriving late looked a certain scorer but Hughes scrambling across made a crucial block to keep the ball out.

Boldon had grown in confidence as the half progressed as they'd nullified United's efforts to get forward and they began to look dangerous on the counter attack.

A long throw by Corey Johns was headed clear by Clark only to the edge of the box where Heywood fired in a first time effort that deflected off Robson for a corner. Watts delivered and Hughes came well to punch clear.

O'Donnell being the first to the loose ball but from fully 30-yards he crashed his hopeful effort well over the bar. At the other end the last shooting opportunity of the opening half fell to United.

Frizzel playing a good ball down the left to Siyanbola who turned it inside finding Loveday who squared it neatly to Mallaburn but although he struck his 20-yarder well it was always rising and went just over the bar to keep the game goalless.

United opened the second half once again going forward and looking for an opening. Wilkinson playing a good searching ball from the back that found Siyanbola. He held it up well and passed to Mallaburn.

Mallaburn's pass right was a good one and Conroy looked to have a great shooting chance but he hesitated just enough for Johns to get back and stop him from pulling the trigger.

Everett coming forward from right back with purpose found Loveday whose instant first-time pass found Conroy in the box. Conroy showed good control to come inside on his left foot but his shot was well blocked by Spence.

United made their first substitution on 54 minutes with Ben Gallagher coming on for Young. Gallagher being immediately involved in the next chance for United which came from a deep free-kick.

It was delivered by Wilkinson and saw Frizzel up well to head the ball across the box. Gallagher was first to the loose ball and pulled it back to Conroy who's left foot shot was well hit but curled wide of the far post.

Conroy was then fouled by Purvis about 35-yards out in the inside right channel. Mallaburn sending in a well placed free kick that Wilkinson rose highest too but couldn't keep his header down and Oliver watched it go well over his bar.

The game was a real stalemate and both sides tried to freshen things up and change tactics and the flow with a slew of substitutions. United's changes saw Everett limping off to be replaced by Grimaud and Dom Hughes coming on for Conroy.

With twenty minutes to go it was United that created the most clear cut chance of to them a largely uneventful second half. Mallaburn winning a ball in midfield before releasing Loveday who slid Siyanbola in on goal.

With only Oliver to beat and about 14-yards out United's main scoring threat got his effort all wrong and hit his effort well over the bar with the goal gaping. It was Siyanbola's last significant action as he was replaced by Kymani Severin on 75 mins.

Loveday and Mallaburn combined well and the latter rolled a lovely ball into the path of Robson who was breaking forward. From just inside the box he had a great opportunity to get a strike on goal.

He went for a curling effort around Oliver but the keeper was up to the challenge and dived full length to his left to keep the effort out well with both hands. United were still pushing even if they were not flowing as well as normal.

They did though have a great chance inside the final ten minutes. Grimaud playing a great ball down the right to find Gallagher who exchanged passes with Dom Hughes before bursting clear into the box.

Unfortunately the great play to create the opening was wasted as Gallagher's finish lacked composure and direction as he drove his shot over the bar when well placed some 12-yards out.

Mallaburn won a good challenge in midfield with the ball ricocheting into Loveday's path but again the United finish lacked the power or direction to trouble Walker who saved easily.

The three United substitutes, Severin, Gallagher and Grimaud then combined well on the right to give Grimaud a chance for a shot but once again the Boldon skipper Spence was there to get in a good block.

The game had now gone into the third minute of four extra afforded after the 90. It was then that Boldon performed their smash and grab raid and took the final opportunity of the game to nick all three points.

Heywood finding himself in space on the left closed in on goal before his path was blocked. The loosed ball though ran straight to substitute John Murray. With the United defence all at the near post he looked a certain scorer.

But somehow Grimaud got across to make an exceptional block to keep Murray out. However the danger wasn't over and another substitute Jonathan Toward picked out Heywood unmarked inside the six-yard box and he finished the move.

It was a cruel blow for United who had no time to recover and fell to their first defeat in six games after an excellent run of five wins in a row. However the news came in that Esh Winning had lost making the defeat largely irrelevant.

United though now need to recharge and regroup for next weekend's final league game as they turn their immediate attentions to preparing for a play-off game against either Yarm & Eaglescliffe or Jarrow in a fortnight or so's time.

TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Riley Everett 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Michael Mallaburn 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Alex Clark 7. Nathan Conroy 8. Dylan Robson 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Brandon Young 11. Charlie Loveday

SUBS : 12. Ben Gallagher (for Young 54 mins) 14. Reyhan Grimaud (for Everett 58 mins) 15. Dom Hughes (for Conroy 66 mins) 16. Kymani Severin (for Siyanbola 75 mins)

MAN of the MATCH : Dylan Wilkinson