by Jeff King
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 24th August 2024
Washington 0 v 2 Chester-le-Street United
After two good performances in their last couple of games but ultimately no points United travelled to bottom club Washington who were without a win. Chester looking to turn their fortunes around and lift themselves up the table.
There was one forced change to the starting XI that had lost with pride at Horden in midweek. 16-year-old Ben Gallagher coming into the starting XI to make his full competitive debut for the First Team.
There was almost a sensational start to the game as Washington should have perhaps scored inside the first minute. Jack Robertson's ball in behind the United defence was missed by Dan Robinson and Flavio Silva was in on goal.
As James Hughes came out to narrow the angle, Robinson made a brilliant recovery and threw himself in front of Silva's effort to block it superbly at the expense of a corner.
Ethan Oswald took the kick and swung in a dangerous ball to the back post where Lucas Coates met it completely unmarked inside the six-yard box but headed a great chance wide.
It was perhaps the jolt United needed as they flew up the other end and almost created themselves. Charlie Loveday splitting the Washington defence with a lovely through ball for Addis Dore to run on to.
Dore looked to be clean through but was denied a shooting chance as Joseph Bengochea slid across to make an excellent covering interception. Jamie Frizzel took the throw-in and found Harley Lawton in space.
The midfielder steadied himself and lifted a glorious cross that looked destined to reach Gallagher all alone at the back post. But home keeper Oliver Walker had other ideas and did superbly well to palm the ball away as Gallagher waited to pounce.
Robinson was then active going forward for United being pulled down some 40-yards from goal as he burst forward. Lawton took the resultant free kick and lifted it into the Washington 18-yard box.
Reyhan Grimaud was in the mix and leapt high only to see Walker come off his line and punch away well under huge pressure. United were now beginning to look the more likely.
Another Lawton free kick almost saw United skipper Dylan Wilkinson get in on goal but as he dived to meet it a covering defender headed clear only for Gallagher to pick up the loose ball and win a corner off Max Westen-Hannah.
Again Lawton delivered and this time Coates headed clear. Frizzel picked up the loose ball and picked out Gallagher unmarked at the back post but the youngster couldn't get enough purchase on his header and it went tamely wide.
Gallagher was certainly prominent early on for United and should have put United in front on 20 minutes. Robinson was once again fouled attempting to burst forward. Lawton's free kick being headed up in the air.
Wilkinson got there first and nodded the ball down and into Gallagher's path about 14-yards out with only Walker to beat. Unfortunately for Chester the midfielder's first-time effort was just too high to trouble Walker.
A rare foray forward for Washington saw them win a free kick on the right for a Lawton foul on Silva. As Oswald shaped to take the kick Robertson was allowed too much space as he ran across the United defence.
Oswald delivered and Robertson's run saw him get to the ball first but from a tight angle he couldn't beat Hughes at close quarters as United's keeper made a great block.
Back came United and in their next attack on 23 minutes they took the lead. Loveday showing good close control inside the box to fashion a shot that was blocked and rebounded to the left wing.
Frizzel was alive to the situation and picking up the loose ball he measured a great cross that saw Stephen Siyanbola get a good head too and sent it goal wards. Walker did well initially to parry Siyanbola's header.
But the ball bounced out in front of him and there was Dore on hand to hit a sweet left foot shot from about 10-yards out high into the Washington net giving the stranded Walker no chance. It was Dore's second goal of the season.
United now looked in the mood for more and with the back four locked tight at the back the midfield had the opportunity to find their forwards on the hunt for a second.
A good ball winning tackle by Grimaud allowed him to find Loveday in plenty of space and using good footwork and awareness the attacking midfielder hit a powerful shot from distance but it was straight at Walker who held it comfortably.
More Chester pressure saw Grimaud with a good shooting opportunity 20-yards for goal. His excellently struck effort taking a deflection in a crowded home box and flying out for a corner.
Once again Lawton was the taker. This time he flashed a superb low cross that fizzed across the six-yard box with no-one from Chester in the right place to provide a decisive finishing touch.
United's football was flowing now. Dore coming forward and finding Loveday in the centre of the pitch and he in turn playing a delightful ball right to the overlapping Robinson who fired in a cross on the run that Ryan Dougherty did well to stretch and put out for another corner.
Lawton's kick hit the first defender but came back to him to and this time his open play cross was beautifully measured for the oncoming Frizzel to sneak in around the back.
Unfortunately Siyanbola tried to get to the ball as well and actually made the chance harder for Frizzel as he slightly blocked the full back's route meaning Frizzel could only head wide from what had looked an excellent position.
With ten minutes to go to half-time Dore and Gallagher combined beautifully to open a path for Loveday to jink inside the Washington box but as he tried to find space he was crowded out and couldn't get a meaningful shot away.
On 40 minutes Dore really should have doubled his and side's advantage. Siyanbola chased Lawton's chipped forward ball. The United #9 saw Walker sprint from his line to clear the ball.
However, his clearance was not a good one and fell to Dore some 20-yards out. With the goal completely unguarded and the net beckoning Dore's lobbed effort was too high and disappointingly for all at United went over the bar.
When Washington did come forward it seemed as if Robertson was going to be involved. Good play on the right saw him pick out the run of Oswald who arrived with great timing in the United area but from 10-yards out his half volley flew wide.
The last goal worth effort of a half that United had dominated possessionally and territorially came when Dougherty fouled Gallagher to give Lawton another opportunity to put in a dangerous free kick.
This one saw Wilkinson causing pressure in the home box. So much so that Bengochea's attempted clearing header only fell centrally to Siyanbola just inside the area.
His first time stabbed right foot effort had plenty of power but was straight at Walker who smothered it well to mean the side's left the field at the referee's bidding with United a goal to the good and well on top.
The second half opened with more of the same. United attacking, pressing and playing a lot of good football on a very pleasant playing surface as they continued to be well on top.
Dore almost doubling the lead again when found by Lawton in a great position 10-yards from goal but credit Walker who made an excellent save. Then Robinson found Gallagher with a superb long diagonal ball.
Gallagher controlled well came inside his marker and struck his shot well but it was straight at Walker who saved well. United really were looking dangerous and likely to strike again but as is there want were missing good opportunities.
A superb attack saw Dore play a paly wide right to Gallagher he advanced and then found Siyanbola in the box who cleverly diverted the ball into Loveday's path. With only Walker to beat though he shot straight at the keeper who saved with his legs.
The second goal finally arrived on 61 minutes and what a beauty it was. Grimaud won the ball strongly in midfield and then drove purposefully at the Washington goal laying the ball into Gallagher's path on the right.
He squared the ball to Siyanbola who laid it back to Lawton. The mercurial midfielder took a lovely touch to create some space and then curled a fantastic left foot curler from 22-yards into the top right hand corner giving Walker no chance.
It was no more than United deserved and virtually settled the destiny of the points but United were still hungry for more. Loveday drifting dangerously in from the left before driving a right foot effort from the edge of the box inches wide.
Then a Lawton corner was only partially cleared by the Washington defence and Gallagher picked it up. His 20-yard effort was well struck but always going wide. However, Frizzel anticipated it well and stretching almost tucked it inside the near post.
On 81 minutes a short corner routine for once almost provided dividends for Chester. Lawton to Loveday who gave it back to him. Lawton jinking into the box and unleashing a terrific effort that flew past Walker but was inches over the bar.
The combination of Dore, Loveday and Siyanbola was stretching the Washington defence. Loveday showing great close control before finding Dore who put Siyanbola through 1-on-1 with Walker.
Unfortunately for him and United the ball was on his weaker right foot and although he got a decent effort on target Walker was able to make another block and keep the score down.
Washington had not had an effort on goal in the entire second period but deep into injury time a deep cross from the left by Dougherty was met by a header from substitute Carl Lillico but it drifted over Hughes' cross bar.
The referee blew for full time once Hughes cleared the goal kick and signalled a very good afternoon for United who took their third win of the season all so far away from home.
It was another good performance which perhaps could have been punctuated by more goals but they'll take two as well as three points as they go into Tuesday night's home game at The Ford Hub against league newcomers Alnwick Town.
TEAM : 1 James Hughes 2 Dan Robinson 3 Jamie Frizzel 4 Reyhan Grimaud 5 Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6 Riley Everett 7 Charlie Loveday 8 Harley Lawton 9 Stephe Siyanbola 10 Addis Dore 11 Ben Gallagher
SUBS : 12 Jude Anderson (for Gallagher 81 mins) 14. Dylan Robson (for Lawton 88 mins)
Goal Scorers : Dore 23 mins, Lawton 61 mins
Management Man of the Match : Harley Lawton
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