by Jeff King
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Wednesday 21st August 2024
Horden C.W. 1 v 0 Chester-le-Street United
It's beginning to feel a little bit like Groundhog Day around Chester's first-team at the moment. Another game where they played a team in the upper reaches of the Division and another one where their performance deserved more than nothing.
Going in against a tough 'Marras' outfit that had won their last three games and were unbeaten in four home games it was always going to be a big ask. Especially as United came into the game on the back of three defeats.
But statistics tell only a part of the story and when comments like "we got away with one there" and "you're the best team we've faced this season," are thrown your way you feel as if you're not far away from turning the corner.
Although alternatively the well-known expression that Mick Nelson used at the end of "I'd rather win ugly," perhaps was just as telling.
United had to make one change from the side that had played well at FC Hartlepool but ultimately gone down to a late goal. Riley Everett stepping up from The Reserves to partner Skipper Dylan Wilkinson in the heart of the defence with Ollie Barnett unavailable.
On a cool windy evening with the breeze adding to the slope towards the sea, the home side kicked off with not just form in their favour but the elements too. However, it was United that made the brighter start as they pushed forward.
Harley Lawton's inviting ball over the top saw Addis Dore just beaten to the pass by Ben Riding who only succeeded in lifting it over his own keeper Craig Foster. Luckily for Horden the interception lacked pace and Callum Hodgson scrambled it clear.
The ball came back to Lawton who floated it in towards Stephen Siyanbola only to see Foster come off his line and claim well. Then a Dan Robinson free kick from halfway saw Siyanbola battle for the ball in the box.
It went loose and fell to Dore who laid it back into the path of the supporting Jamie Frizzel but his 20-yard effort although well struck was always rising as it went over the top.
On 15 minutes United almost grabbed the lead. Siyanbola doing well to hold up the ball and then release Charlie Loveday into the clear through the inside left channel.
The speedy forward advanced into the box before hitting a great left foot cross shot that Foster at full stretch turned away with his left hand to keep the game goalless.
Horden's first meaningful response was a long diagonal ball from Ross Kidson that saw Chris Mitchell nod into the path of Philly Angus just inside the box. Angus turned sharply to get a shot away but Everett was on hand to make a great block.
Siyanbola was already proving to be a real handful for The Marras defence and once again broke well. His pace and power taking him away from Joe Osborne but as he lined up a right foot shot, Riding did well to come across blocking the danger.
A long Riding throw-in caused confusion in the United area and the ball in a crowd flicked off a couple of heads and fell invitingly to Kidson breaking late into the box. However he could only direct his effort straight at James Hughes who saved easily.
Siyanbola then sent his strike partner Dore away on the right and he made good ground before crossing dangerously only to see Taylor Campbell intercept and head out for a corner.
Lawton delivered and Siyanbola got up at the far post to direct a header at goal but it lacked conviction and power and went harmlessly wide. At the other end Kidson moving forward from right back found skipper Jack Pounder in the box.
Last season's top scorer for Horden and one of the most prolific strikers in the Division took the ball well before turning only to find the alert Everett in his path and the Chester defender once again got in a great block.
Then there was a flowing United move involving Reyhan Grimaud who showed tenacity to win the ball in midfield and find Siyanbola. He got the ball on his left foot before shooting across goal where Kidson cleared in front of his goal line.
The ball was retrieved by Loveday who quickly Dore about 10-yards out but the Middlesboro loanee lashed his effort over the bar. A response from Horden came with Ben Henderson winning a corner off Frizzel.
Campbell delivered deep to the back post where Pounder got up and on the end of the swinging ball but could only put his header well wide with Hughes untroubled.
Back came United with Michael Mallaburn who released Robinson on the right. the full back made great ground before firing a cross into the middle aimed for Siyanbola but Foster was alert and came off his line to thwart the United striker.
Horden had a spell of pressure where they were pumping balls at the United defence who were having trouble clearing their lines. The final ball falling to Henderson who hit a low shot from the edge of the box that Hughes went full length low to his left to keep out in fine style.
Another throw-in from Riding was only half cleared by Grimaud and fell to Robbie Bird who hit a first time 20-yard effort just over the top. Angus then tried his luck from distance with the slope and wind at his back but his left foot shot was eailsy gathered by Hughes.
United though after weathering the pressure broke out again and with Loveday, Siyanbola always looking dangerous stretched the home defence at every opportunity.
Siyanbola once again turning his man well on half-way before releasing Loveday into the box. This time the United forward's effort beat Foster but it also went the wrong side of the post and another chance was gone.
Henderson then won a corner off Everett that gave Campbell another opportunity to swing in a dangerous ball. This time Hughes under pressure did really well to palm the ball away under pressure.
United almost and perhaps should have taken the lead shortly before half time. Loveday with another lightning break that almost took him away from the defence but Osborne did well to dispossess him.
The left back though did less well when attempting to clear and was robbed by Dore who found Siyanbola on the right hand side of the box. The big striker pulled it across the area to find Loveday steaming in.
He looked a certain scorer as he met the ball sweetly but only to see Foster make a brave brilliant reflex block to keep his goa intact. Horden did though finish the half on the front foot.
Pounder on the edge of the United box turning well before shooting from an angle with his left foot that saw Hughes get down and divert away with a strong right hand. Frizzel completing the clearance but the ball was picked up by Angus.
Spotting Hughes still slightly out of position as the keeper recovered he went for an audacious long range effort that Hughes did well to touch away for a corner after scrambling across.
Campbell took the corner, Wilkinson headed strongly clear and the referee blew the whistle for half time. United coming off with confidence after a half where they soaked up pressure against the wind and defending the slope well.
They had also arguably created the clearer opportunities but had been unable to capitalise on them and with the score goalless at the break an exciting and intriguing second 45 minutes was in prospect.
United opened the second half brightly. Dore putting Mallaburn away on the right with a sweeping cross field ball. Mallaburn steadied himself and then delivered a dangerous low cross that Hodgson did well to clear in front of Siyanbola.
Frizzel retrieved and found Dore inside the box but once again the effort was rather snatched at and from a good position was too high to really trouble Foster.
At the other end Pounder followed in a Henderson effort that Hughes got down to gather comfortably. Pounder was a little late in his challenge and received a talking too from the referee but nothing else.
This was then compounded when Pounder appeared to flatten Grimaud moments later in an aerial challenge. Grimaud went down and a melee of players got involved at the point of the incident.
When the furore calmed down the referee did finally produce a yellow card for Pounder who was now skating on thin ice and perhaps a little bit fortunate.
The incident seemed though to fire up the home side temporarily. Wallace playing a good low ball to the back post that saw Robinson do really well to clear in front of the waiting Henderson.
Lawton became the second player to be cautioned when fouling Campbell in centre midfield as the ex-Chester skipper attempted to break away and set his side up. Campbell took the free kick himself but hit it way too long.
Horden were pushing at this point but United were holding firm and restricting their opponents to only half chances. Kidson finding Henderson who from 20-yards out fired miles over the bar.
Henderson went closer though and perhaps should have done better when Wallace put him clean through. He attempted to round Hughes who did well to get a hand to the ball and divert it and Henderson wide.
Henderson's angle was now tight and although he got his effort on target Wilkinson had covered behind his keeper and was able to clear the danger for his side.
Angus then set again gave Henderson a run on the left. This time the Horden attacker found Pounder in the box who tried to turn dangerously only to be thwarted by Wilkinson.
The ball clear fell to Campbell well outside the box and he smashed an effort at goal into the crowded box where Wilkinson was there again to block and keep his side level.
After sustaining the Horden pressure United began again to get on top and looked the more dangerous side going forward. Mallaburn playing a superb ball inside the left channel to allow Loveday to speed into the box.
His square pass sought Siyanbola out but once again a defender, this time Horden's Riding, was in the right place at the right time to deny United a scoring opportunity.
United's front two once again combined brilliantly with Dore finding Siyanbola well and then in turn Siyanbola finding Loveday breaking free. Loveday got his cross shot on target but was once again denied by a great full length diving save from Foster.
The 'three amigos' were certainly causing Horden problems but ultimately couldn't quite find an end product. Siyanbola with brilliant holdup play before releasing Dore into the box.
He was crowded out and the ball fell to Loveday on the edge and he fired it inches over the bar with Foster beaten. Then Siyanbola threatened to break away from half-way but was cynically pulled back by Hodgson.
The ball though fell to Dore and the referee waved advantage as the Chester striker tore through on goal before hitting a fierce drive that once again was only just too high as it flew past Foster.
A few thought that the referee should have gone back and cautioned Hodgson for the foul but under a new FA directive once advantage is played and no foul is given the official can no longer take action on the initial incident.
United were still on the offensive but were stung by a counter from Horden that gave the home side a glorious chance with six minutes to go. Henderson and substitute Martin Fowler combining to send the former into the United box.
Robinson trying to get across to defend the danger only succeeded in clipping Henderson who went down on contact and the referee, rightly, had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.
Horden skipper Pounder accepting the responsibility and sending the 12-yard spot-kick to Hughes' left with the keeper choosing to dive right. It was a cruel blow for United to take after so much good work on the night.
They made a substitution with Kymani Severin replacing Mallaburn as the looked for a late equaliser. Robinson recovering from the penalty incident to charge down the right and fire in a diagonal cross that Kidson did well under pressure to head out for a corner.
Lawton delivered and Horden did well to clear their lines with bodies converging in the box. Dore then released Severin with a superb cross field. The substitute doing well to control and then when a corner off Osborne.
Lawton again delivered and into a dangerous area. Everett hooked an overhead at goal that was headed out but fell to Frizzel about 14 yards out. The left back though didn't get the connection he wanted and Foster got down to make a crucial save.
It was United's last chance as the referee blew to signal the end of the game and a win for The Marras that moved them back up to third in the table with United now slipping down to 18th place.
The truth is though that United for long, long, long periods were the better and more dangerous side in this game and there was a sense of relief in the home camp who actually named their keeper Man of the Match.
For United the agony goes on. Little wrong with the performance apart from the end product and cutting edge. Unfortunately that is a big wrong at the moment. They've now won two and lost six.
They've only conceded 9 goals in those 8 games but have only netted 4 at the other end. They now go into two big games at winless Washington on Saturday before returning to the Ford Hub next Tuesday to take on Alnwick Town who are just above them currently in the table.
If they can produce the level of performance, commitment and ability they showed in this game and add that final product then perhaps better times are just around the corner?
TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Dan Robinson 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Reyhan Grimaud 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Riley Everett 7. Charlie Loveday 8. Michael Mallaburn 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Addis Dore 11. Harley Lawton
SUBS : 12. Jude Anderson - DNP 14. Kymani Severin (for Mallaburn 85 mins) 15. Ben Gallagher - DNP
Management Man of the Match - Dylan Wilkinson
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