by Jeff King
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 14th September 2024
Chester-le-Street United 3 v 1 Newcastle University
Was it seventh heaven or was it lucky #7? What it most definitely was, was the first home league win of the season at The Ford Hub for United. A win that means it's four-in-row in all competitions and 3 in-a-row in the league.
Results that see United climb to 13th in the table as they leapfrogged their opponents with a well deserved win. It has United now looking up the table rather than glancing over their shoulders.
The say 'if it ain't broke then don't fix it.' That was certainly the case with the starting XI the same on the day as the one that had beaten Hartlepool United midweek in the Durham County FA Challenge Cup.
A fit again Addis Dore returning to the bench in place of Harvey Lawrence who after making the first team squad and coming on for his debut was allowed to go and take his place in the Reserves starting XI at Ferryhill Athletic.
With the wind at their backs United pressed forward from the off and almost scored inside the first two minutes. Charlie Loveday cutting across the pitch from the left before laying a lovely pass for Ben Gallagher to run onto.
From just inside the 'D' Gallagher hit a lovely low drive that saw University keeper Paul Herberholz dive full length to his right to keep out at the foot of the post. From Michael Mallaburn's corner, Adam Redford got up to clear The Uni lines.
Newcastle's first attack resulted in James Kelly winning a corner off Ollie Barnett but Matthew Foster's delivery was headed clear by United skipper Dylan Wilkinson in commanding style.
Loveday then switching wings made a superb break down the right which was only halted when he was upended by Lucas Aldcroft level with the 18-yard box. Mallaburn swung in the free kick but once again the Uni defence cleared well.
Then Stephen Siyanbola showed great strength and presence to win the ball in a dangerous area, hold off his marker and try and pick out the unmarked Mallaburn at the back post. Herberholz though getting their first to claim the ball well.
United were attacking down the left through Loveday who tried to flick the ball past Mbako Chashalika who handled. Loveday cleverly took the free kick quickly passing to Brandon Young whose 20-yarder was on target but straight at Herberholz.
United were having the lion's share of the possession and pushing forward without really creating anything to trouble Herberholz and his defence who looked solid.
At the other end little had been seen of The Uni in reply. Aldcroft going forward on the left was though fouled by Dan Robinson. Frederik Topel clipped the free kick into the Chester area where keeper James Hughes came and claimed well.
Then Barnett did well on the left to advance and hit a strong low cross into the middle that was too close to Herberholz but the keeper misread it and spilled the ball into a dangerous area but no United player was there to react to the loose ball.
Then a lovely Chester move saw Gallagher breaking from midfield before sweeping the ball into the path of Mallaburn on the right. Mallaburn delivered a good cross into the middle finding Siyanbola whose on-target header lacked poor and was easily saved.
Riley Everett then played a superb long diagonal ball to Siyanbola who got in front of James Edgely but couldn't get away from him as the Uni #5 pulled him back not far from his own box.
Mallaburn's free kick was a beauty as it curled away from Herberholz and his defenders to find Everett steaming in at the back post but the United defender couldn't keep his effort down and it flew over the bar.
The out of nothing Newcastle took the lead on 39 minutes. A ball into the left corner saw Wilkinson thinking it was going out of play get caught out by Topel who passed the ball into the United area finding James Kelly.
He took a touch to control the ball and then drove an unstoppable angled drive from 14 yards into the top corner of the net past Hughes' right hand giving the United keeper no chance.
It was The Uni's first effort on target and suddenly somewhat against the run of play they were in front. United were rocked a little bit and a swift Uni attack not long after saw Everett booked for a late challenge on Joel Manning.
When the referee blew the whistle to signal half time it was a disappointed United side that trooped from the field feeling they'd been victims of their own downfall that lead to Newcastle going into the break leading by a goal to nil
United came out of the blocks looking sharp as they hunted an equaliser. Mallaburn doing well down the right to release the overlapping Robinson.
His cross was pulled back to the edge of the box where Reyhan Grimaud arrived to smash a half volley just wide of the far post as United stepped up the pressure. Pressure that paid off after 53 minutes as they drew level.
The goal came from the penalty spot. Loveday playing a lovely ball inside the box to Siyanbola who again showed great strength to get to the ball in front of Adam Redford who bundled him over in a tangle of legs with the referee pointing to the spot.
Siyanbola got up and claimed the ball placing it on the spot. He then smashed it high and central past Herberholz with his left foot into the net to level things up as the keeper chose incorrectly to dive to his right.
Newcastle almost regained the lead shortly after when Chashalika's long throw caused confusion in the United box but substitute Tom Iverson could only shoot over from 10-yards out.
The Uni were having perhaps their best spell of the game and had two efforts on goal with the same result each time but in slightly different formats. First Joel Burgess played a neat ball to the edge of the box that saw Foster turn well but hit a tame shot that Hughes saved easily.
Then Kelly played the advancing Aldcroft into the United area. He hit his left foot effort firmly and true but Hughes was alert and made a brilliant blocking save with his feet.
An hour gone and United replaced Young with Dore and the change almost had a dramatic effect. Wilkinson coming out of defence and playing the ball neatly wide right to find the substitute.
Dore's low ball across found Gallagher running onto it and he hit a greatright foot effort from just inside the box that Herberholz did really well to dive low to his left and safely pull the ball in.
On 70 minutes United brought on Nathan Conroy for Loveday but it was The Uni that had a reasonable chance to go back in front. Wilkinson was hesitant when he moved to clear Chashalika's long throw only half clearing the ball to the edge of the box.
Substitute Kane Morris picking the loose clearance up and rolling it into the path of Kelly who's well struck shot went across Hughes' dive but was just wide of the far post.
Still it was United in the ascendency with Siyanbola proving a real handful for the Uni defence throughout. One ball played up to him from Everett saw him turn cleverly in midfield.
He spotted Grimaud bursting through the Newcastle defence and tried to slide the ball through but Edgely slid in to block the ball reaching Grimaud who would have been clean through on goal.
United then showed their swift counter attacking threat when a visiting corner was cleared by Wilkinson to the edge of the box and picked up by Gallagher who helped the ball onto Dore.
He played a great ball towards the left where the unmarked Conroy looked as if he might be clear in on goal. Herberholz had other ideas and did really well to rush from his line, beat Conroy to the ball and clip it off United's substitute's toes and clear the danger.
Then there was an incident that resulted in a yellow card for each side. A long ball almost saw Morris in space but Hughes and Everett came together to attempt to clear. Morris though following through to take Everett out of the game.
Morris was eventually booked after Everett received treatment for dangerous play and Hughes followed him for aggressive behaviour after taking exception to Morris' challenge on Everett.
United were still the team looking more likely to go in front and with ten minutes left on the clock did exactly that and again it came from an undisputed penalty award.
Mallaburn played a good ball forward into the inside right position just inside the Uni area finding Siyanbola. The big striker once again doing well to hold off his defender before finding Conroy inside the six-yard box.
Conroy got to the ball first as Herberholz slid out and knocked it just past the keeper who was committed to the sliding dive forward but missed the ball and clipped Conroy's ankles instead sending the striker crashing to the ground.
A second penalty and once again the player fouled, Conroy, got up to take the spot kick. Conroy a regular penalty taker for the Reserves and Youth Cup team claimed the right to take the penalty.
Once again Herberholz chose to dive right with Conroy sending the ball low into the opposite side of the goal to give United a comeback lead. United were now well on top and seeing the game out comfortably but attacking at every opportunity.
On 88 minutes they got their rewards for their endeavour and dominance. Mallaburn with a neat ball from midfield to Conroy on the halfway line. Conroy spotting the lung busting run of Grimaud dinked a superb ball over the top.
Grimaud driving between two defenders chested the ball down superbly and then from the corner of the 18-yard box chipped the ball high over the advancing Herberholz with the ball dropping lovely into the far unguarded corner of the net.
Cue the celebratory substitutions with goal scorer Grimaud and the industrious Gallagher being replaced by Dylan Robson and Kymani Severin. There was though little time for them to get involved as the referee blew for full time.
United had finally landed that first home league win and deservedly so. They had to do it the hard way but the manner, application and execution of their second half comeback showed great resilience on their part and a great deal of ability too.
Confidence and spirits are now very high in the Chester camp and with a big week ahead they need to build on that and take it into another very important series of games.
On Monday night some of the First Team squad and several from The Reserves will be in the FA Youth Challenge Cup squad to take on Whickham at The Riverside with a 7:45pm kick-off.
The following night (Tuesday) it's First Team action once again with NL new boys Darlington Town coming to The Ford Hub for another home league fixture that kicks-off at 7:45pm.
Then this Saturday at 3:00pm all eyes will once again turn to The Ford Hub as The Isuzu FA Vase road to Wembley opens up for Chester with FC Hartlepool the visitor's in The National Competition.
All that but you know the saying, 'take it one game at a time!'
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 Dylan Robson (for Grimaud 88 mins) 14 Addis Dore (for Young 60 mins) 15 Nathan Conroy (for Loveday 70 mins) 16 Kymani Severin (for Gallagher 88 mins)
SCORERS : Siyanbola 53 mins (penalty), Conroy 80 mins (penalty), Grimaud 88 mins
MAN of the MATCH : Stephen Siyanbola
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