by Jeff King
Wearside League Division 1 - Wednesday 14th August 2024
Chester-le-Street United Reserves 1 v 6 Durham City
It's not unfair to say that at half-time with the side's deadlocked and goal less not many would have seen what happened in the second 45 minutes unfolding. Yet again a Reserves match had goals a-plenty.
It was just unfortunate that six of the seven on the night ended up in the back of the Chester net as they endured a nightmare start to their home campaign after mixed fortunes on the road.
The Reserves have now played four games, three in the League and one in the Clem Smith Bowl and no less than an incredible 29 goals have been seen. United certainly have no issues with scoring but they need also to stop conceding.
Durham City look as strong as they have done for a number of years and perhaps this historic Club are starting to return to better times. On the evidence of their second 45 minutes that was certainly the case.
Yet it may have all been so different had United taken first half chances. Kymani Severin should have done better inside the first ten minutes when beautifully set up by Harvey Lawrence.
Lawrence himself going close a little later whilst Severin also elicited a smart save from stand-in Durham keeper Daniel Hebden. Hebden also did very well to claw away a well struck free kick from Reserves skipper Olly Dixon as United threatened.
Dylan Robson up from the back for a Lawrence free kick perhaps should have hit the target at the very least with a free header from about 8-yards out. United certainly being profligate in front of goal.
The visitors were looking dangerous on the counter with the pace of Junior Masandi and Seth Ejukwu but in truth had never really caused United keeper Louie Alderson much concern.
So, 0 - 0 at the break and without being dominant United had been the better side and looked the more likely to score. Would they go on in the second half to finally convert? Or would they regret not getting in front in the first 45?
Spectacularly it was the latter. Ejukwu taking advantage of slack defensive play from United to roll the opener past Aldus on 49 minutes. Six minutes later it was 2 - 0. Chester failing to deal with an inswinging corner into their six-yard box and Anth Cowie heading home.
With a tick over 15 second half minutes gone the dangerous Masandi made it three and then with twenty minutes to go Josh Nightingale killed off United with a fourth.
Severin did pull one back for United on 75 minutes but it only served to push Durham forward again and they completed the scoring with new signing Stan Ogunsuyi coming off the bench to net and Masandi getting a second.
A sobering night indeed for United's youngsters who looked completely shell-shocked at the final whistle. They were right in the game until the opener and then simply fell apart after that to a strong Durham outfit.
Head Coach Colin Wotherspoon summed up the feelings of many in his post-game thoughts.
"Massive disappointment tonight with both first half and especially second half performance. First half although we looked like the team who would go on and win the game we we were wasteful gain with chances in front of goal."
"Ultimately it cost us. The second half really concerns me as this also happened at times last season. We were the better side but then gave away one goal through an individual error and then as a group collapsed like a pack of cards."
"We must learn to deal with this better and developing better characters even at a young age."
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