by Jeff King (nod to Colin Wotherspoon & Michael Thorpe)
Wearside League Division 1 - Wednesday 28th August 2024
Washington Athletic 1 v 3 Chester-le-Street United Reserves
United’s youngsters moved up to 4th place in the Wearside League Division 1 on Wednesday night with an excellent away victory at Washington Athletic. It was a third consecutive win for the side who are playing great football at the moment.
Evidence of the Park View/Chester-le-Street United connection and project in progress was evident in the Reserves squad for the game. Four players Dylan Robson, Kymani Severin, Dan Walton and Ben Gallagher were all in the starting XI.
This was just under 24 hours after all had been involved in the United First Team fixture with Alnwick Town the previous night. Gallagher actually starting in that XI with the others all coming on from the bench.
United were quickly into the stride in this with Severin setting Captain for the night Jonathan Beattie away down the right. He put in a nice cross into the box but nobody was on-hand to convert.
However United didn’t have to wait long to take the lead. A great cross from Severin finding Harvey Lawrence in space and he finished coolly to put his side one-up after 8 minutes.
United continued to take the attack to Washington and had strong penalty appeals as Severin was fouled in the box but the referee waves it away and then Lawrence almost turns provider for Severin this time but he headed wide.
Washington then reminded Chester that they were still in the game with a good chance midway through the half but wasted it as it went wide. Then there was another chance for Severin but he drove his effort wide of the target.
On the half hour mark a good strike from Evan Cubby was well held by the Washington keeper. United continued to dominate the first 45 minutes but were unable to add to Lawrence’s early opener and went in at the break a goal to the good.
On the resumption United made a couple of changes. Nathan Conroy and Joe Sykes replacing Cubby and Matty Henderson.
Within 5 minutes of the restart United and that man Lawrence doubled the lead with the forward netting his 7th goal in as many games and continuing his red-hot start to the season.
Shortly after Conroy stung the hands of the home keeper after Lawrence set him away on goal before on 54 minutes Washington got back in the game with a great strike that gave Louie Aldus in the United goal no chance whatsoever.
With an hour gone United brought Jack Wilson on for Leo Fasuan and continued to attack the home goal with Conroy putting a good chance wide before
Washington had an equalising opportunity that was put over the bar from a good position.
The next change saw Keane Mitchell coming on for Gallagher before Washington had another good chance that they put wide of the Chester goal.
Entering the last ten minutes the game was still open and there was a dangerous free kick awarded to United not far outside the box. Lawrence stepped up looking for a hat-trick and wasn’t far always as he drove his effort past the wall but inches wide of the post.
Into the last minute of the game and chances at both ends. Brave keeping from Aldus saw him throw himself on top of a loose ball in the box and then when the ball went down the other end Wilson missed a glorious chance to seal the deal for United.
However, they were not to be denied and a minute into injury time half time substitute Conroy made the final score 3 – 1 to United and completed a great night’s work by the youngsters.
Next up for Head Coach Colin Wotherspoon’s young charges is Shildon Railway away on Saturday. His side should be full of confidence going into that game as he reflected post-game on another fine performance.
"Our 3rd league game on the bounce that we have picked up all 3 points makes it a very pleasing night."
"What is also pleasing is in these games we looked much better defensively only conceding the one goal which Washington scored tonight and to be fair to the lad if we had 2 keepers in you still don’t save it as it was a screamer."
"We are also creating chances scoring 9 in these 3 games, so creating good chances being more solid defensively and picking up maximum points and now looking like we can see out games is a big step in the right direction for this young group."
"I thought Dylan Robson and Harvey Lawrence were both outstanding tonight with the later edging MOTM with his 2 goals. Also special mention to Joe Sykes who was unlucky to find himself out the starting 11 tonight but came on at half time when we made a change and his discipline and attitude in his role played a big part in us winning the game."
"We look forward to Saturdays game away v Shildon."
TEAM : 1 Louie Aldus 2 Jonathan Beattie (c) 3 Dylan Robson 4 Matty Henderson 5 Dan Walton 6 Casper Skrzecz 7 Kymani Severin 8 Ben Gallagher 9 Evan Cubby 10 Leo Fasuan 11 Harvey Lawrence
SUBS : 12. Keane Mitchell (for Gallagher 75 mins) 14 Joe Sykes (for Henderson 46 mins) 15 Nathan Conroy (for Cubby 46 mins) 16 Jack Wilson (for Fasuan 60 mins) 17 Joseph Bell - DNP
Man of the Match - Harvey Lawrence
Comments