by Jeff King
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 8th March 2025 Chester-le-Street United 2 v 0 Billingham Town
Going into Saturday's game against Billingham Town, United were just outside the play-off positions in 6th place. Ninety minutes later after a solid 2 - 0 win and following results elsewhere they were back up to 4th place in the table.
Results that have put United back in pole-position for the run-in to the end of the season and a coveted play-off spot. There is still a lot of football to be played as United still have five games remaining but for now they are right in the mix.
It would be a remarkable achievement if this young Chester side did make the end of season play-offs and testament to the spirit, commitment and the way they run their programme through the Park View Academy.
Saturday's game did however have a blip before the game even commenced with creative forward Charlie Loveday limping out of the starting XI after pulling up in the warm-up. Brandon Young recently returned from injury himself stepping in.
The start of the game hardly set the world alight with chances very much at a premium if indeed not none existent. Town opening slightly the brighter and getting the ball forward early at every opportunity.
They forced two early corners on the left of the Chester defence that United dealt with comfortably. Another corner was gained when Leo Myer played a good ball down his left to find Harry Close who went past Alex Clark and into the box.
Michael Mallaburn was alive to the danger though and got a great tackle in on Close to give away a third early corner for Town. This one was delivered dangerously by Matthew Robinson but again United cleared it well.
After losing Loveday prior to kick-off United were dealt a further injury blow on 19 minutes when Reyhan Grimaud turned his ankle over when attempting a run down the right and had to be helped from the field to be replaced by Dan Robinson.
It actually took 23 minutes before the first real strike on goal which came from United's Harley Lawton from about 25-yards out. He didn't quite catch his effort they way he would have liked and Matthew Wilkinson saved it easily.
United then did produce a great move with lovely flowing passing football between Robinson, Mallaburn and Lawton who put Stephen Siyanbola through on goal 1-on-1 with Wilkinson but the Assistant's flag went up for offside.
Robinson certainly settled into the game quickly and was already making positive runs from right back down the touchline and coming inside. One such run saw him tripped by Myer and then the ball hit straight into him as he tumbled over.
This earned Reece Littlefair a yellow card for his attempted clearance which was clearly after the referee had blown for the infringement. Mallaburn delivered the free kick that was headed out by a Town defender for a throw-in on the left.
Dylan Robson delivered a long throw into the Billingham six-yard area and Lennox Barry had to head the ball out for a corner. Again Mallaburn was the taker but the kick was easily cleared.
A very scrappy game to this point burst into action on 32 minutes as United who had been coming more and more into the game took their first real chance of the game to break the deadlock.
It was another Robson long throw from the right that brought about the goal after good work from Mallaburn and Robinson on the right had won the set play to given him the opportunity.
Robson's throw deep into the box causing problems flicking off a defender's head and wrong footing the Billingham rear guard. It allowed the very alert Brandon Young to steal in at the far post unmarked.
He was able to steer his skilful diving header from close range into an empty net and United had a crucial lead. Young justifying the faith put in him by United's coaching staff for promoting from the named substitutes to replace Loveday.
Suddenly the game burst into life and within a minute or two Billingham should have been at the very least level. Josh Stiff sliding a great ball through the United defence for Kieran Stares to run onto with only James Hughes to beat.
There are though perhaps no goalkeepers in the League as adept as Hughes in these kind of situations and once again he showed his immense potential and prowess. Diving at the feet of Stares and using both hands to push the ball away.
Stares did go over as the two came together and vociferous appeals came from all areas of the Town. But the referee had a great view of the incident and clearly saw that Hughes had taken the ball cleanly in fine style and not impeded Stares.
Almost immediately afterwards it was Hughes to the rescue again. This time it was Liam Southall who breached the United defence and was 1-on-1 with Hughes. This time the Town player did get a shot away.
Hughes though alive to the danger was quickly off his line to close down the space and make a brilliant block with his feet to maintain his side's slender lead. Two great contributions from United's young keeper.
United almost rewarded their keeper's efforts with another goal just before the half-time whistle and perhaps should have doubled their lead. Another Robson long throw was directed dangerously into the Town box.
This team Alex Clark got up superbly to flick it on and there was Young once again ghosting in from the left to meet it with a diving header inside the six-yard box. Wilkinson though made a tremendous reflex save with his right hand.
The Town keeper's parry deflected the ball onto the cross bar and it rebounded towards Siyanbola who was only 3-yards out but he failed to get a decisive touch onto it that surely would have doubled United's advantage.
The half ended with Nathan Conroy picking up a booking as he took one for the team fouling Myer as he attempted to sprint away on what looked like a dangerous break following a United corner that was cleared.
United though did come out of the traps flying in the second half and within 3 minutes of the restart did double their lead. And what a picture-book goal it was as well created by a superb ball from the back by Robinson.
He played it through and beyond the Town back line and it was a foot race between Siyanbola and Wilkinson which the United striker won. Controlling the ball beautifully he rounded the stranded Billingham keeper.
He then composed himself superbly before firmly placing the ball with his left foot from just inside the area in to the waiting empty net. It was record-breaking Siyanbola's 20th league goal of the campaign and his 24th in all competitions.
A fabulous return from a player who was in the 3rd Division of the Northern Alliance League last season and who is having a fantastic season leading the United line. It was also a goal that gave his side welcome breathing space.
United were now well on top. Mallaburn and Robinson combining well again on the right before Robinson fired in a low right foot cross that substitute Panashe Mwamba did well clear in front of the predatory Siyanbola.
The ball only came as far as Lawton though who slid a nice ball into the box trying to again find Siyanbola. This time Robinson cleared for Town only for Conroy to pick the loose ball up and fire a good 20-yard right-footer wide of the post.
Town had to respond and did when Stares drifted wide and then put in a great cross that almost found the unmarked Close in the middle of the United box but it was just too high for Town's top scorer to get his head to.
Then Charle Rowe advanced on the right before finding another substitute John Stephenson out wide. His cross this time did find Close who showed good control to create a shooting chance but his finish was poor and well wide.
United were forced into another substitution on 62 minutes with Lawton limping off to be replaced by Ben Gallagher and then six minutes later brought on Brad Hughes for Young.
Billingham almost got back into the game on 71 minutes when Stephenson controlled well inside the box and hit a great angled cross shot outside of Hughes' reach. The ball unluckily for Town crashing against the inside of the post and not nestling inside the net.
United's final change on 76 minutes saw Dom Hughes come on for Robson giving United three Hughes' on the pitch at the same time! United then almost gifted Town a way back into the game.
Mallaburn giving the ball away from his own free kick to substitute Harvey Amoah who cleverly found Stephenson about 12-yards out in a central position. But there was United skipper Dylan Wilkinson to get in a great block to snuff out the chance.
United showed great skill and pace on the break after James Hughes collected a Billingham corner well and launched a counter attack. Brad Hughes did well in midfield to pick out Dom Hughes who cut in from the left.
Dom entered the box and fired low across Wilkinson towards the bottom left-hand corner but Wilkinson spread himself well and kept out the goal bound effort in good style with an outstretched left boot.
Town really threw everything at United in the closing stages. Robinson coming forward well before finding Stares who in turn found the lively Stephenson inside the Chester box but Hughes was down smartly to smother his on-target 12-yarder.
Then a Sam Asigri free kick found Rowe at the back post who nodded the ball back and down to find Stares well placed about 8-yards out but his finish lacked composure and he screwed his effort well wide,
The last chance of the game perhaps summed up Billingham's afternoon as they had perhaps created the better opportunities but were very wasteful and far from clinical in front of goal.
A ball inside caught Clark ball-watching and once again Stephenson found himself inside the Chester area with a shooting chance that he drilled straight into his own player Amoah who blocked it accidentally.
The loose ball cannoning back to Stares who smashed his 14-yard angled shot just wide of the left-hand post although James Hughes looked to have it covered and was ready to maintain his clean sheet.
The referee's final whistle confirmed a league double for United over Town and three further points for the play-off push. With Ryton & Crawcrook, Thornaby and Esh Winning all losing it catapulted United back into the play-off positions.
United had perhaps not been at their best. They did have the majority of the controlled possession but Town had more chances and shots at goal. But United were clinical when given their chances and will take the result and move on.
The play-off hopefuls have a free weekend in 7 days time so could well see themselves squeezed out of the play-off positions temporarily again before they face lowly Grangetown Boys Club at home on Saturday 22nd March.
They will perhaps need those two weeks off to rest and recuperate and allow time for some of those niggling injuries to clear up before another crucial game.
TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Reyhan Grimaud 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Michael Mallaburn 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Alex Clark 7. Nathan Conroy 8. Dylan Robson 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Harley Lawton 11. Brandon Young
SUBS : 12. Ben Gallagher (for Lawton 62 mins) 14. Dan Robinson (for Grimaud 19 mins) 15. Dom Hughes (for Robson 76 mins) 16. Brad Hughes (for Young 68 mins) 17. Charlie Loveday - DNP
SCORERS : Young, Siyanbola
MAN of the MATCH : James Hughes
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