by Jeff King
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 25th January 2025
Thornaby F.C. 2 v 1 Chester-le-Street United
This was always going to be a tough hard-fought encounter between two sides with genuine play-off pretences and so it proved. 5th v 6th in the table and in the end little to choose between the two sides as Thornaby nabbed all three points. But in truth the final score-line doesn't begin to tell the full story of the game and the way it flowed or perhaps didn't throughout the 90 minutes. At full-time the one topic of discussion from both side's unfortunately was not their respective performances.
United had gone into the game on a run of five wins and a draw in their last six League games and were sitting three points and one place above their hosts. Unsurprisingly they were unchanged from the previous game a week ago.
Thornaby were looking and in the end succeeded to complete a League double over United in new Manager Bobby Coltman's first home game in charge after his move from Esh Winning.
United created the first half chance of the game when Captain Dylan Wilkinson rose well to head clear a long Max Booth free kick with the ball finding Charlie Loveday in midfield who raced forward.
Loveday found Nathan Conroy who played a lovely through ball to Jet Fittolani who looked as if he may have a clear shooting chance from the edge of the box. Reece Littleflair though doing well for the home side to get across and block.
Thornaby's first foray forward saw Ryan Wright find his right back Luke Richards in space on the right. Richards fired in a dangerous cross that saw James Hughes come off his line to push the ball away from Alex Hutchinson.
Early on Thornaby found a little space on the right. Richards combining well with Luca Nelson who found Wright but this time his cross was headed well clear by Wilkinson for United.
The first meaningful strike on goal came on 15 minutes when a ball into the inside right channel was picked up by Richards who drove forward and then from fully 25-yards hit a well-stroke effort that flew wide of the Chester goal.
Minutes later United had a great chance to take the lead when Stephen Siyanbola intercepted a poor back pass from Charlie Hindson and made ground towards the Thornaby goal.
He managed to go around Lewis McDonald who had rushed to the edge of the box from his goal but before he could get his strike away Matty Bell came from his blindside to make a brilliant sliding challenge and clear the danger.
Loveday then did well on the left to firstly control the ball and then cut in going across the pitch before laying the ball to Dan Robinson who was up supporting the attack.
Robinson saw space and tried his luck from distance but his connection wasn't what he would have liked and lacked the power to trouble McDonald who gathered very easily.
On 26 minutes the first yellow card of the game was given to United's Reyhan Grimaud who came in with a robust challenge on James Rowe. It looked from the side-lines a slightly harsh decision but it set the stall for the rest of the afternoon.
Not that United were concerned or affected as they took the lead two minutes later with a really good goal. Wilkinson playing a ball wide to the left giving the ever willing Loveday another chance to attack the Thornaby defence.
The United wide man got into the box and slid a neat pass into Conroy who's first touch was excellent and his second even better as he spun on the ball and dispatched coolly past McDonald from 8-yards with his right-foot. His sixth goal of the season and making it three in his last three games.
In United's next attack it was almost two-nil and perhaps should have been. Loveday the creator once again slipping Siyanbola through on goal on his favoured left foot.
The big striker though took perhaps a touch too much forcing himself wide and as he attempted to turn the ball back into the goal McDonald had cut down the angle and made a fine block.
On 32 minutes Hutchinson was booked for a very late challenge on Michael Mallaburn and then seconds later his teammate Nelson followed him into the note book for an illegal challenge on Grimaud.
From the resulting free kick Mallaburn curled a beauty to the back post where Jamie Frizzel came in late to narrowly fail to get a decisive touch that might well have troubled the Thornaby goal.
The 38th minute saw the home side spurn a great chance to level the contest. Hindson taking the ball into the box where he went down under a challenge from Dylan Robson. The referee pointing immediately to the spot.
Former Park View Academy student and ex-Chester youth player Wright stepped up. He drove his right foot kick to Hughes' right but it was at a height that gave Hughes a chance and he took it plunging across to push the ball away brilliantly.
The miss did spark the home side who pushed forward for the remainder of the half without creating anything to test the United rear guard further as Chester left the field a goal to the good.
The home side's half time response was to bring on Luca Sartini, Niall Smith and Dom Joynes for the start of the second 45 minutes in place of Richards, Booth and Bell. It did seem to galvanise Thornaby who pushed hard for an equaliser.
It duly came on 52 minutes with the award of a second penalty. This time a clearance from the home defence caught the United defence flat footed and Hutchinson was 1-on-1 with Hughes.
As Hutchinson knocked the ball past the United keeper he went sprawling in the box as Hughes slid out. The referee deemed the challenge to be late and although there was doubt as to whether Hughes actually made contact the penalty stood.
Hughes was booked and then beaten as Hutchinson took responsibility himself driving the ball to Hughes' left to hit the back of the net with United's #1 choosing to dive in the opposite direction.
Thornaby were now upping the tempo and shortly after their equaliser Rowe was only inches wide of the uprights with a fine strike from 20 yards out. In a highly competitive encounter there was another flashpoint on 57 minutes.
This time Nelson already on a yellow card brought down Mallaburn with a heavy tackle in midfield. With Mallaburn on the floor Conroy was incensed at only a free kick being awarded and was sin-binned for his visible display of dissent.
Nelson meanwhile was talked to at length by the referee but no further card was deemed necessary by the official and the game continued although within a couple of minutes of the incident Nelson was substituted by Thornaby.
United also responded with 15 minutes to go by bringing Brandon Young on for Conroy. Young returning from injury for the first time since limping off against Darlington Town on December 28th.
Thornaby were having the better of the possession although neither side were able to get the ball moving freely and created chances on a difficult heavy surface that prevented good passing football. There was though plenty of commitment.
Sartini did well on the right to win a corner of Frizzel. Hindson delivered to the near post and Robinson made a good interception to clear for another corner. This time Hindson went for the far post but his delivery was too deep and drifted away.
United brought Kymani Severin on for Fittolani with seven minutes to go and he was immediately involved. Siyanbola finding him wide on the right where he took a touch and then delivered a great ball into the box.
Mallaburn arriving late got on the end of it and was really unlucky to see his first time half-volley blocked by Jack Proctor at the expense of a corner. Mallaburn going across to deliver.
His kick finding Robson up for the set piece. He swept it towards goal only to see McDonald make an instinctive save and then the Thornaby defence scramble the ball clear as Siyanbola went in for the kill.
The clearance reached substitute Jack Robertson halfway inside his own half and he sped away from Young who couldn't prevent him launching a dangerous counter attack that ended in glory for the home side and disaster for United.
Robertson raced into the United half before curling a pass around the retreating Chester defence to the advanced Joynes who still had work to do as he controlled the ball inside the box.
But he did it superbly taking the ball on his left foot and striking a sweet low shot from 14-yards or so across the dive of Hughes to find the left corner of the United net. A great finish.
United did try to respond but Thornaby were now determined not to let their comeback from a goal behind to be taken away and and hit the ball forward at every opportunity.
The game ended on a sour note unfortunately for United. Hutchinson was given offside as he chased along ball. Hughes came from his goal to try and take a free kick and the players came together.
The referee blowing for full time but the two players were still in discussion and in the aftermath Hughes was shown a second yellow card and subsequent red card for throwing the ball at Hutchinson.
Hutchinson did appeared to put two hands into Hughes' chest towards his throat as he celebrated his side's win but the referee deemed no provocation nor unsportsmanlike conduct on the behalf of the Thornaby player.
With players and coaching staff already on the pitch, the incident was cleared quickly and both side's left the field with a sense of frustration in the air both on and off the pitch.
Thornaby the victors with a win that takes them level on points with United put a slightly inferior goal difference although they do have two games in hand and only a point needed to take the final play-off position off Chester.
United have little time to lick their wounds and reflect on the circumstances of their defeat as they have a home Ernest Armstrong Second Division cup-tie on Tuesday night at The Ford Hub.
Perhaps having a game so quickly after this loss will be the perfect opportunity for United to bounce back and put the controversies of this encounter firmly behind them.
TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Dan Robinson 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Reyhan Grimaud 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Dylan Robson 7. Nathan Conroy 8. Michael Mallaburn 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Jet Fittolani 11. Charlie Loveday
SUBS : 12. Brandon Young (for Conroy 75 mins) 14. Riley Everett - DNP 15. Kymani Severin (for Fittolani 83 mins)
SCORER : Nathan Conroy 28 mins MAN of the MATCH : Dylan Robson
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