by Jeff King
FA Youth Challenge Cup Second Round Qualifying - Wednesday 2nd October 2024
Chester-le-Street United 3 v 3 Spennymoor Town
After 90 Minutes - Spennymoor Town Win 5 - 3 on Penalties
A third successive home draw for United in this prestigious FA competition and another game under the lights at The Riverside for the chance to progress in a National competition.
After defeating both Newcastle Benfield and Whickham Youths of the Ebac Northern League Division 1 it was higher league opposition once again for United's youngsters in Spennymoor Town of the National League North's youth side.
Hopes were high in the United camp as last season these two sides had been drawn together with United coming out 4 - 3 winners in a thriller at The Brewery Field, Spennymoor.
The game lived up to its expectations and once again produced a dramatic encounter that ended in a penalty shoot-out victory for the visitor's and ending United's hope of another glorious run.
United made two changes for this game from the team that had beaten Whickham 1 - 0. Jamie Frizzel returning from injury to replace Jonathan Beattie who dropped to the bench and Olly Dixon coming in for the unavailable Kymani Severin.
It was Frizzel who actually had the first shot of the game drilling a long range effort over the bar inside the first minute as United opened brightly. Ben Gallagher then won a good header in midfield to set Harvey Lawrence for a run at goal.
Lawrence's run taking him into the Moors' box before Harry Stewart got in a challenge to concede a corner. Lawrence took the quick but it was well dealt with by the Spenny defence.
Matty Henderson was the first name in the referee's book cautioned for a foul some 40 yards from goal. Stewart took the kick and dropped it deep into the United box where Dan Walton cleared well in front of his keeper Rylie Irwin.
A ball up to Nathan Conroy saw the striker hold it up well before laying it to Henderson who crashed an excellent 25-yard right footer inches wide of the post with the away keeper James Barron beaten.
The best effort of an opening twenty minutes where both sides were industrious and playing at pace although both guilty of giving the ball away easily fell to Spennymoor.
Kiyan Bayatt cutting in from the left wing ghosting past Keane Mitchell and then from just outside the box cracking a great right foot effort that beat Irwin but was fractionally too high.
Then Alex Beattie found Stewart overlapping on the left and he fizzed a cross low through the United box that no-one from the visitor's was alive too and the chance flashed by.
The opening goal when it came was a good one for Spennymoor but not for United's defence. Jake Toase making ground from right back down the touchline before playing an incisive ball into space through the United defence.
Kingston Butler took the pass in his stride and taking advantage of the space afforded to him advanced on Irwin and the from 6-yards or so slid the ball past the keeper's despairing dive.
United went immediately looking for an equaliser. Dylan Robson finding Conroy in the opposition area. Conroy showing good control twisted and turned before his 14-yard effort brought a fine diving save from Barron.
The keeper almost spilling the ball with Lawrence closing in but he grabbed it at the second attempt to avert disaster.
United almost levelled not long after. Irwin's huge long clearance finding Conroy who once again showed great touch and hold up play before slipping a lovely ball into the box for Robson in space.
It looked a great chance but Park View Academy Student Eddie Cook playing centre back for The Moors came across superbly to make a last ditch goal saving tackle.
Barron was certainly the busier of the two goalkeepers at this stage and was proving able to the task. Tremendous play from Conroy saw him pick a ball up 40 yards from goal and then leave two defenders in his wake.
As he approached the box he spotted Lawrence free on the right hand side and rolled the ball into his path. Lawrence struck his effort well and true but Barron went full length to his right and turned the ball away in excellent style.
The second United player to go into the book was Gallagher wide on the left for a foul on Stewart. This lead to Spennymoor doubling their lead on 34 minutes from the free kick.
It was delivered by Finlay Rose in towards Irwin who called to claim the ball but as he came to claim it he inexplicably fumbled and the ball dropped over the line giving Rose and Moors a gift second.
United though despite the hill to climb still pushed forward. Dixon finding Conroy who played a ball through towards Gallagher but once again Cook was there to stop Gallagher from getting a free run at goal.
Gallagher then turned provider driving forward from midfield before laying off neatly to Lawrence just inside the box in the inside right channel. Lawrence showing great awareness and skill delicately chipped the ball over Barron.
But United and Lawrence were unfortunate to see the ball evade the keeper's stretch only to clip the top of the cross bar and bounce to safety. Toase clearing the ball and setting up a lightening counter attack for the visitor's.
The ball reaching ex-Chester player and Park View Academy student Ashton Houlahan who played it neatly inside to Butler who threaded it on to Rose. His finish though from the edge of the box lacked composure and was well over.
As the half ticked into injury time United grabbed a lifeline to give them momentum and hope for the second 45 minutes and it was that man Conroy with a sublime goal.
Keane Mitchell's driven ball from the back finding Conroy in the Spennymoor area. His first touch was excellent and his second even better as he turned away leaving two defenders floundering before curling a great finish into the bottom corner.
What a way to get back into the game for United with a goal of real quality and it just gave them that lift they needed and probably, as they say, changed both coaches half-time team talks.
One of the consequences of United's discussions was the half-time introduction of Harry Marr in midfield for Henderson to offer slightly more going forward.
United having been given that way back in certainly started very brightly in the second half pushing the visitor's back deep inside their own half from the off. A brave Lawrence header in midfield finding Conroy on the edge of the box.
He once again showed his ability to create a shooting chance which Barron had to get down low to and turn around the post at full stretch with his left hand. Lawrence's corner being headed clear.
United were the dominant force now although their defence also had to be alert as Spennymoor looked dangerous when they tried to break and relieve pressure. An example saw Butler get on the end of a long clearance from the back.
He sped away from the defence but the angle was against him and although his cross shot from an angle beat Irwin's dive it was just misplaced and flew wide of the far post.
Evan Cubby had replaced Dixon on the hour mark and he almost had an instant impact. United's pressure bringing them forward and once again Conroy was the focus. This time he squared a ball across the box for Cubby to run on to.
Cubby got there first and smashed it goal wards but Barron spread himself well and the ball nicked off him and went just over the bar. Once again Moors doing well to win the challenge in the box from Lawrence's corner to clear.
Conroy was causing danger and concern to Spennymoor almost every time he got the ball. Once again he looked a potential scorer when given a half chance 10-yards out but once again Barron came to his side's rescue with a brilliant block.
The corner though did lead to a United equaliser on 62 minutes. Lawrence delivered and although once again Town cleared the ball was recycled to Lawrence on the right by Gallagher.
Lawrence's curling cross to back post was a beauty. Frizzel timing his run perfectly to get high above the visitor's defence and crash a soaring spectacular header into the top corner that Barron could do nothing about.
United were now in the ascendency and Moors made several changes to try and stem the flow and steady their ship that was now under constant pressure.
Frizzel almost completed the comeback and at the same time doubled his own tally. Many in the healthy crowd of 192 were split about the effort. Was it an attempted through ball/cross that went wrong?
Or did he spot Barron off his line and attempt an audacious 30 yard effort trying to catch him out? Whatever the question the answer was almost positive for United but unfortunately the effort cannoned back into play off the crossbar.
Little had been seen of Spenny in the second half but they gave everyone a reminder of their danger when Bayat skipped away from Mitchell only for the full back to upend him just outside the box.
It looked a really dangerous position for Rose to exploit but he didn't get his angles right and his curled effort aimed for Irwin's tope left hand corner drifted wide of the target.
When United's third goal came, it came in an unbelievable and spectacular fashion on 83 minutes. It was orchestrated from a free kick just inside Chester's own half taken by Mitchell and delivered deep.
Jack Chapman headed it clear but as the ball fell to Marr from some 30+ yards out the United substitute gambled and with no hesitation hit the dropping ball on the volley.
He could not have caught it sweeter and ran to the touchline with his teammates to celebrate wildly as the ball flew past Barron in to the top corner to register a memorable strike. United had now completed their comeback from two down.
Moors stunned suddenly seemed to switch modes as the desperately sought a leveller with time ticking down. United perhaps a little guilty of trying to defend what they had.
That said whenever Town played it wide or through the middle there always seemed to be a United body in the way ready to clear until deep into injury time when it all went wrong for Chester.
The clock had reached 94 minutes when Rose played one final ball into the United box. The ball was over Dan Walton's head and in space behind in front of Irwin who hesitated slightly.
Spenny substitute Ethan Peveller though didn't and threw himself at the ball getting just enough on his header to beat the advancing Irwin sending it over the United keeper and sending the game to a last gasp penalty shoot-out.
In that shoot-out all bar one of the players that stepped up showed exactly how to take a spot kick as they despatched them with aplomb. Chapman the first for Spennymoor, Marr levelling for United. Substitute Tom Aspinall putting Town ahead.
Conroy coolly bringing United level before Houlahan made it 3 - 2. Then the crucial miss from Mitchell who did hit his kick well but Barron dived right and turned it away. Butler gave Spennymoor a cushion at 4 - 2 with Gallagher taking it to 4 - 3.
However it was Rose with Spennymoor's fifth kick that kept them perfect and sent them deliriously into the next round with United left to reflect on what might have been.
Tough on United and joy for Town after a pulsating tie that had thrills and excitement all the way through and that both side's players could be proud of their efforts and how they represented their respective sides.
TEAM : 1. Rylie Irwin 2. Keane Mitchell 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Matty Henderson 5. Dan Walton 6. Riley Everett (c) 7. Nathan Conroy 8. Dylan Robson 9. Harvey Lawrence 10. Ben Gallagher 11. Olly Dixon
SUBS : 12. Jonathan Beattie - DNP 13. Louie Aldus (GK) - DNP 14. Jack Wilson - DNP 15. Harry Marr (for Henderson 46 mins) 16. Evan Cubby (for Dixon 60 mins) 17. Casper Skrzecz - DNP 18. Leo Fasuan - DNP
SCORERS : Conroy 45 + 1 mins, Frizzel 62 mins, Marr 83 mins
MAN of the MATCH : Nathan Conroy
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