by Jeff King
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Tuesday 27th August 2024
Chester-le-Street United 0 v 5 Alnwick Town
Five home games, five losses, five goals conceded as United's wretched new tenure at The Ford Hub continues. This perhaps, particularly after such encouraging recent signs, was a result and performance no-one expected.
Two tough losses on the road when United played really well and were by general consensus were the better team against FC Hartlepool and Horden were followed by a comfortable 2 - 0 win at bottom Club Washington.
But, as was said at the time, the need was to build on Saturday's win and look to take their first points at home on a surface that is reputed to suit Chester's style of football. That it went so wrong is something that requires urgent analysis.
United were even able to go into the game unchanged from Saturday's win at Washington with the eventual late confirmation that Addis Dore's Work Experience loan from Middlesbrough had been confirmed to secure his place.
The opening exchanges were even with United just shading possession although until a James Hughes mistake on 9 minutes neither side had created an opportunity in blustery wet conditions.
Hughes' poor clearance though fell to Ogidan Usman some 20 yards out and he took a touch before aiming a curling effort at goal that went just too wide and high with Hughes struggling to recover his position.
Then a good pass inside the Chester defence after United lost possession saw Usman in a one-on-one situation with Hughes. Hughes doing superbly to block the shot and as the rebound fell towards the waiting Euan Potts, Dan Robinson nipped in to clear the danger.
Brannon Patterson took the kick and swung a dangerous ball right into the United six-yard box that Hughes did well to palm away under pressure to concede another corner on the opposite side.
This one was delivered dangerously into the United area where in a scramble the ball fell to Patterson who didn't hit his shot well enough to trouble Hughes who saved easily. The corners though seemed to galvanise Alnwick who were now on top.
Joe Eggleston advancing from full back on the right whipped a low cross into the and across the Chester area and saw no-one there to get a decisive touch as Alnwick ramped up the pressure.
When the opening goal came on 19 minutes it was deserved from Town's point of view and pressure although it was a poor goal for United to concede. This time Eggleston's low cross from the right into the box was intercepted by Reyhan Grimaud.
Unfortunately for United and Grimaud he failed to deal with the ball losing possession to Potts as he attempted to clear and the Alnwick striker rifled it home from 12 yards out giving Hughes no chance.
United's reply was good but also unlucky. On 23 minutes Robinson advanced well before finding Addis Dore just outside the box on the right and he was tripped by Phil Bright.
Harley Lawton whipped in a wicked low ball that Dore got his head to inside the six-yard box but saw his effort cannon out off the bar and away from danger. It was perhaps a crucial moment.
United had another half chance when Charlie Loveday showed good control in midfield and then found Jamie Frizzel breaking down the left. His cross was a good one and found Stephen Siyanbola but his flicked header was easily saved by Town keeper Udochukwu Ugochukwu.
United had not shown much of their passing ability and ball retention in the first half and were continually being put under pressure as Alnwick went forward. They were made to pay for their inability to hold on to the ball on 39 minutes.
Once again they gave the ball away in midfield in a dangerous area. Usman talking control then slipping a ball through the defence for Potts to run on to. He took the ball around the diving Hughes and then from a tight angle finished well.
United looked shell-shocked but kept battling. Robinson doing well on the right but his diagonal delivery to pick someone out in the Town box saw the ball flash past in front of Siyanbola and behind Loveday with neither able to get a touch.
Alnwick were looking really solid as they approached half-time. Usman was causing problems for the United defence whilst their own defence well marshalled by skipper Yannick Aziakonou was dealing with Chester's forwards easily.
Going forward both full backs Eggleston and Bright were supporting the attack well from the flanks and in truth were helping Alnwick dominate the game.
The half ended with Alnwick working the ball well from left to right across the middle of the pitch. Eggleston found Luke Baston who saw his shot blocked by Dylan Wilkinson.
The ball was retrieved on the left by Patterson who again turned it right to Eggleston who this time had room for a shot from the edge but he hit his effort straight at Hughes.
The half-time whistle brought some respite from the driving rain and Alnwick pressure for United and as Head Coach Micky Nelson trooped off it seemed obvious that changes were on his mind.
As the side's lined up for the second half Nelson indeed had made changes. Dylan Robson, Michael Mallaburn and Kymani Severin coming on for Grimaud, Ben Gallagher and Loveday.
It did lead to some brighter play from United particularly with Mallaburn and Severin looking to show their worth. These two combined well to give Mallaburn a decent shooting opportunity just inside Alnwick area.
Mallaburn's shot was quite well struck and on target but Ugochukwu was not called into action as his Josh Iley got in a decisive block and the danger was cleared.
Alnwick were still looking comfortable despite kicking against the wind and Nelson made a further change on the hour mark with Dan Walton coming on for Siyanbola. It made little difference.
In fact on 65 minutes Alnwick effectively killed the game off with a third goal stemming from yet another Chester mistake. This time Severin tried to play a ball across to the advancing Robinson. The ball being cut out by Max Monaghan.
He played it into the space on the left that Robinson had been taken out of by the misplaced pass and found Usman who was in so much space. Robinson frantically trying to recover but couldn't get back quick enough.
Usman looked up and saw Max Anderson breaking into the United area. his low ball across the box picking out the run superbly and Anderson met it first time to sash it high past the helpless Hughes from about 14 yards out.
Alnwick broke again on the left only for Robinson to step in win the ball well and find Lawton. He put a good curling cross into the back post finding Dore but the youngster's header was directed well over the bar.
The final Chester change came on 72 minutes with Jude Anderson coming on for Dore but again the change didn't affect the United performance and with ten minutes to go Alnwick took full advantage of another poor defensive error.
Riley Everett did well initially to get up to win a header in his own box but failed to head it decisively clear with the ball falling to Alnwick substitute Ryan Payne who hit a sweet half-volley from 20-yards that flew past Hughes in the United goal.
United really didn't have any response and with two minutes to go Alnwick went nap on the back of another Chester error. This time the ball was given away to Baston who from 30 yards out was allowed to advance into the United area before sliding it past the advancing Hughes.
A final United attack sw them win a corner on the left. Lawton swung it out and Everett met it well but could only put his header over from about 10-yards and the chance of even a consolation was gone.
The referee's whistle going once the goal kick was taken to signal a bad day at the office for United who were ruthlessly punished for their errors by a very compact organised Alnwick side who were much the better side on the night.
For United it's back to the drawing board. A performance out of character from much they've showed this season needs to be put to one side quickly as they prepare to welcome Bedlington Terriers to The Ford Hub on Saturday.
TEAM : 1 James Hughes 2 Dan Robinson 3 Jamie Frizzel 4 Reyhan Grimaud 5 Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6 Riley Everett 7 Charlie Loveday 8 Harley Lawton 9 Stephen Siyanbola 10 Addis Dore 11 Ben Gallagher
SUBS : 12 Dylan Robson (for Grimaud 46 mins) 14 Dan Walton (for Siyanbola 59 mins) 15 Michael Mallaburn (for Gallagher 46 mins) 16 Jude Anderson (for Dore 72 mins) 17 Kymani Severin (for Loveday 46 mins)
Management Man of the Match - Dan Robinson
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