by Jeff King
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 12th October 2024
Grangetown Boys Club 0 v 2 Chester-le-Street United
United's superb recent run in the League continued with a fine 2 - 0 win at newcomers Grangetown Boys Club on Saturday. Their first visit to the B & W Lifting Stadium ended in a satisfying manner after a tough encounter.
Only league leaders Horden are in better form than Chester at the moment who sit second in the current form table and 9th in the overall league standings. Things are going well at the moment. The team and Club in a good place right now.
The results of hard work and analysis added in to a real togetherness around the whole set-up from First Team to Reserves to The Under-18's and the Park View Academy college programme starting to reap dividends.
But United and in particular their coaching staff will not get carried away. They know with such a young group of players there are likely to be bumps in the road but for now they'll accept the plaudits and gather strength from it all.
There was only one change to the starting XI from Tuesday's 3 - 0 reversal at Spennymoor Town in the Durham County FA Challenge Cup. With Ollie Barnett being unavailable Jamie Frizzel reclaimed his place at left back.
The game kicked-off under leaden grey skies with the threat of rain obviously on the horizon. When it came it was torrential and although United had it and the wind at their backs it made for very tricky conditions in the opening 45 minutes.
However, it's fair to say that United dominated possession throughout the opening half without ever really testing Michael Duff in The Boysie goal. At the other end United were solid and restricted the home side to sporadic attacks.
There were 4 minutes on the clock before the first effort was fired in anger with Stephen Siyanbola taking a neat pass from Reyhan Grimaud but hitting his 22-yard left footer well wide.
Chester almost gifted Grangetown an opener on 6 minutes. James Hughes hesitated when clearing his lines and gave the ball straight to Liam Southall at the edge of the box.
But before Boysie's top scorer could compose himself for a simple finish Riley Everett made a superb interception to clear the danger for his side.
Michael Mallaburn then almost opened up the home defence with a great ball over the top that saw Charlie Loveday race after but he was just beaten to the chance by Duff coming from his line to sweep clear.
Ben Bielby then combined well with Southall to put the latter away in the inside right channel. He chipped his effort over the diving Hughes but saw Dan Robinson cover round to clear well.
Chester were awarded a free kick 30 yards from goal. Mallaburn chipped it into the danger area with the ball flicking off Bradley Wheatley earning United a corner.
Mallaburn delivered and Liam Lawlor did well to beat Dylan Wilkinson and head out for another corner. The delivery this time Mallaburn's delivery was caught by the wind and went directly out.
Nathan Conroy then cutting in from the right played a lovely square ball across the home box through the legs of a defender for Ben Gallagher to run on to but his 20-yard shot was well over the top.
Lovely work by Robinson and Loveday led to United's wide man playing a ball in that Duff parried away but only to Siyanbola who saw Duff recover well to block his goal bound effort.
Conditions were proving difficult for both sides. Southall playing a ball wide left to Sam Webster up from left back supporting his attack. He fired in a low ball to the front post that Hughes could only fumble behind. United though dealt with the corner well.
Grimaud then played Conroy in just inside the Boysie box but he saw his well-struck effort blocked by Curtis Collantine for a corner. Frizzel took this one and swung it in under the home bar but Duff punched it clear under pressure.
United were indebted to Hughes moments later when Boysie created a chance out of nothing. Wheatley striking well from 25-yards out. Hughes was equal to it though when he went full length to stretch and turn the ball onto the crossbar.
Some of the tackling in midfield was now getting physical with the wet pitch adding to the need to time things well. Bielby though didn't on Loveday and United got a free kick some 25 yards out.
Unfortunately Mallaburn's delivery was just too far ahead of his intended targets and drifted wide of the far post. Another Chester free kick was then delivered by Mallaburn but headed clear by Lawlor.
The ball dropping to the edge of the box to Conroy who's first time snapshot was really well hit but once again flew wide of the target failing to trouble Duff. Not long before half-time the weather relented giving us better conditions for the second half.
At half-time United withdrew Robinson who had picked up a knock following a series of tough challenges. Dylan Robson coming on to take his place and slot in at right back.
Webster came across from left back to deliver a dangerous free kick from the right into the Chester area that caused initial confusion before Wilkinson thumped it clear.
United were soaking up a little bit of pressure but almost got a break when Mallaburn won a ball just outside his own box and then sent a great ball down the left for Loveday to chase. Once again though Duff was off his line quickly to clear.
Boysie won a corner on the United right. Wheatley delivered and Everett headed clear. Bielby picking up the clearance just outside the box before curling an excellent effort just wide of Hughes' left hand post through a crowded box.
United were next to threaten. Conroy on the left delivering a great cross that Gallagher stole into the box to get on the end of but he could only direct his free header wide of the target.
Webster's strong running down the left was causing United some issues and one such run ended in him delivering a dangerous low cross that Hughes did well to parry away from danger with Wilkinson again clearing his lines.
On 57 minutes Boysie should have perhaps taken the lead. A ball was played into the box finding Arran Brookbanks with his back to goal 8-yards out. He turned Wilkinson well but then put his shot wide, the ball flicking the post as it went wide.
United's response should also perhaps have brought the game's opener. Grimaud doing well on the left before crossing the ball deep. Siyanbola caused problems for the home defence and the ball broke to Loveday but he fired wide from a great position 10-yards out.
United though were now getting on top with their pace, energy and fitness starting to tell and they did get the breakthrough on 68 minutes with a slightly fortuitous goal.
Mallaburn's left wing cross was flicked on by Grimaud a the near post and fell to Siyanbola who dived forward to head it goal wards. His connection wasn't great but it was enough to cause Duff to fail to keep it out as it rolled over the line.
It was the big striker's 5th League goal of the campaign and his 7th in all competitions as he continues to prove his worth to United's frontline and squad in his first season at United.
Within two minutes United now dominate had a chance to double their lead. Conroy playing a brilliant cross-field pass to Loveday opening up the home defence. Loveday's pinpoint cross found Mallaburn unmarked in the box.
But unfortunately for both the combative midfielder and United he didn't get the purchase on the header he would have liked and the ball flashed wide of Duff's right hand upright.
Then a Frizzel clearance was beautifully controlled on half-way by Conroy who once again put Loveday away in space on the right. The wide forward twisting and turning before cutting into the box and firing a good chance wide of the far post.
It was United creating most of the chances now and unfortunately not taking them. Conroy was unlucky with two efforts in quick succession. One where he drifted in from the left showing good skill before firing in a shot that took a slight deflection and was inches wide.
From Mallaburn's corner the ball was only half cleared and this time Conroy's first time half volley went inches over the bar. Boysie were continuing to get the ball forward at every opportunity testing the United defence.
The almost snatched an equaliser when Southall on the left found Bielby inside just outside the box. He struck his effort really well but saw the acrobatic Hughes fly to his left and palm the ball away in fine style.
It was a reminder to United that their opponents were still in the game but on 86 minutes that all changed. Everett with a clearing header that found Conroy midway inside his own half.
With Grangetown committing so many men forward it was a classic counter attack. Conroy controlling before sending Loveday into the clear and racing into the Boysie area with only Duff to beat.
Loveday kept his composure superbly and as Duff slid out to meet him he superbly dinked the ball over the flaying arms of the home keeper to seal the points for United.
It was the overdue Loveday's first goal of the season and the way he and his teammates celebrated showed the measure of his relief and the confidence and the rest of the team have in him.
A great way for United to finish off a very solid win and one that was well deserved against a side that battled hard and presented a tough physical challenge for United's youngsters.
It was a great all-round team performance with everyone from 1 to 11 plus the two substitutes all playing their parts to keep their excellent League run going.
TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Dan Robinson 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Reyhan Grimaud 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Riley Everett 7. Nathan Conroy 8. Michael Mallaburn 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Ben Gallagher 11. Charlie Loveday
SUBS : 12. Dylan Robson (for Robinson 46 mins) 14. Jude Anderson (for Conroy 88 mins)
SCORERS : Siyanbola 68, Loveday 86
MAN of the MATCH : Nathan Conroy
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