by Jeff King
Durham County FA 'Frank Pattison' Challenge Cup - Weds 11th September 2024
1st Preliminary Round
Chester-le-Street United 4 v 1 Hartlepool United
Perhaps the biggest 'competitive' game in the short history of Chester-le-Street United ended in a night of celebration at The Riverside. The side's return to their spiritual home producing one of their most historic victories so far.
This is the third season that United have been in the competition coinciding with their elevation to The Northern League and the first time they've come through this round.
Their two previous ventures ending in penalty shoot-out defeats to Easington Colliery in the first year and last season to Crook Town. However this time there was no need for penalty drama as United swept through to the next round.
A healthy crowd at The Riverside saw a performance from the Northern League side that gave credence to their project as the Vanarama National League side simply had no answer to United's superb second half display.
Team news centred around Stephen Siyanbola who was restored to lead the attack in the absence of the injured Addis Dore and Ollie Barnett who came in at left back for the hamstrung Jamie Frizzel.
There was a sensational start to the game with United being indebted to their fine young goalkeeper James Hughes to keep the scoresheet blank.
Hughes who had saved brilliantly in the last minute to preserve 3 league points at Jarrow was at it from the off. Inside the first minute he made a remarkable one-handed tip-over to keep out Alfie Steel's firm 10-yard header from Eddie Ormerod's cross.
Charlie Berry's corner was deep into the danger area but Hughes was there again to firstly palm the ball away and then retrieve it before any Pools player could take advantage.
Chester replied with a lovely move. Brandon Young finding Charlie Loveday well in midfield and Loveday played a good ball inside the box to Siyanbola. The striker rolled it across to Michael Mallaburn but his 16-yard effort flew over the bar.
Joe Aungiers then exchanged passes with Ormerod who got to the byline and won a corner off Dylan Wilkinson on the right. Berry took it and Charlie Ashcroft met it with a firm header 10-yards out but it was too high.
On 15 minutes Riley Everett picked out Siyanbola with a great long ball from the back. Siyanbola controlling well before hitting a left foot shot from just outside the box that was narrowly wide.
Ben Gallagher then fouled Kian Foreman on the left and Berry and Ormerod worked a clever free kick that saw Ormerod's cross once again finding Ashcroft inside the United area but he couldn't get any purchase on his header.
Hartlepool had started the brighter and almost opened Chester up with a dangerous attack. Ty Grundle making great ground down the left before turning the ball inside to Ormerod.
Ormerod swept the ball right to the overlapping Oliver Duthie who burst into the United area only to see his well-struck effort blocked by United skipper Wilkinson. Halfway through the first 45 and Pools were on top.
They'd had the lion's share of possession and were pressing the United rearguard with some slick quick passing attacking football. The Chester defence though at that stage up to their task and defending well.
Pools threatened again with good passing from left to right before skipper Kieran Wallace won a corner off Mallaburn. Berry took it but again Hughes came authoritatively to claim.
Chester then began to really get into the game and start causing problems for Pools. Mallaburn finding Gallagher in the inside right channel. Gallagher showing great skill to get into the box before firing in an excellent low cross.
Young almost got on the end of it but could only scoop his effort from six-yards up in the air. Siyanbola tried to get on the end of the missed opportunity but was flagged offside.
Siyanbola was really now starting to put a shift in for United upfront and taking the ball well just outside the box was taken down by Loui Stephenson for a free kick in a dangerous area.
Mallaburn whipped in a great ball and Wilkinson timed his run perfectly to get in front of the Pools defence but at full stretch just failed to get what surely would have been a decisive touch.
Dan Robinson then played a lovely ball forward that almost got Young in on goal. The midfielder's attempted header through fell back to Siyanbola who lifted it towards goal only to see Harry Conyard collect under his own bar.
Siyanbola went even closer minutes later when a strong run took him away from Stephenson and although under pressure from Ashcroft he got a good right foot shot on target from a tight angle that Conyard did well to block.
United were now on top after playing second fiddle at first but almost went behind not long before the half-time break. Duthie's ball forward finding Foreman who was in the clear and in on goal.
Hughes came to narrow the angle and his presence was enough as Foreman lacked composure at the vital moment and from just inside the box fired his one-on-one effort into the side netting.
A let-off for United but one they possibly deserved after bringing themselves back into the game in the latter stages of the half and meant the sides went off after 45 entertaining minutes level and goalless.
Whatever Hartlepool old boy Micky Nelson and John Gamble said to their charges in the confines of their dressing room at the break certainly had the desired effect as United came out flying and pressing from the off in the second half.
A terrible square pass across his own box by Stephenson was superbly intercepted by Mallaburn who just failed to force the ball past Conyard from close range. A move that seemed to set the tone for the rest of the game.
United felt when Siyanbola turned well inside the box and went down under a challenge that it was illegal and a had big claims for a penalty waved away by the referee as they continued to press.
Then Gallagher did brilliantly in midfield to win a 50/50 challenge before creating space on the right to deliver a great cross into the box. Siyanbola getting in front of his marker and flashing a header from just outside the six-yard box that Conyard did well to get down to save.
Then a lovely header from Reyhan Grimaud in midfield gave Mallaburn a chance to drive forward well before he tried his luck from 22-yards but was too high with his well-struck effort.
United were now really looking in the mood and it was no surprise when they took the lead on 63 minutes and what a finish it was from Siyanbola. Robinson winning a tackle on the halfway line finding Mallaburn and continuing his run took the return ball.
His low cross to the back of the box found Loveday who showed great feet as he tried to work a shooting position but he was crowded out. The ball though broke to Siyanbola whose 'Cruyff' turn gave him space and he poked the ball home from six-yards out to the delight of the Chester fans whom he celebrated in front of.
Within 5 minutes and before Pools could really recover United struck again. Robinson playing a great ball through the inside right channel to Siyanbola who showed great strength to beat Grundle to the ball and turn inside the box.
The centre forward went outside Ashcroft with ease and then from 10-yards out lashed his left foot shot past and under the helpless Conyard to double his and Chester's tally on the night.
Two-up United made their first substitution on 72 minutes with Nathan Conroy coming on for Young who has only just come back from a long-term injury and had put in a great shift for his side with his relentless energy.
United almost made it three moments later. This time Loveday nipped in and robbed Stephenson brilliantly before advancing into the Pools box. As Conyard came out to meet him Loveday tried to round the keeper who did well to take the ball off his toes.
It was though a temporary reprieve for Pools who did go three-nil down on 77 minutes. This time it came from the United press and their never-say-die attitude. Firstly Gallagher chased a seemingly lost cause into the left corner and retrieved the ball.
He put it into the box towards Siyanbola who dispossessed Stephenson before laying the ball back from 6-yards to the unmarked Mallaburn who finished with some aplomb and composure firing high into the net with power from 14-yards.
Three-nil became four on 79 minutes with a super goal from Grimaud. The battling midfielder winning a header in his own half that went forward to Siyanbola who held it up well.
Grimaud following his header forward picked the ball up in the centre circle and drove through the centre of the Pools defence. Reaching the 'D' he fired unerringly low past the diving Conyard's right hand into the bottom corner.
A superb finish and the cherry on top of the United celebration cake! Chester then made a raft of changes bringing on members of their FA Youth Cup and Reserve Team squad for valuable minutes and experience.
Dylan Robson replacing Gallagher, Dan Walton for Everett, Harvey Lawrence's first appearance in the First Team for Loveday and Kymani Severin on in place of two-goal hero Siyanbola all on 80 minutes.
Hartlepool did grab a consolation goal on 82 minutes. Substitute Alex Pavan cutting in from the left touchline drifting across the Chester box and from just outside the box hitting a right-foot shot that deflected off Walton beyond Hughes' dive.
United though almost made it five as time ticked down. A brilliant run down the left by Mallaburn saw him dink a delightful ball over the Pools defence where Grimaud and Lawrence converged on the chance.
However Pools substitute Evan Purdy sprinted back and intercepted although he almost sent the ball screaming past his own keeper with Conyard only able to watch it flash just wide.
Chester's resultant corner coming to nothing but the job had already been done and when the final whistle went the players and coaching staff celebrated with the encouraging and boisterous crowd of 165 in some style.
This has been a momentous week or so for the Chester-le-Street United 'project.' Wins in the Ebac Northern League away from home at Billingham Synthonia and Jarrow and progress in the FA Youth Cup with a victory over Newcastle Benfield.
An 11 - 0 win for the Reserves against Wynyard Village in the Wearside League and 3 - 3 draw for the Under-18s at Morpeth Town. True, the Reserves went out of the Durham Trophy against Winlaton Community Seniors on penalties but that was a minor bump along the way which will happen.
But this result possibly topped the lot and really will make people sit up and take notice. The trick of course now is to keep it all going and continue to build and progress as the season unfolds. Something the coaching staff are well aware of.
TEAM : 1 James Hughes 2 Dan Robinson 3 Ollie Barnett 4 Reyhan Grimaud 5 Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6 Riley Everett 7 Michael Mallaburn 8 Brandon Young 9 Stephen Siyanbola 10 Ben Gallagher 11 Charlie Loveday
SUBS : 12 Dylan Robson (for Gallagher 80 mins) 14 Dan Walton (for Everett 80 mins) 15 Nathan Conroy (for Young 72 mins) 16 Kymani Severin (for Siyanbola 80 mins) 17 Harvey Lawrence (for Loveday 80 mins)
SCORERS : Siyanbola 63, 68 Mallaburn 77 Grimaud 79
MAN of the MATCH : Reyhan Grimaud (by a whisker from Michael Mallaburn)
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