by Jeff King
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 11th January 2025 Sunderland West End 1 v 3 Chester-le-Street United
United's march up the Division 2 continued unabated with another great win 'on the road' as they took their unbeaten run in The League to six games. Five wins and a draw, four of those wins away from home.
The latest of which came on the ground they share with owners Sunderland West End at The Ford Quarry Hub. It meant revenge for United after going down in their version of the home game 2 - 1 on the opening day of the season.
It is also a run that has seen them now rise to 5th in the table therefore currently occupying the final League play-off place. United have of course thanks to the surface at 'The Hub' played more games than their rivals but the table still makes good reading for United's faithful.
There was one change to the starting line-up from the 'Chester Derby' wi 7 days previously. Kobe Bewicke who is due to fly back to College in the USA this week coming in for Nathan Conroy who dropped down to the bench.
With both sides familiar with the surface an open and entertaining game was anticipated between Landlords and Tenants and so it proved with the first great chance falling to United on 5 minutes.
Michael Mallaburn winning a ball well in midfield and driving towards the West End box before slipping a lovely ball through to Stephen Siyanbola who only had Adam Linsel to beat.
Unfortunately though for United's top scorer his touch let him down after he'd burst in on goal. Just as he tried to steady himself to shoot he knocked the ball too far forward and Linsel was able to smother the ball and deny the chance.
United's misfortune was compounded when West End swept into the lead a mere minute later with a smart quick thinking play. Taylor Ford had made the initial break that saw Alex Clark come across and concede a corner.
Ford worked a quick kick with John Anderson before the Chester defence could organise and then fired a low cross to the back post. It's target was the unmarked prolific Craig Linsel.
it found the league's second top scorer needed no second invitation. From on and around the six-yard he swept the ball home to put the home side one-up and give them a real boost to their confidence.
United's response was swift but not decisive. Jamie Frizzel finding Bewicke on the edge of the box who controlled the ball well but saw his well-struck effort blocked by Ethan Thomson.
Then Siyanbola was fouled just outside the box in a dangerous central position. Bewicke lined up the free-kick but disappointingly could only hit his effort into the well organised defensive wall.
In the early stages Ford was showing up well for West End and he was unlucky when on the break he got a shooting chance from 20-yards that only went wide thanks to a slight deflection off Reyhan Grimaud.
Ford went across to take the corner and his in-swinger to the front post was put out for another corner by Mallaburn. His second effort was also met by Mallaburn who cleared the lines for United.
West End were now beginning to get on top and create chances. Charlie Green cutting in from the right before sliding a ball through the United defence for Craig Linsel to run onto but his angled effort was well blocked by Clark.
Then it was Green again putting Craig Linsel through on goal 1-on-1 with Hughes making a great block at close quarters although the Assistant's flag for offside saved Linsel's blushes.
West End's counter attacking was swift and dangerous causing United problems. One such attack came from their own box as United pushed for an equaliser. David Hodgson finding Ford who sprayed the ball to the right finding Green.
He cut inside and drove a fierce low effort towards goal that the recovering Grimaud got a slight piece of as he tried to block with the ball whistling just wide of the far post.
It was certainly all West End now as United struggled to contain them and Clark conceded a free kick some 25-yards from goal for a foul on Ford. Anderson stepped up and hit a terrific effort that saw Hughes dive full length to his left to push away.
It was Hughes again to United's rescue when Thomson came striding out of defence and made great ground into the heart of the United defence before playing a great through ball for Linsel to run onto.
This time Linsel got his shot away but the ever alert Hughes reacted superbly to block the 1-on-1 effort. The ball fell to the supporting Tom Goundry whose follow-up was well defended and cleared from danger by the United defence.
United finally got forward courtesy of a Mallaburn surge from midfield after he won the ball well. He was virtually through on goal but his final touch just let him down and Adam Linsel was able to come off his line quickly and claim the ball.
Then from a Frizzel throw-in Siyanbola on the left won a corner off Aaron Croft. Mallaburn delivered and Frizzel got up well to head towards goal but there wasn't enough power in the header and Linsel saved easily.
It was Mallaburn's last involvement in the game as he had picked up a knock off field when slipping and colliding with the off-field goals and hadn't been able to fully recover.
He was replaced seconds before half-time by Dylan Robson who had hardly been on the field when the referee blew his whistle to end the first 45 minutes with West End going in a goal to the good.
The second half opened with West End forcing two early corners that were well defended and cleared by United before Siyanbola picked up a yellow card for simulation.
United were beginning to look more like their potent best as each minute passed. Jet Fittolani showing great footwork to carve out an opening then laying the ball off to Grimaud just inside the box but he was thwarted by a brave Croft block.
The pattern for the half was set. United pushing forward with pace at the West End defence with the home side looking to play on the break. United moved a ball swiftly from left to right through Loveday, Robson and Grimaud to find Fittolani.
He in turn tried to cross but saw his ball in deflect away of Goundry for a corner. Loveday delivered and saw Adam Stuart do really well to head clear under pressure from Wilkinson.
A counter from West End saw Green pick out Goundry on the left who advanced with purpose before smacking a well-struck 20-yard left foot that was fortunately straight at Hughes who held it well.
Wilkinson showed his midfielders and attackers the way forward with a driving run through the centre before finding Fittolani wide on the right. Wilkinson kept going and was just beaten to Fittolani's right-wing cross by Thomson.
With Wilkinson up with his attack Linsel, Ford and Green looked to combine to set-up a chance but Dan Robinson covering for his skipper did really well as last line of defence to nip in and clear the danger.
United though were now on top and with Loveday starting to stretch the West End defence reaped their rewards on 61 minutes with a clinical equaliser. Loveday's direct run with the ball at the home defence causing problems.
Loveday got the break of the ball and made it almost to the byline before cutting the ball back along the six-yard box line where Siyanbola met it with purpose and swept his left-foot effort past the despairing dive of Linsel.
Now they were level United went for the kill but once again were almost undone on the counter attack. Craig Linsel spinning away from Frizzel on the right before delivering a great low cross that Green ran onto and looked like a certain scorer.
Green met the ball about 8-yards out and hit it first time only to be denied by the excellent Hughes who somehow got across to spread himself well and make another brilliant blocking save. It was to prove a crucial moment.
Conroy came on to replace Bewicke and within seconds of entering the fray should have put United ahead. Clark cleared well finding Loveday who sped at the centre of the West End defence before measuring a ball that put Conroy clear.
Adam Linsel came sliding out at Conroy's feet but the United substitute cleverly took the ball around the sprawling keeper to open up the goal. It should have been 2 - 1 but somehow Conroy with the whole goal gaping in front of him shot wide of the empty net.
United were now really in the ascendency throwing bodies forward at every opportunity. Again they almost snatched the lead this time Grimaud hooked a shot from just inside the box over Linsel.
Unfortunately he saw his effort cannon to safety via the inside of the post with West End scrambling the ball clear at the expense of a corner delivered by Loveday. Frizzel got up well and powered an 8-yard header on target.
But despite the ferocity of the header it was straight at Linsel who made a good comfortable save catch to keep the ball out.
Next up it was Robinson bursting up and across from the right. He laid the ball into the path of Conroy who from the edge of the box smashed a superb low drive that was within a whisker of finding the corner of the net.
United were threatening now and did take the lead on 78 minutes with a second from Siyanbola with West End being the architects of their own downfall as a back pass fell woefully short and Siyanbola pounced.
Controlling the ball beautifully he was able to drag it around a floundering Linsel and fire it home into an empty net to confirm the turnaround of the game in United's favour.
United though were not content to sit back on their laurels and poured forward once again. Conroy showing excellent hold-up play before releasing the marauding menacing Loveday. At speed Loveday transferred the ball left.
It found Frizzel in acres of space and driving in on goal. He struck his 16-yard angled drive sweetly only to see Linsel get down low to make a crucial grab and keep his side in the game.
But Linsel could do nothing to stop United going 3 - 1 up on 86 minutes. Great pressure from United with Loveday inevitably involved saw them push West End back deep in their own area.
Loveday finding Siyanbola who held off a Croft challenge before laying the ball into the path of Conroy who crashed his low right-foot from 12-yards clinically past the helpless Linsel to effectively make it game over.
West End tried to rally and should have pulled a goal back as the time ticked down. Once again Thomson carrying the ball forward with purpose from his centre back position before sending substitute Daley Clark clear.
Clark though lacked composure as he advanced 1-on-1 with only Hughes to beat but dragged his shot wide of the goal from 10-yards out. The last chance for West End to claw something back.
They were nearly made to pay even more deep into injury time. Robinson making a brilliant interception as West End tried to break. He pushed the ball to Siyanbola who held it up well and then slipped it right to Conroy.
The substitute forward getting in a good low cross shot from the inside right position that saw Linsel get down to and make a decent save from the last noteworthy attack of the game.
The referee's whistle bringing the game to a close and allowing United to register another great win and another crucial three points as they kept their superb run going and moved into the play-off picture.
It was the proverbial game of two halves with West End dominating the first 45 minutes but only having one goal to show for it. Whilst United's resilience, character and drive saw them convert three times in the second 45 minutes.
TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Dan Robinson 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Reyhan Grimaud 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Alex Clark 7. Kobe Bewicke 8. Michael Mallaburn 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Jet Fittolani 11. Charlie Loveday
SUBS : 12. Dan Walton - DNP 14. Dylan Robson (for Mallaburn 45 mins) 15. Kymani Severin - DNP 16. Nathan Conroy (for Bewicke 68 mins) 17. Dom Hughes (for Fittolani 75 mins)
SCORERS : Siyanbola 61, 78 Conroy 86
MAN of the MATCH : Dylan Robson.
Comments