by Jeff King
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 3rd August 2024
Sunderland RCA 1 v 2 Chester-le-Street United
United went into their first away league game hoping it was going to be third time lucky after opening with two home defeats. Their hosts being RCA who had been relegated from Division 1 last season.
RCA had opened their season with a 1 - 0 home win over Boldon CA but followed that up with a loss also at home 4 - 2 against Billingham Town. This looked on paper another tough test for Chester and so it proved.
Though the drama that unfolded during a breathless 90 minutes couldn't possibly have been scripted nor believed even in a Hollywood blockbuster as both sides and the officials contributed to a dramatic afternoon.
United made one change from the losing midweek line-up with 17-year-old Addis Dore a forward from the Middlesbrough U-18 Academy stepping into the starting line-up after completing his work experience loan agreement. It meant Dan Walton stepping down to the bench.
United were at if from the off with Stephen Siyanbola winning a corner inside the first two minutes that Michael Mallaburn swung in dangerous only for Callum Hughes to head clear under pressure.
Chester though did go in front on 4 minutes and it was a dream start to his debut for Dore. James Hughes' long clearance from his own box was straight down the middle of the RCA defence who hesitated fatally.
Dore showing excellent anticipation, great pace and awareness to sprint onto the ball and coolly lift it over the advancing Preston Leech and into the waiting net from 20 yards or so out.
United's two wide men had made promising starts and when Charlie Loveday was fouled on the right by Keigan Turns, Harley Lawton flashed an angled free kick just wide of the far post. Turns was booked rather harshly for his first challenge of the game.
Loveday looked to take advantage of his marker's misfortunate a little later with an excellent run around the defender. He drove into the box and cut the ball back with it falling eventually to Reyhan Grimaud whose 20-yard effort was just wide.
Lawton then stretched the RCA defence on the other flank with a great run before delivering a cross to the back post that Siyanbola just failed to connect with. Loveday and Lawton were then involved again in the next Chester chance.
Loveday bringing the ball away from halfway before putting Dore into the RCA box on the right. Dore's cut back found Lawton who looked to have a great chance but Panashe Mwamba did superbly for the home side to block Lawton twice and clear to safety.
Little had been seen from RCA at this stage but they began to slowly get a foot into the game and their first meaningful foray brought a huge penalty shout. Skipper Scott Ryan being convinced he was pushed in the back by Ollie Barnett as they challenged for a high ball in the box. The referee waving play-on.
Lawton was then booked for holding Harvey Amoah as the RCA player tried to dart inside. Amoah took the free kick that was about 22-yards out but he could only smash his effort into the defensive wall.
Amoah at this stage looked the brightest spark for the home side and again earned a free kick in a dangerous place not far outside the Chester area after being brought down by Grimaud.
This time Louis King went for the floater to the back post where Barnett under pressure from Jack Rushworth did well to head clear for United. The ball went out for a throw-in and it gave Tait Pallas a chance to show his skill.
He threw a prodigious effort in from the side line that landed in the middle of the United box giving King a half chance which he scuffed and Hughes was able to simply pick the ball up untroubled.
Hughes though came to his side's rescue seconds later with a superb save. Ryan got free of the United defence but Hughes was alert to the danger and came off his line quickly to make a brilliant block to deny Ryan.
It was a crucial save as on 24 minutes United doubled their lead. Loveday, Dore and Siyanbola were causing problems for the home defence and combined well for Siyanbola to win a corner off Adam Thwaites.
Mallaburn delivered deep to the back post where Jamie Frizzel did well to knock the ball down to Siyanbola who turned sweetly and struck a 12-yard left footer into the bottom corner past Leech for his first competitive United goal.
Things got worse for the home side a minute or so later as they were reduced to ten men. Amoah went dangerously in over the top to fell Frizzel just on halfway and the referee had no hesitation in brandishing a straight red card.
Despite going down to ten men RCA showed great spirit and determination and began to get on top. Pallas' long throws causing real concern as from wherever he took them they asked questions of the United defence.
One such throw was not cleared by Chester and fell to Callum Hughes about six-yards out but he was denied a goal by another instinctive brilliant save from his name sake James.
It was certainly direct from RCA as they looked to get back into the game. Callum Hughes' deep cross finding Ryan temporarily unmarked at the back post but Frizzel reacted quickly to block and then Siyanbola helped his defence out by heading clear Pallas' latest bomb.
United came back and won a free kick on the right when Dan Robinson was fouled. Lawton delivered and Rushworth conceded a corner. Mallaburn took it and Siyanbola headed the ball up in the air inside the box.
Dore got to the loose ball first and nodded it goal wards from close range but Turns headed it over the bar to clear the danger with the resultant corner from Mallaburn being cleared.
At the other end another Pallas long throw saw Frizzel head clear at the cost of a corner. King took it and delivered under the United bar but Hughes claimed it confidently.
The last action of the half saw Siyanbola do well on the left to get away from Mwamba before crossing low and hard towards Loveday who looked free. Rca though were saved by Thwaites who made a crucial interception.
Two goals to the good at the break and with a downhill advantage against ten men in the second half United opened the second half in confident mode looking to kill the contest off.
Excellent wing play from Lawton on the left saw him deliver a dangerous cross into towards Siyanbola and Dore but once again Thwaites nipped in to head the ball out for a corner.
Mallaburn took the kick looking for Barnett at the far post but the ball was cleared only for Mallaburn to pick it up and drift a dangerous ball into the far post again. This time Leech did well to catch it in front of his goal line although he did hit the post in his follow through.
Dore then showed good skill and close control to drift inside from the left before hitting a goal bound shot that Mwamba did well to block. Then it was Dore again battling well and dispossessing Thwaites inside the RCA box.
Dore turning smartly and firing in a low shot that Leech did very well to get down too and hold at his near post. On 70 minutes RCA were give a boost when Lawton tripped Adam Lennox in a dangerous position and was given a second yellow card.
At ten-a-side RCA pushed but United held firm with in truth neither side looking particularly dangerous before on 77 minutes RCA once again found themselves a man down.
This time it was Callum Hughes shown a straight red card. He tangled with Siyanbola on the touchline just inside the United half. The pair went down and as Siyanbola rolled over him Hughes struck out raising his hand. The referee deemed the action dangerous intent and RCA were down to nine men.
To their credit though the home side rallied and were gifted a real live line on 82 minutes. Ryan took a corner on the United left and Hughes came well to claim it. The referee though blew for an infringement indicating that Frizzel had impeded Lennox and gave a penalty.
Skipper Ryan accepted the responsibility stepping up to send Hughes the wrong way and halving the deficit. However RCA got not push on from there and although threatening never troubled Hughes' goal.
The closest the game came to a fourth goal was a late Chester chance. Grimaud playing a hopeful ball in the air towards the RCA goal. Loveday actually got to it first and headed it past the onrushing Leech.
However with the ball rolling towards the empty net Thwaites got across and cleared the danger to make sure the final score stayed at a 2 - 1 away win for United.
This was a much needed and well received win for Chester. In their first two games they had been a touch unlucky not to pick up any points but getting their first win at a difficult hard working opponents will give them confidence.
The front two Siyanbola and Dore looked to have the ability to link-up well and caused problems for RCA all game. Wide men Loveday and Lawton, until his sending off, had moments of real promise.
Elsewhere United were solid if not spectacular but three points, a win and off and running were all positives as they go to Billingham Town on Tuesday night to face in-form Yarm & Eaglescliffe who play their home games at Billingham.
TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Dan Robinson 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Reyhan Grimaud 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Ollie Barnett 7. Charlie Loveday 8. Michael Mallaburn 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Addis Dore 11. Harley Lawton
SUBS : 12. Leo Fasuan - DNP 14. Harry Marr (for Dore 77 minutes) 15. Dylan Robson (for Mallaburn 90 + 4 minutes) 16. Dan Walton (for Siyanbola 79 minutes) 17. Jude Anderson - DNP
SCORERS : Dore 4 minutes, Siyanbola 24 minutes
Management Man of the Match - Addis Dore
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