by Jeff King
Ernest Armstrong 2nd Division Cup - Tuesday 17th December 2024 Chester-le-Street United 2 v 0 Sunderland RCA
Having made progress in the full Ebac Northern League Cup, United were looking to follow that up by progressing in the competition for second division members only. They were also looking to build on Saturday's League win at Alnwick.
Their opponents were Sunderland RCA who are currently in the bottom four of the division and a team United beat in the League on the road in Ryhope back in August. United therefore clear favourites for the tie.
They did though have to make changes from the line-up that beat Alnwick. Jet Fittolani not recovering from his knock and the nasty injury sustained by Riley Everett forcing him out of contention.
Chester being dealt another blow just before kick-off with the late withdrawal of Charlie Loveday. It meant a full first-time debut for Alex Clark in defence. Stephen Siyanbola coming back from suspension replaced Fittolani.
Dom Hughes stepped up from the bench to replace Loveday leaving Saturday's hero Kobe Bewicke on the bench alongside Dan Robinson and two players promoted from the Reserves in Olly Dixon and Harvey Lawrence.
At kick-off the wind was gusting down the pitch and the rain was falling making it a very unpleasant experience for both players and spectators alike. There was though still a healthy crowd in attendance for the Cup clash.
Not surprisingly the wind and rain played a huge part in dampening the football on the pitch. United had the wind at their backs and were the dominant force but often overhit the final pass. RCA meanwhile found it difficult to get forward.
Harley Lawton curled one nice cross in from the left looking for Siyanbola but Preston Leech in the RCA goal came out well to claim. Nathan Conroy then made a good run along the byline but couldn't find Ben Gallagher with the pull-back.
A lovely Chester move started by the confident Clark coming out of defence well and finding Reyhan Grimaud ended with Grimaud's ball to Hughes who went into the box but saw his pull-back into the middle well claimed by the diving Leech.
Jamie Frizzel opened up play with a ball inside to Clark who hit a wonderful long diagonal cross to the back post for Gallagher to ghost onto but his header wasn't firm enough to trouble Leech who made an easy save.
Grimaud found Siyanbola with a throw-in side the box and he controlled the ball well before laying it back into Frizzel's path but the left back's effort from the edge of the box was wayward and went well over.
Despite United's pressing, RCA had the best chance of the game at the halfway point of the first half. George Pinder showing great control and then laying the ball to Taylor Richardson who from just outside the box fired inches wide of the post.
Back came United with Michael Mallaburn's long free kick finding Grimaud at the back post who laid the ball back to Frizzel who was about 12-yards out. Frizzel tried to pick his spot and didn't get enough power to trouble Leech who saved easily.
On 40 minutes the incident that changed the course of the game occurred. RCA were only five minutes away from defending their goal against the wind and looking forward to the second half when they were dramatically reduced to 9 men.
Siyanbola was involved in an incident with Harvey Rudd that saw the big striker on the floor and then Rudd kicked out at the United player right in front of the referee who immediately brandished a red card to the RCA defender.
In the ensuing melee and heated discussions a further red was branded to Rudd's defensive partner in the middle Simmi Tchounga for what appeared to be something he said directed at the Referee. RCA left reeling.
They were indebted to goalkeeper Leech for keeping the score line blank in the final minutes before half-time as he twice made excellent saves to deny United the opening goal.
Dylan Wilkinson using the extra space afforded by the dismissals to come out of defence and find Siyanbola who laid the ball off to the onrushing Gallagher. His shot from just inside the box was well-hit but Leech got down to parry superbly.
From the resulting corner Mallaburn's delivery found Grimaud close-in and he met the ball with a firm on-target header only to see Leech make an instinctive reflex save in fine style.
It meant that although the side's weren't level in numbers on the park they were level with a blank score line as the talking continued as the teams left the field.
Credit to RCA who came out in the second 45 minutes and actually had the first opportunity of the second half. Clark fouling Pinder just outside the box in a central position giving RCA a dangerous looking free kick.
Sam Spenceley stepped up and was able to curl his effort around the wall but not with the right direction as James Hughes watched it go wide and behind. United after the warning began to pick up the pace.
Siyanbola the focal point of the United attack as he did well to hold a ball up in the wind before finding Nathan Conroy inside the box only to see his fellow striker curl his effort inches wide with Leech for once beaten.
Gallagher as next up for United to almost get a breakthrough. Bursting through the box he got to the byline and looked to pick out the unmarked Siyanbola but once again there was Leech to parry the ball away with a great interception.
Unsurprisingly it was all United possession and territory as the pushed RCA back and probed their back line. To their credit the visitor's were hanging on resolutely as the repelled United's efforts.
On the hour mark though United should have taken the lead. Mallaburn's cross being flicked on by Siyanbola and dropping to Hughes but from 8-yards out with just Leech to beat he volleyed over.
It was Hughes' last involvement as he was replaced by Bewicke for the last thirty minutes. The striker was immediately into the action with a 16-yard snap shot as he met Grimaud's inside pass but it was straight at Leech who held it well.
A lovely passage of play from United almost paid dividends. Gallagher doing well in midfield to find Lawton on the left. He fired a great low cross in that once again Leech got to first but this time his parry fell to Conroy.
But Leech recovered really well to spread himself and block Conroy's follow-up effort and keep his side in the contest and competition. That all changed though on 69 minutes.
Chester were not panicking at their inability to break through and their patience drew rewards when Siyanbola was fouled outside the box in the inside right channel some 20+ yards from goal.
Lawton stepped up and judging the wind superbly hit his left-foot free kick high over the wall and then saw it dip beautifully over the helpless Leech and into the net via the far top corner of the goal.
United though almost allowed RCA back in the game when Leech's long clearance saw confusion between Frizzel and Wilkinson who between them allowed substitute Jackson Ward a good chance just inside the box.
Unfortunately for the visitor's the substitute forward's finish lacked composure as he lashed the chance well wide of the goal without troubling Hughes in the slightest.
With 11 minutes to go United brought on Dan Robinson for Gallagher. He went to right back and Grimaud moved into central midfield. These two then combined well with Robinson finding Grimaud in the box but he lifted his effort over the bar.
On 84 minutes though United applied the final nail in the RCA coffin to ensure their safe passage into the next round and nice goal it was created by Robinson and Grimaud. The latter taking the former's pass and finding Siyanbola.
The big striker controlled it well on the edge of the box and then spun away from his marker in great style before his strength took him clear. As Leech advanced to meet him United's #9 coolly slotted the ball past the keeper to make it 2 - 0.
It was Siyanbola's 13th goal of the season in all competitions showing what a great find he has been for United. Given an injury-free run and no further suspensions he could well finish with 20+ goals this season.
The second goal allowed United to bring on Dixon and Lawrence for valuable first-team experience in the last five minutes as United cruised through the remaining minutes to take their place in the next round.
TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Reyhan Grimaud 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Michael Mallaburn 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Alex Clark 7. Nathan Conroy 8. Ben Gallagher 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Harley Lawton 11. Dominic Hughes
SUBS : 12. Dan Robinson (for Gallagher 79 mins) 14. Olly Dixon (for Mallaburn 85 mins) 16. Kobe Bewicke (for D. Hughes 61 mins) 17. Harvey Lawrence (for Conroy 85 mins)
SCORERS : Lawton 69 mins, Siyanbola 84 mins
MAN of the MATCH : Alex Clark
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