By Jeff King
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 8th February 2025 Bedlington Terriers 0 v 0 Chester-le-Street United
United went into this game against a side who had lost 10 of their last 11 games full of confidence after last weekend's 2 - 1 home victory over F.C. Hartlepool. They came out of it frustrated and a little disappointed feeling it was two points dropped.
Particularly as none of the teams around them winning. Indeed both Thornaby and Esh Winning fell to defeats as the play-off picture intensifies week on week. Had United found a winner they'd now be sitting in fourth place in the Division.
That said 60 points with 8 games to go is a significant return for a young Chester side that was at one point albeit very early in the season looking at the other end of the table.
United were unchanged from the team that played seven days ago and even their substitutes were named on the bench for the second game running as consistency of selection continued.
One factor that looked as if it might hinder United's process was the Bedlington playing surface. A pitch that looked as poor as it turned out it played. Michael Nelson didn't turn into Mikel Arteta after the game though and chose not cite the pitch as a leveller.
United were dominant from the off and had the Terriers on the back foot from the first whistle although despite constant possession they did find it difficult to carve out any real clear cut chances.
Some of their approach play on the tricky surface was good to watch but they lacked conviction and clinic finishing in the final third. Meanwhile at the other end Bedlington huffed and puffed but never really caused the United defence a problem.
United's first opportunity came when Michael Mallaburn played a ball wide left to Charlie Loveday who held it up well before releasing the overlapping Reyhan Grimaud in a dangerous position.
The full back's opportunity to cross into the middle to look for an opening being denied by an excellent sliding block tackle from Bedlington's Christ Zoma. From the throw-in from Dylan Robson the ball was headed out back to Grimaud.
He found Loveday who turned inside and crossed with his left foot into the middle where Jet Fittolani got in front of his marker about 8-yards out but couldn't get enough power on his effort to trouble Bedlington keeper Jordan Mallaburn.
A nice combination between Nathan Conroy and Loveday saw Conroy do well to muscle past the defence to create a shooting chance from just inside the box but again the power in the finish was lacking and Mallaburn saved easily.
Then United almost took the lead after Robson won the ball superbly in midfield and sent Fittolani away on the left. He cut inside the box and curled his right foot shot past Mallaburn but it was inches too high.
It was all United with another good move seeing Alex Clark play the ball wide left to Jamie Frizzel who curled a great ball down the line to set Fittolani at the Bedlington defence.
The wide man's cross reaching his opposite wing partner Loveday who came inside the inside right channel and from the edge of the box hit a good left foot shot but unfortunately straight at Mallaburn who held it easily.
A rare home attack saw Ryan Chater and Jordan Laidler combine well to open up an opportunity. Laidler curling the ball to the back post towards Zac Benjamin but Clark was across to clear any impending danger.
Back came United and Frizzel picked a ball up in acres of space driving forward and getting into the Terriers box but his final effort lacked conviction and was neither a shot or a cross that drifted wide of the far post.
A United free kick from deep from Mallaburn saw him find Loveday on the right hand side of the box and he played it first time to Conroy who turned his marker well but again shot straight at Mallaburn from a good position.
Loveday then did well to send the galloping Grimaud away on the right. This time the rampaging full back did get a good low cross in but Mallaburn dived outwards to claim the ball before it could reach Stephen Siyanbola.
Frizzel and Fittolani were causing Bedlington problems down the left with good connections. Frizzel once again finding Fittolani in space who attacked the box before pulling the ball back to Conroy.
Conroy had two bites of the cherry both blocked by good Bedlington defending leading to a United corner. Mallaburn delivering but skipper James Hampson heading the ball clear for the home side.
Loveday then crossed left footed from the right to find Fittolani who turned well inside the defender before hitting a fierce shot goal wards that Hampson did really well to block bravely.
The final United attack of a goalless first half came again from the left and again it was Frizzel setting Fittolani who drove into the box hitting a low drive towards the near post but it was too close to Mallaburn who got down easily to save.
At the half it had been virtually one-way traffic but the Terriers dogged defending had withstood the United pressure and restricted Chester to no real clear cut chances.
The second half opened in similar vein to the first with United immediately on the attack. Siyanbola carrying the ball well down the left wing shrugging off defenders and then turning a good ball into the path of Fittolani.
He pulled the trigger first time from just inside the box but saw his effort blocked brilliantly by the alert Zoma sliding across to snuff out the danger. Then Frizzell tried his luck from long range got his shot on target but Mallaburn saved easily.
United's Mallaburn then switched play beautifully with a ball left to free Fittolani who found space to cross low to Siyanbola but once again the chance went a-begging as United's top scorer failed to control the ball on the difficult surface.
Although United were continuing to dominate Bedlington kicking down the slope were showing more intent. A clearance by keeper Mallaburn finding Connor Taggart on the left and he found Benjamin in a dangerous area.
Grimaud though came across and made a good tackle on Benjamin conceding a corner. Chater took it delivered it into the middle and James Hughes came off his line to make an easy claim.
Robson then played a great ball into the inside right channel and Siyanbola was away from halfway with the defence in his wake. Unfortunately despite getting into the box Siyanbola never had sufficient control and ran out of room.
Had he managed to get the ball out of his feet and had time to compose and look up he would have seen that the frustrated Mallaburn had made a great supporting run and was in a great position to strike.
Terriers had a half chance moments later. Hampson putting a long free kick into the United box where Hughes only half punched clear. The ball falling to Chater who from 14-yards hit it instantly but Mallaburn made a crucial block.
Then United missed a glorious chance to take the lead. Mallaburn's free kick to the back post saw Frizzel rise superbly and nod the ball down to Siyanbola who from inside the six-yard box only had the keeper to beat.
Unfortunately for United the striker couldn't add to his 19-goal haul for the season as he completely miskicked with the net at his mercy.
The pressure continued from United who won a corner that Mallaburn delivered. Once again Frizzel was up and saw his header deflect off Sam Watson and drop to Dylan Wilkinson who could only volley well over from 12-yards.
With ten minutes to go Bedlington had their first real shot in anger on goal. Benjamin's 22-yard effort with his left foot well struck but flashing wide of Hughes' right hand post with the keeper watching cautiously on.
Both sides had made substitutions and United's in particular were looking sharp and added energy. Robson finding Brad Hughes, making his United debut from the bench, inside the box but he was denied as he turned by a blocked tackle from Reece McEwan.
Another substitute Harley Lawton took a pin-point corner finding Wilkinson in the centre of the box and United's skipper's downward header was on target but Mallaburn got down and smothered it easily.
Once again United attacked down the left with Frizzel finding Brad Hughes who created room for a probing low cross that found Lawton but once again he and United were denied by Zoma who cleared well.
A James Hughes clearance looked to have freed Siyanbola on the right and with players supporting it seemed like a great opportunity for United but was ended with a rather cynical challenge from Zoma that earned him a yellow card.
Two of United's substitutes then combined when Brad Hughes did well to win a ball in midfield and then send Ben Gallagher racing towards goal. Gallagher though rather wasteful trying a shot from distance that was well over the bar.
As time ticked down United came their closest to breaking the deadlock on two occasions in quick succession. Gallagher making a great run through the centre before sliding Loveday in on goal.
Loveday turned to give himself a shooting angle but was unlucky to see the ball cannon off Hampson and on to the post. There was a suspicion that the ball deflected off Hampson's arm but the referee didn't see it as a penalty incident.
The Loveday broke away brilliantly down the left before pulling the ball back into the middle of the box to find Siyanbola but once again the finish from a great position was poor and was blazed high and wide.
Wilkinson then played a ball forward from the back that was controlled well by Siyanbola and then slid through for Lawton to be 1-on-1 with keeper Mallaburn. Whether it was hesitation or the ball sticking in the pitch Lawton delayed.
When he finally struck his effort it was on target and Mallaburn did very, very well to push it away with his right hand. Without doubt the best save he made all afternoon but perhaps in truth the only difficult one he had to make.
United's last chance perhaps summed up their afternoon. Gallagher finding Siyanbola who held the ball up well before laying it in to the path of the supporting Frizzel.
Frizzel though couldn't hit the target or test Mallaburn as he flashed his left foot drive inches wide of the far post and end United's chances for the day. A frustrating afternoon and definitely a feeling for United of two points dropped.
Had they managed to win they would have moved to fourth in the League. As it is they now have the same points as fourth placed Esh Winning who have four games in hand on United.
At this stage of the season it's wins that count and whilst United will rue missed chances they perhaps didn't create enough opportunities to break down a resolute and well organised Bedlington defence who defended their goal well.
TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Reyhan Grimaud 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Dylan Robson 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Alex Clark 7. Nathan Conroy 8. Michael Mallaburn 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Jet Fittolani 11. Charlie Loveday
SUBS : 12. Ben Gallagher (for Mallaburn 74 mins) 14. Dan Robinson - DNP 15. Harley Lawton (for Conroy 59 mins) 16. Brad Hughes (for Fittolani 81 mins)
MAN of the MATCH : Jamie Frizzel
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