By Jeff King (With thanks to Anth Johnson)
Durham County FA Under-18s Saturday League - Saturday 16th November 2024
Hebburn Town Under 18s 3 v 2 Chester-le-Street United Under 18s
The U18’s were hoping to take advantage of a Hebburn Town U-18 side that were on the back of a couple of defeats but costly and naïve errors at the back were the difference between two pretty evenly matched teams today.
Hebburn had a couple of early opportunities from set pieces in the first 10 minutes which United coped with well before they slowly started finding their way into the game.
Brooklyn Moss went close on 20 mins after tenacious work from Frankie Young and Ethan Connolly won the ball back to feed Shay Pye down the right channel but the keeper saved comfortably.
Five minutes later Alex Whyte had a great opportunity from 5 yards but could only guide his header over the bar before a mistake at the back gifted the Hebburn striker a 1-on-1 on Josh Reid which he finished well.
Sam Beattie had us level with a deft finish after good build up from Pye and Harry Garvey but unfortunately the home side re-took the lead from a set piece that United didn’t deal with from a free header at the back post on 35 minutes.
Max Hepworth had a good chance to equalise from five yards on the brink of half time but missed the target from close. However, Beattie did get United level with another great composed strike after a good cross from Hepworth from the left.
The Chester youngsters got on top at this point in the second half and played some really good stuff but credit to the home sides defenders who often crowded the United attackers out in and around their box where numerous goal attempts came up against some good blocks.
Hebburn got what proved to be the match winning goal on 60 minutes after an unopposed sloppy pass from the edge of Chester's box centrally into midfield got picked off and clinically finished.
Substitute Ethan Bell made an impact offensively second half and could have got the scoresheet with 15 minutes remaining but his effort was one of a number that cleared the crossbar.
A game that was there from the taking disappointedly saw us come away with nothing however some really positive play throughout the game in midfield and attacking areas was again very positive for this young group and something we can positively take forward and build on.
TEAM : 1. Reid 2. Garvey 3. Linsley 4. Price 5. Whyte 6. Young 7. Pye 8. Connelly 9. Beattie 10. Moss 11. Hepworth
SUBS : Bell, Ngoyi Wansay, Hardy, Hall
SCORERS : Beattie 2
MAN of the MATCH : Sam Beattie - deserving of his two quality goals today which was reward for Sam’s unselfish hard work in recent weeks.
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