Play-Off Push Still On After Another Impressive Win

by Jeff King

Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 5th April 2025 Chester-le-Street United 3 v 1 Billingham Synthonia

Another Saturday, another win, another three points, another league double and results elsewhere made the Chester-le-Street United camp a very happy one to be in after a very solid and resolute performance.

Especially with Esh Winning losing at in-form Alnwick Town and Thornaby being held to a draw at second from bottom Grangetown Boys Club. It all means that with two games to go United need one win to make the end of season play-offs.

Two wins and they are guaranteed to finish 4th in the table which would be a magnificent achievement whatever the outcome of the play-offs. Early in the season United only had 9 points after 11 games and were in the bottom three.

Since then they have picked up 21 wins, 3 draws and only 5 losses to give themselves a real chance of a play-off place and a possible shot at promotion in only their third Northern League season.

That 12th game of the season had been a 2 - 1 away win at Billingham Synthonia. A result that kick-started United's relentless march up the table and has given them an opportunity for glory.

They went looking for a double over Synners with an unchanged team for the third game in a row. Players being rewarded for wins and performances with loyalty and consistency in selection.

Right from the off this was an attractive and open game. Sitting in 13th Synthonia seemed to have little to play for. But pride and the opportunity to finish above local rivals Billingham Town by the end of the season was motivation enough.

The first chance of the game fell to the visitor's inside two minutes. McKellan Lines cross-field ball from the right finding Luke Hogan in space just outside the United box and with a clear shooting chance.

He took aim and fired in a great effort that beat the outstretched hand of James Hughes but cleared the cross bar by inches as United sighed a breath of relief. United's response coming from a long throw-in from Dylan Robson.

The trajectory catching the Synners defence out but not their keeper Sam Taylor who dived low in front of Charlie Loveday to claim the ball well before the United forward had a chance to control.

United then spurned a great chance. Loveday showing superb footwork on the left to twist and turn Will Bennett inside out before finding Stephen Siyanbola inside the Synners box.

He controlled well and then laid a lovely ball back to the edge of the box for Robson to come onto with only Taylor in front of him. But Robson's effort lacked both composure and power and Taylor was able to get down and save comfortably.

Then Siyanbola was given space to hit a 20-yard right foot shot after a slip by Inioluna Kasim gave him the ball. But again the effort lacked conviction and power and Taylor was able to save easily.

Loveday was causing all sorts of problems for Bennett and the Synners defence on the left and he played a brilliant 1 - 2 with Siyanbola who's great first touch saw Loveday make space and cross low towards the back post and Harley Lawton.

This time it was a more difficult and awkward moment for Taylor but the was up to the challenge diving out to take the ball cleanly and stopping it from reaching the well placed Lawton.

Back came Synners with Lewis Porritt finding Tom Birtles just outside the United box but his shot being blocked by Jamie Frizzel at the expense of a corner. Hogan took the kick and swung it in dangerously.

The ball arriving inside the United box to be met by Jack Spears who perhaps should have done better than guiding his free header from 8-yards out over the bar. It was a let-off that United too full advantage of.

On 17 minutes Siyanbola won a corner on the United left as he was well tackled by Kasim. Michael Mallaburn delivered to the back post but inside the Synners six-yard box.

Frizzel rose highest and most convincingly and bulleted a strong header into a virtually unguarded Billingham net to send United on their way. The goal setting up a passage of play where United nearly doubled their lead.

Loveday scything through the Synners defence before sliding a lovely ball through to Nathan Conroy. Despite a tight angle Conroy's fierce right foot drive required Taylor to make a strong parry to keep it out.

Another Robson long-throw to the front post saw Frizzel up well again to head back to Conroy who fizzed a lovely half-volley from about 12-yards out inches wide of the post with Siyanbola almost at full stretch getting a telling touch.

Lines was looking strong for Synners in midfield and once again picked out Hogan in space on the left. Hogan playing a net ball into the box to find Spears who cut inside Mallaburn and flashed a right foot drive just wide of United's near post.

United as usual were neat, tidy and patient in possession and Loveday was leading the charge. He found Conroy who gave it back and then Loveday found Robson who crossed low finding Lawton but his shot went wide not troubling Taylor.

The next chance for Chester came when captain Dylan Wilkinson anticipated a Synners through ball stepping out of defence to beat Matty Willshaw to the ball. Frizzel made a burst forward on the left as Wilkinson hit a diagonal ball.

Frizzel headed down to Siyanbola and then took the return ball in his stride superbly before firing in a great left foot shot across Taylor who did well at full stretch to turn the ball aside in fine style.

Bennett finding some relief from Loveday's onslaught suddenly found himself in advance of his forwards and with a shooting chance. His effort was well struck but Wilkinson got in a partial block that slowed the ball down allowing Hughes to save.

Superb combination play in midfield between Lawton, Robson and Mallaburn opened up a gap for Robson to play Loveday through on goal but he was stretching and his flicked effort was straight at Taylor who stood his ground well.

Loveday was the creator once again of the next chance finding Conroy inside the Synners area. The striker showing great control and patience to pick his moment and spot only for once again Taylor to dive low to his left and hold on to the shot.

Right on half-time Siyanbola upended Adam Groom 30-yards from goal. Willshaw stood over it and despite the distance tried his luck. The ball though deflecting off the wall and giving Hughes a comfortable scrambling save.

At half-time United just about deserved their lead but there was no doubting one goal wasn't going to be enough and that Synners had looked dangerous and well capable of getting back into the game.

For the start of the second 45 minutes United were forced into a change with Lawton coming off to be replaced by Dom Hughes who'd only been on the pitch five minutes when Billingham poached an equaliser.

There seemed little danger as the ball went towards Bennett on the right. Somehow both Loveday and Frizzel's attempted efforts to clear went wrong and suddenly Bennett found himself free inside the United area.

His right foot shot from 14-yards in the inside right channel was beautifully struck across the helpless Hughes and into corner of the net past the United keeper's out stretched right hand. A real blow for United and most definitely game on.

But United bounced back and had a great chance to retake the lead. Mallaburn was fouled in midfield and the referee allowed Robson to take a quick free kick which he sent wide to Loveday.

Loveday did well to create space as he headed to the byline before pulling a great ball into Siyanbola who from 10-yards out unmarked in the centre of goal sent his effort flying high over the bar and out of the stadium.

Just after the hour mark United made their second substitution with Brandon Young coming on to replace Conroy as United freshened things up. Synners though had the next chance.

Porritt finding Willshaw on the edge of the Chester box and and the Billingham centre forward showing great control to create space for a vicious shot that flew inches over the United bar.

Back came United with two very quick efforts in succession for Mallaburn who was unlucky not to put his side back in front. Firstly he created the chance for himself by winning the ball in midfield and then driving at the box.

In full flow he hit a great low driving right foot shot that flew past Taylor but unlucky for the midfielder and his team smacked back into play off the post. The loose ball being retrieved by Dan Robinson.

He played it inside to Siyanbola who laid back into Mallaburn's path for a left foot shot from just outside the area that was on target but hadn't sufficient power to beat the alert Taylor who dropped down easily to smother.

United's third substitution saw Ben Gallagher replace Robson on 70 minutes and two minutes after that United regained the lead with a goal from one of their early substitutes Young.

It was a long throw-n from the left level with the 18-yard line from Mallaburn towards the near post. Siyanbola tried to flick on and Dom Hughes was also involved as the ball squirted across the Synners six-yard box.

There was the alert Young unmarked at the back post in the right place at the right time to sweep the ball into the empty net for his second goal of the season against Synners both coming after entering the game as a substitute.

Was that breathing space for United? Not quite but it should have possibly been almost immediately afterwards when United were denied a penalty not once but twice.

The first shout came when Siyanbola was almost in on goal but under pressure from Jamie McLeod stumbled but still got his sot away that clearly struck McLeod's hand as both players fell to the ground along with the Kasim.

As a scramble ensued Kasim clearly to everyone except the officials scooped the ball with his arm back to his goalkeeper but the referee waved away United's vehement protests.

United trying to keep things energised and moving forward replaced the tiring Mallaburn who'd put in another good shift with Brad Hughes who saw his namesake and fellow substitute Dom Hughes involved in United's third goal.

It came in 80 minutes and effectively killed the game off. Loveday sweeping a ball in from the left that Dom Hughes reacted to first as he dashed across the Synners defence. Hughes didn't get the ball but it ran loose to Siyanbola six-yards out.

The striker finding himself with a great chance made good enough contact with his right foot to bundle the ball past the stranded Taylor and into the net for his 21st league goal and 27th in all competitions this season.

3 -1 up United, as is their want, didn't sit back and both Gallagher and Loveday went close with shots from around the edge of the box in quick succession as Synners looked tired.

Then the lively Young almost set his side up for a fourth of the afternoon. Great play in midfield to create space and then an excellent ball to Loveday on the left opening up the Billingham defence.

Loveday skipping inside his defender before firing in a lovely low right foot effort towards the near corner of the goal that Taylor got down to very well to turn away from the target.

With five minutes to go United made their final change of the afternoon with Riley Everett coming on for Dan Robinson.

Time was virtually expired but one final chance fell the way of Billingham when substitutes Ben Priestley and Ryan Appleby combined to find Willshaw inside the box. He skipped across the face of the goal showing great control.

Just as the Billingham striker thought he had a free strike at goal and let fly he was denied a goal by a brave and superbly timed block by Reyhan Grimaud who ensured that United's two-goal advantage was maintained at the final whistle.

Make no mistake this was a very good win for a resilient United side that are really in the groove and not just playing winning attacking football but are also looking very solid defensively well marshalled by Skipper Wilkinson.

Billingham Synthonia gave it a real go throughout the game and often looked dangerous but in the end United's fitness, drive, organisation and commitment enabled them to win the day and move ever closer to that play-off spot.

TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Dan Robinson 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Michael Mallaburn 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Reyhan Grimaud 7. Nathan Conroy 8. Dylan Robson 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Harley Lawton 11. Charlie Loveday

SUBS : 12. Ben Gallagher (for Robson 70 mins) 14. Riley Everett (for Robinson 85 mins) 15. Dom Hughes (for Lawton 46 mins) 16. Brad Hughes (for Mallaburn 79 mins)_ 17. Brandon Young (for Conroy 62 mins)

SCORERS : Frizzel, Young, Siyanbola

MAN of the MATCH : Dylan Wilkinson