by Jeff King
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Tuesday 17th September 2024
Chester-le-Street United 1 v 0 Darlington Town
Four league wins in a row, the last two at home, have taken United up to 10th in the Ebac Northern League Division 2 and perhaps better reflects their efforts this season.
Taking into account the Durham County FA Challenge Cup win as well it means it's five from five from a young side showing real togetherness and progression. There will be no complacency though in Chester's ranks as they move forward.
The run has and is fantastic but it needs to be sustained and consolidated with every game at the moment seeming like a big game. But, the promise and potential is there for all to see. The trick to pull now is consistency.
After a 3 - 1 over Newcastle University there was no surprise given a clean bill of health that the Management Team named an unchanged side. For Riley Everett and Ben Gallagher though it was two games in two days as they'd both played the night before in the Youth Cup win over Whickham.
Darlington Town are NL new boys this season having finally progressed from the Wearside and before the game were only a point behind United having played a game less. It was expected to be a tough encounter and so it proved.
The early minutes passed without incident and it was fully six minutes before we saw an effort on goal. It came from Town when skipper James Wilson played a ball to James Beauchamp just outside the box.
The striker teed himself up for a 22-yard volley that was well-struck but also well wide causing James Hughes in the United goal no problem. United's best moment in the opening exchanges coming soon after.
A throw-in from Dan Robinson to Stephen Siyanbola was turned to the right for Gallagher. His low cross was dangerous but was cleared out of his box by Darren Richardson. The ball being retrieved by Reyhan Grimaud.
He took a great touch and then unleashed a superb left-foot 25-yarder that saw Phil Pentony in the Town goal dive full length to his left ti turn aside in fine style.
Then Michael Mallaburn played a superb diagonal ball from right to left picking out the unmarked Charlie Loveday who cut inside the box and fired low to the near post but Petony was well positioned to save comfortably.
Chester were pushing and Loveday was looking lively. He cut in from left to right and combined beautifully with Robinson taking the full back's return pass into his stride before cutting it back superbly to Mallaburn.
Mallaburn crashing a first time effort on target only to see Petony make a great diving block to keep it out and then see his defence help him out by scrambling the ball away from danger.
It became apparent that Town had a missile within their armoury with the kicking of keeper Petony. A couple of times he launched the ball forward it was reaching the United box either on the first bounce or on the full.
Dylan Wilkinson, Ollie Barnett and Everett all having to be on full alert at the aerial bombardment. From one such Petony clearance Mason Hurworth almost got in behind United but Hughes came sliding out to claim the ball in front of him.
Certainly any NFL Special Teams Coaches looking for a punter could probably do worse than give Mr Petony of Darlo Town a look at with the evidence flying from his boots!
Connor Woodford popped up on the Town right to cross deep into the Chester area. The ball running out of the box and wide left where Richardson up with his attack retrieved.
He saw his left wing cross well met by Beauchamp about 10-yards out and although the header was firm the direction was not what he'd have hoped for and the ball went wide of the target.
Then another Loveday run saw him get to the edge of the Town box but he was crowded out and went down under a challenge. The referee though saw no foul and indeed gave a free kick to Town despite Loveday needing treatment.
Siyanbola was next to take the attack to the visitors. His powerful run through the inside right channel. Bearing down on goal he didn't get a good connection to his shot. The ball almost fell to the waiting Gallagher but Petony was there first to smother.
A great ball inside from the back by Jonny Burn saw Hurworth win a corner off the dependable Barnett. Wilson delivered and the United defence took a couple of attempts but finally cleared a dangerous situation.
It was Darlo who then fashioned the best chance of the half that saw Hughes show his worth to United. A free kick just inside the United half was delivered into their box by Sam England.
Beauchamp nodded it down to top scorer Liam Jarvie who on the half-turn smashed it goal wards only to see Hughes make a great reaction block. The rebound falling to Hurworth who smashed it on target but Hughes was there again to make a great reflex save with his right hand..
Town were attacking well using the flanks to good advantage with both full backs getting forward. From a well placed left-wing cross by Richardson, Woodford got free in the Chester box but could only head well wide.
United began to get into the game more and started applying pressure with Siyanbola once again a handful and earning Richardson a yellow card for a poor challenge on him.
The free kick was some 30 yards from goal and Mallaburn delivered a great ball in space to the back post where Grimaud just failed to get on the end of with no-one in front of him.
Barnett then played a curling ball down the left that saw Siyanbola control well before bursting away from his marker. Into the box he squared his pass to the onrushing Mallaburn who was very unlucky to see his first time effort blocked bravely by Burn.
Grimaud conceded a free kick with a foul inside his own half on the free running Woodford that led to a spell where the Chester defence was really tested and came through well with support from all.
Wilson delivered the free-kick deep into United's box where Siyanbola back defending did well under pressure to head away for a corner. The corner was again taken by Wilson who struck it deep to the back post.
It found Ryan Coles getting up well about 8-yards out and powering a header on target that Hughes did well to tip over his bar. Once again Wilson took it and this time Mallaburn helped his defence out with an excellent clearing header.
Despite the pressure United did not crumble and ended the half on the attack. Barnett's long ball down the left seeing Loveday make room for a cross into the middle where Petony came from his line to claim well.
Once again the keeper launched a huge clearance downfield but as the ball sailed through the air the referee's whistle signalled the end of an entertaining rumbustious first 45 minutes on a goalless note.
Into the second half and the visitors opened well. An early corner was won and taken by Wilson with Barnett doing well to head it away. But Town were picking up the scraps and forcing forward. Successive corners followed.
From the second Beauchamp got up superbly to head towards the target only to see his effort not trouble Hughes as Wilkinson did well to make a crucial block. Chester though began once again to start playing some good neat incisive football.
A good attack saw Mallaburn find Loveday inside the box with a lovely clever pass. Loveday retained possession well but couldn't get a shot away. He did though do well to pick out Brandon Young on the edge of the box.
The young midfielder showed his attacking instincts well with a great low drive towards the bottom right hand corner but once again Petony was there to turn it around the post with a fine diving right-hand save.
Mallaburn took the corner and whipped a great ball across the face of the Town six-yard box that Wilkinson just failed to get on the end of. Chester were beginning to click into gear now.
But their defence had to be mindful of the Petony bombs! Another prodigious clearance from the keeper caused problems falling to Beauchamp who's shot was deflected wide by Wilkinson for a corner.
Wilson to the back post, Coles up to head at goal but once again lacking direction and Hughes was able to watch the ball carefully as it went wide of the upright.
A sweeping move followed by Chester. Hughes' deliberate clearance finding Young who took the ball well gliding forward and then playing it in lovely style to Siyanbola on the right.
He attacked the Town box before pulling the ball back to Mallaburn about 12 yards out. Once again the Chester wide attacker struck his shot well but once again he was thwarted by a defensive block this time for Richardson to give United a corner.
Mallaburn and Loveday worked a good short corner routine that gave Mallaburn time to pick out a delicious cross to serve up a tasty chance for Wilkinson arriving at pace.
The United skipper hardly being able to believe his luck as his vicious close range volley smashed back into play off the crossbar denying his side what would have been a deserved lead.
But what a response from Town in the very next attack when the opposite end bar kept the score-line blank. Jordan Robinson playing a good ball up to Beauchamp who held it up well before playing it round the corner to the advancing Woodford.
The speedy wide man advance into the United area before cutting back and hitting a lovely effort that saw Hughes get hands on to it to divert it up and off his own bar. Barnett scrambling the rebound clear.
United then had a free kick on halfway. Wilkinson's ball forward went over the top of the Town defence and Mallaburn anticipating it got there first inside the box. He laid it back towards Siyanbola just outside the box.
United's #9 though unable to take advantage as his spectacularly tried volley flew well wide. Town were though still very much in the contest and were trying their best to outmuscle and disrupt United's flow.
United though continued to look for the killer moment and Loveday almost provided it with a great looking ball through the heart of the Town defence but it was just inches too far forward for Siyanbola.
Then Chester should perhaps taken the lead with a superb move that cut Darlington wide open. Barnett starting it with a ball down the left to Loveday who showed great quick feet to dart infield and then split the Town defence with ball to Mallaburn on the right.
Mallaburn did well to take it in his stride and then pick out the unmarked Gallagher arriving at pace at the back post. Unfortunately for Gallagher the good passage ended there as from a great position the midfielder fired well over.
But, the goal that United had threatened did finally arrive on 75 minutes. It was a beauty as well. The ball coming to Loveday inside the Town half. He looked up and saw Mallaburn making a great run. Loveday's pass was inch perfect.
Mallaburn controlled it beautifully and sped away leaving the chasing defenders in his wake. As he entered the box and saw Petony advancing to close down the angle he showed great composure to pick his spot and give United the lead.
Siyanbola who had an earlier penalty claim turned down in the second half then had a bigger claim to reward with a fine piece of play. Young releasing him in on goal as he burst clear.
Coles desperately trying to save his side managed to slide a tackle in before Siyanbola could get into the box with only Petony to beat. His challenge caused Siyanbola to stumble and as Coles continued to slide his follow through took the striker down.
Despite there being no reason for Siyanbola to go down as he would have been 1-on-1 with the keeper, the momentum of the challenge caused him to fall but the referee not helped by his Assistant waved the foul away and Coles escaped.
The two combatants in the controversial incident were involved in the next significant moment. This time as Siyanbola tried to turn past Coles into a dangerous area the defender made a good tackle.
The ball falling to Mallaburn who hit a first time effort from just outside the box that Petony did well to dive low down too and make a decent save. Siyanbola then had a half chance in the Town box but his effort lacked power and Burn blocked it.
The ball went out for a corner and Mallaburn's delivery towards Siyanbola saw more concern for the Town defence with the ball falling to Barnett who could only hook his free effort over the bar from 14-yards.
Darlington did press and push the ball forward in the dying stages trying to create an opening for an equaliser but Wilkinson and his defenders were up to the challenge and repelled everything thrown at them.
At the final whistle United celebrated another excellent victory that they had to work really hard for and just about deserved. A win that takes them into the top 10 of the division as they completed that fourth league win in a row.
The win should keep confidence high and spirts buoyant. They'll need that as this coming Saturday they are in FA Vase action against FC Hartlepool a side that they've played away in the league already this season losing unluckily 1 - 0.
United have never won an opening game in The Vase so far in their short history. With the form they're in they perhaps will never have a better chance but they know FC Hartlepool will arrive at The Hub looking to halt United's winning run.
TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Dan Robinson 3. Ollie Barnett 4. Reyhan Grimaud 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Riley Everett 7. Michael Mallaburn 8. Brandon Young 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Ben Gallagher 11. Charlie Loveday
SUBS : 12. Dan Walton 14. Dylan Robson 15. Nathan Conroy 16. Jude Anderson 17. Harvey Lawrence - ALL not used.
SCORER : Mallaburn MAN of the MATCH : Michael Mallaburn
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