by Jeff King (with thanks to Colin Wotherspoon)
Wearside League Division 1 - Saturday 14th September 2024
Ferryhill Athletic 4 v 3 Chester-le-Street United Reserves
The youngster of Chester-le-Street United Reserves travelled to League leaders Ferryhill Athletic in what turned out to be a real thriller of a game that Colin Wotherspoon's team just came out of on the wrong side.
What though is massively encouraging is that these lads are learning on their feet in senior men's football. All part of their learning curve and all adding to the project to progress these young men as footballers and individuals.
To run a very good Ferryhill side who has their aims and targets very much set on promotion is testament to the spirit, will and commitment that United's reserves are showing each and every time they set foot on the pitch.
Colin Wotherspoon's thoughts after the game summed much of that up.
"Back to back defeats now for this young reserve side but still positives to take from the game!
"We had the worst possible start against the league leaders when a mix up with our keeper and centre backs gifted Ferryhill an early lead after only 5 minutes to which they soon doubled with a very creative chip over our stranded keeper from 25 yards!"
"So 2-0 down against the league leaders away from home most people feared the worse but to be fair to the group they settled down and began to get back in the game creating good opportunity’s."
"We pulled one back just before the break with a great finish from Jack Wilson that took us into the half time break 2-1 behind."
"Second half we looked much better and more assured in our defending and we got back level with a great strike from outside the box from Harvey Lawrence that rifled into the keeper’s top left hand corner giving g him no chance,"
"We then went back to our naïve defending and again gifted Ferryhill another 2 goal advantage that this time was to much to claw back in time although Harvey Lawrence again put the ball in the same top corner from a free kick just outside the box!"
"We must learn quickly that it’s not just about what you do in possession that wins you games it’s just as important to be organised and simple in your defending."
That second successive defeat following being knocked out in the Durham Trophy against Winlaton has seen the Reserves drop down to 5th in the table. However they can take heart that they have run both of the top two very close indeed.
As they grow and gain experience in this Division these young Lads will assert their quality and ability and will be up and around the top of the League throughout the season.
TEAM : 1. Louie Aldus 2. Joe Sykes 3. Keane Mitchell 4. Matty Henderson 5. Dan Walton 6. Jonathan Beattie 7. Jack Wilson 8. Leo Fasuan 9. Jude Anderson 10. Harvey Lawrence 11. Evan Cubby
SUBS : 12. Ethan Stobbart 14. Joe Bell
SCORERS : Lawrence 2, Wilson
MAN of the MATCH : Harvey Lawrence
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