Under-18s Exit Cup Against Strong Spennymoor Side

by Jeff King (With A Huge Nod To Anthony Johnson)

Durham County FA Under-18 Saturday League Cup - Saturday 8th March 2025 Spennymoor Town Knights 4 v 1 Chester-le-Street United Under-18s

The CLS Utd youngsters came into this game six games unbeaten but a difficult first half proved costly against a really strong Spennymoor side.

United started really well with a fair share of possession in the early stages but couldn’t quite carve out any real opportunities to capitalise in the last third.

Alex Lambert in the CLS Utd goal kept the scores level with a couple of fine saves in the first fifteen minutes before the home side got on top as United went one behind directly from a corner.

A clever run and finish through the middle from the Knights centre midfielder saw him dink the ball past the advancing Lambert to put the home side two ahead.

On the stroke of half time United failed to deal with another high ball in the box and a simple finish from close range to make it 3 - 0 took the game away from United a little.

Second half United were much improved and a slight tweak in formation enabled them to compete better in central areas where at times they had been over run in the first often down to pace and physicality of the older opposition.

A great chance for United fell to Liam Gribbin on 50 minutes after he forced a mistake by the Spennymoor keeper but the keeper recovered well to gather the resulting shot.

A minute later a long ball from their keeper allowed the forward to get in behind to score after United once again didn’t deal with things at the back.

Ethan Bell got one back for Chester at the mid point of the half as he drove into the box and slotted the ball low to the keepers left after good work from Gribbin who played Bell in from Alex White's long pass.

United did have more of the ball as the game went into the closing stages but were unable to create any real chances of note against a very capable and strong back line.

Anth Johnson Post-Game Thoughts : Today was always going to be a tough ask against one of the leagues strongest sides who clearly demonstrated lots of quality on the ball.

Fair play to our boys who kept working hard after the game got away from them a bit and lots of positives saw them put in a much better second 45 drawing 1-1 which was pleasing

TEAM : 1. Alex Lambert 2. Cole Robson 3. Max Hepworth 4. Harry Price 5. Alex White 6. Frankie Young 7. Liam Gribbin 8. Ethan Connelly 9. Sam Beattie 10. Brooklyn Moss 11. Shay Pye

SUBS : 12. Nygoyi Wansay 14. Linsley 15 . Ethan Bell

SCORER : Bell

MAN of the MATCH : Cole Robson - A strong performance from Cole who battled for the whole game and wasn’t phased and competed really well.

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