by Jeff King
Ebac Northern League Division 1 - Saturday 28th December 2024
Darlington Town 0 v 1 Chester-le-Street United
Sometimes a score line doesn't tell the story of a game. This was one of those occasions as United made it four unbeaten in The League in a row to move up to 7th in the Second Division table.
It was their third 1 - 0 win in those four games and it is a measure of how well they are responding to the Coaching staff as they continually bring their practice to reality on the pitch.
Resilience, commitment, determination and a sprinkling of real ability has this United side continually looking up the table at those in front of them as they leave those behind them in their wake.
They are becoming a very difficult team to break down and beat having now only conceded a single goal in their last 472 minutes of League football. A truly remarkable statistic for a team still seemingly in its infancy.
United only made a single change for the game at the Eastbourne Community Centre. Jet Fittolani who had come off the bench to grab United's goal in a 1 - 1 Boxing Day Derby draw with neighbours Town being rewarded with a start.
Nathan Conroy was the unlucky player to have to make way for the Australian wide forward dropping down to the bench in another strong looking match day squad.
Darlington started the stronger in the game and came forward with purpose. James Beauchamp setting up the first possible opening by playing a ball inside the United defence for Josh Bynoe to run in to the United box.
Bynoe looked well placed to try and test James Hughes in the United goal but instead tried to pull the ball back to Beauchamp allowing Jamie Frizzel to nip in and clear for United.
Frizzel then turned provider with a nice ball down the left to find Charlie Loveday who in turn found Stephen Siyanbola inside the box. He spun past his defender and then squared the ball towards Harley Lawton.
Lawton could and perhaps should have tried an effort on his weaker right foot but instead moved the ball to Fittolani on the right hand side of the box who's angle wasn't good and he couldn't find someone in the middle. Ryan Coles clearing.
Connor Woodhouse had started well on the left side of the Darlington attack and was causing Dan Robinson a problem or two but his end ball i was on two occasions well dealt with by the Chester defence.
Dylan Wilkinson showed his defensive reading of the game and ability to play out when intercepting a Town ball forward and sending Fittolani away on the right. The wide man picked out Siyanbola in the box who's shot on the turn was blockd by Jordan Stephenson at the expense of a corner.
From the corner on 10 minutes United took the lead. Michael Mallaburn delivering deep to the far post where Alex Clark got up to head the ball back into a dangerous area. Siyanbola going for a spectacular overhead kick and Wilkinson a more conventional header.
Wilkinson got their first and bravely headed home high into the net as Siyanbola's flying foot crashed into his face but without affecting the end result to the delight of the United contingent.
Then it was Wilkinson at the other end as Town tried to respond quickly. James Wilson finding the lively Woodhouse on the left who's low cross towards striker Liam Appleby saw United's skipper do well to intercept and clear the danger.
A lovely move by United almost brought them a second goal. Mallaburn sweeping a delightful cross-field ball from right to left to Loveday to open up the Town defence. Loveday finding Siyanbola inside the home box who held the ball up well.
He then showed great feet to find Loveday who had continued his run and hit a goal bound shot that Coles did very well to block to save his goal keeper having to get involved.
On 20 minutes United were forced into an unplanned change seeing Brandon Young limping off after a heavy challenge. His replacement was Reyhan Grimaud who slotted into a midfield role.
Woodhouse again sparked the home side with a run down the left and then cutting into the box he pulled a lovely ball back to Beauchamp who struck a first-time effort on target only to see Frizzel there to block the effort and clear.
Robinson then evaded the home side on the right hand side before firing in a low cross contested by Loveday and Coles. The ball spinning to Siyanbola who poked a half-chance right footer just wide of the far post.
United were dealt a further blow to their central midfield area and overall team structure on 25 minutes by a straight red card dismissal for Lawton in an off the ball incident. The referee seemingly indicating Lawton had thrown an elbow at his marker.
Once again United were forced into a reshuffle as they went down to ten men with still 65 minutes left to play. It also lead later to Town pushing for an equaliser and almost opening up the United defence.
Alfie Backhouse making good ground from left back before finding Appleby on the edge of the box in a central position who rolled a well weighted pass into the path of the onrushing Bynoe who smashed it well wide from just inside the area.
Fittolani then won a corner for United on the right. Mallaburn the taker once again delivering well for Clark to get high and power a downward header past Phillip Pentony in the Darlington goal only to see Sam England clear it off the line.
Then in United's next attack Frizzel then tried his luck when a loose ball fell to him some 25-yards from goal but he lashed his effort over the bar. United showing a good response to being reduced to ten men.
However they were indebted to goal keeper Hughes for keeping them in front a couple of minutes before the break with a superb flying save. A strong Backhouse run saw him pull the ball back to Woodhouse inside the Chester box.
Woodhouse laid the ball back to Beauchamp who was just outside the box and he fired a right foot curler that looked a goal all the way. But his celebrations were cut short as Hughes flung himself to his left and at full stretch palmed the ball away.
United had the last effort of a lively half when Siyanbola fought well to win a ball halfway inside the Darlington half. He found Grimaud who turned the ball to Fittolani who cut in on to his left foot but from 20-yards fired over the bar.
The referee's half-time whistle preventing a re-start for the home side who trooped off a goal down but a man up. It looked like a long 45 minutes ahead for Chester.
Predictably on the resumption Town looked to get the ball forward often and quickly. Wilkinson marshalling his defence superbly was in no mood to allow any chances for the home side to be created.
Time and time again there was always a United foot in the way to win a tackle, block a pass or make a decisive clearance as the rock-solid United rear guard continued their mean mood.
United indeed still looked dangerous going forward. Robinson's right wing cross almost saw Loveday nip in with an unmarked header but Coles was there to clear. The ball being picked up by Frizzel who thumped a left footer just wide from 20-yards.
England then played a great diagonal ball to Woodhouse on the left. He got away from Robinson and bore down on goal. But then from a ridiculous angle he tried a very ambitious cross shot that flew well wide when he had teammates better placed.
Woodhouse then picked up a yellow card as he tried to get on the end of a through ball from Town substitute Lewis Walton. Hughes coming bravely off his line to take the ball cleanly and Woodhouse catching him on his follow through.
Town were pressing but creating little although when they did it almost produced an equaliser. Woodhouse again involved as he pulled a good ball back in the box to Wilson who played it into the feet of Appleby.
Appleby laying the ball neatly back to Wilson who from just inside the box tried to curl his effort into the top left hand corner but missed the target by a narrow margin. On 64 minutes United were given a huge opportunity to double their lead.
A ball in from the left by Loveday saw Siyanbola well placed. His first turn almost saw him open up the goal but the ball ran away from him. However as he tried to recover the ball Pentony swiped his legs away and the referee pointed to the spot.
Siyanbola took the responsibility of the kick himself but never looked convincing as he sent his 12-yard dead ball effort over the bar failing to add a vital second goal for United.
Town almost made Siyanbola and United pay moments later winning a free kick just outside the United box in a central position. Walton stepped up curled his left-foot around the wall towards the top right hand corner.
Once again though Hughes was equal to the effort as he dived to his right and pushed the ball in fine flying style to keep his goal and clean sheet intact as United held on.
In truth though Darlington were starting to look tired and running out of ideas. United had brought Conroy on to replace Fittolani and switched Loveday to the right. Coming out of defence both the wide men were causing Town problems,
Loveday winning a corner for United that saw Siyanbola flash a flicked header just off target with Pentony struggling to get across his goal to reach the ball. The Conroy went close with great play.
Wilkinson's lovely cushioned header finding Conroy just inside his own half. He then went on a mazy run that took him past three defenders before from the edge of the box he curled a right footer narrowly past both Pentony and the far post.
United were now seeing the game out the stronger despite being a man short. Loveday almost getting away from the defence until Backhouse pulled him back earning a yellow card. Mallaburn well over with the long-range free-kick.
Conroy then played Loveday who ran across the line of the 18-yard box before reversing a clever shot inches wide with Petony well beaten. United showing real conviction as they held on to their lead.
There were a couple of half scares for United as the game ticked into injury time One when a dangerous Beauchamp cross evaded everyone but it was too high for Walton to turn home at the back post.
But largely United always looked comfortable blocking, challenging and clearing there lines and were entitled to their celebrations at the end after everyone that came on the pitch battled and fought for the cause.
The win lifts United to seventh in the table just three points off the playoff positions. It seems a long time ago that they were in the bottom reaches early in the season as they've now put themselves in a position where they can dare to dream.
TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Dan Robinson 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Brandon Young 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Alex Clark 7. Jet Fittolani 8. Michael Mallaburn 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Harley Lawton 11. Charlie Loveday
SUBS : 12. Reyhan Grimaud (for Young 20 mins) 14. Olly Dixon - DNP 15. Nathan Conroy (for Fittolani 67 min) 16. Kobe Bewicke (for Siyanbola 90 mins) 17. Dom Hughes - DNP
SCORER : Wilkinson 10 mins MAN of the MATCH : Dylan Wilkinson
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