by Jeff King
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Saturday 18th January 2025
Chester-le-Street United 4 v 1 Sunderland RCA
It has to be said that Alexander Isak is not the only red-hot centre forward in the North East at the moment. But more of that later! United went into Saturday's game in superb form and looking to continue their fine run.
A run that after this victory has seen them go nine games unbeaten in all competitions including seven in the league with six wins and a draw. It means United are firmly established in 5th place in the table, a play-off place.
They have though played more games than teams around the who could IF they win their games in hand go above them. But a general feeling is that a team would rather have the points on the board than play catch-up with extra games.
United made two changes to their starting XI from the side that had defeated Sunderland West End 3 - 1 seven days earlier. Kobe Bewicke having returned to College in The USA and Alex Clark currently on trial with Middlesboro' not available.
In their places came Dylan Robson last weekend's Man of the Match, a performance he followed up for the reserves in midweek and Nathan Conroy was restored to the attacking formation.
As seems to be the United way it was a slowish start to the contest with RCA being on the attack early although chances were shared at either end. RCA getting the first meaningful strike in of the game on 3 minutes.
Kiegan Turns coming forward with purpose from left back before linking up well with Adam Lennox and taking the return ball in his stride. From just inside the box he rifled a low left foot shot that may have been going wide.
James Hughes in the United goal was not to know that from his angle and got down to make a smart save pushing the ball around the post. Lennox's corner well cleared by the United defence.
A couple of minutes later United had their first strike at goal. Jamie Frizzel playing a good ball forward that Stephen Siyanbola flicked on superbly putting Charlie Loveday clear through on goal 1-on-1 with RCA keeper Phil Mills.
Mills was up to the task coming bravely off his line to make a great blocking save to deny Loveday the opener. Michael Mallaburn's corner well cleared by Thomas Bexton.
Lennox then did well to find Jackson Ward on the left and his dangerous cross was turned away for a corner by United skipper Dylan Wilkinson. Lennox's delivery was half cleared and picked up not far outside the box by Daniel Maw.
He returned the ball into the box and saw his centre back and captain Adam Cocks get a good header on target but Hughes was across smartly to make in the end a routine save.
Then United almost got in again. Dan Robinson taking a throw-in on the right that found Siyanbola on the edge of the box. He turned away past his marker and drove a low left foot shot that Mills did well to get down to and tip around the post.
The corner coming to nothing but the flow of the game had now changed and it was United coming forward and pressing at every opportunity as RCA had to dig in and repel the attacks.
Robinson making good progress on the right after being found by Mallaburn. His cross deflecting off Turns for a corner. Mallaburn delivered and Wilkinson won the header with the ball falling to Siyanbola only 6-yards out.
He spun and tried to fire past Mills but didn't fully connect in the way he intended and Mills was able to gratefully grab the ball as he dived low. It was a great chance for United but didn't set them back as the opened the scoring on 30 minutes.
This time it was more good play from Mallaburn who found Conroy in space on the right with a neat pass. Conroy taking it well before going past Turns to get to the byline in a dangerous position.
He looked up and flashed a great ball across the goal and there was Siyanbola inside the six-yard box to supply the finishing touch which may have took a nick off a defender but no-one was going to deny the big striker the goal.
RCA did go close to an equaliser six minutes after falling behind when a ball was worked across the middle from the right finding Maw. He made room for a 20-yard shot that flew just past the United post with Hughes at full stretch.
Chester though should have gone further in front on two occasions before the half-time break. Siyanbola turning superbly on the edge of the box to leave Chris Thompson flat-footed.
He struck his effort well but it was perhaps just at the right height and close enough to Mills who still had to react in fine style to keep the effort out. Then a great move from United almost brought reward.
Wilkinson playing an intelligent ball out from defence to find Loveday in space. he in turn played a superb ball to Conroy leaving him 1-on-1 with Mills. Once again the RCA keeper doing brilliantly to block Conroy's goal bound effort.
So, at the end of the first half it was a single Siyanbola goal that gave United the lead although they would be hoping not to rue the chances they'd had to increase the advantage.
United opened well in the second 45 minutes with Siyanbola winning a corner. Mallaburn delivered and Wilkinson got up well to cause confusion in the RCA defence. The ball falling to Siyanbola who hooked an 8-yard volley just over the bar.
It looked like one-way traffic until United and Hughes inexplicably gifted RCA an equaliser on 52 minutes. Hughes with ball in hand released it to clear but Liam Appleby deflected the attempted clearance.
Appleby then did well to retrieve and control the ball before rolling it across the United area where ex- United forward Ward from just about six-yards out fired it home into an empty net.
Ward perhaps should have helped RCA take a shock lead moments after his goal. Robson being dispossessed by Maw who found Ward just inside box on the left hand side. Had Ward looked up he'd have seen Appleby unmarked in space.
But selfishly he ignored Appleby and went for goal but his effort was straight at Hughes who saved easily. A great chance missed and RCA paid the penalty as United swept back in front on 56 minutes.
Mallaburn finding Siyanbola with his back to goal some 25 yards out. He did superbly to turn towards goal and leave the defence in his wake. As Mills came off his line to close him down Siyanbola produced a cool right foot finish that went in off the post.
RCA complained that Siyanbola had turned the defender illegally but the referee even after a quick word with his Assistant had no doubts to the legality of the strike and United were back in front.
United were now flying and on 62 minutes made it 3 - 1 with a picture book goal. Mallaburn floating a free kick into the RCA box that Alfie Hyde headed out for a corner. Mallaburn the deliverer once again.
A perfectly flighted ball that saw Frizzel rise superbly and from about 10-yards out plant an excellent flying header into the top right hand corner of the net leaving Mills with no chance.
Following this goal United made their first substitution with Dom Hughes replacing Jet Fittolani who had put in a spirited performance on the right hand side of the United attack.
United were now in free flowing mood and went 4 - 1 up on 70 minutes. Loveday winning a ball in his own half and then lifting a great ball over the RCA defence to free Siyanbola on the left.
The striker speeding away before playing a great ball inside the box cutting out the retreating defence for Conroy to run onto. Conroy's control and first time left foot finish were exemplary as he rolled the ball past the helpless Mills.
It now appeared a question of how many United would score and Loveday should have made it five on 75 minutes. This time Conroy turned provider with a tremendous through ball that send the speedy forward away.
Once again it was a 1-on-1 situation for United and once again Mills in the RCA goal was the winner as he made another brave and excellent block to keep the score down.
United then made further substitutions with Kymain Severin, Riley Everett returning from injury and Keane Mitchell coming on for Loveday, Robinson and a disappointed Siyanbola who was denied a hat-trick opportunity.
Once again United almost had a fifth when a long James Hughes clearance found Dom Hughes on the right. He showed electric pace to get away from his marker before crossing low to find Conroy.
Conroy laying the ball back to Mallaburn in space who was unlucky to see his shot spin off RCA substitute Matt Chapman and go wide. Mallaburn's corner being cleared well by the RCA defence.
RCA defiantly did have a final chance deep into injury time but Appleby's strike from the edge of the box saw Hughes dive low to his right and parry the ball to safety. It was the last action of a game that saw United well deserving winners.
United now have 56 points from 31 games and continue to press on. Games like this could be seen as potential banana skins. But such is the level of confidence, togetherness and belief flowing through the side they just keep on building.
Plus they have a red-hot striker in Siyanbola. 19 goals in all competitions and now 15 in The League including six in his last three games. A player that is fast being talked about and targeted across the League but who keeps on delivering the goods.
Next up it is one of their closest rivals Thornaby F.C. away from home next Saturday. Thornaby a very strong and tough side particularly at home. It'll be a tough test for this emerging United side.
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. Dom Hughes (for Fittolani 63 mins) 14. Alex Clark - DNP 15. Riley Everett (for Robinson 81 mins) 16. Kymani Severin (for Loveday 76 mins) 17. Keane Mitchell (for Siyanbola 79 mins)
SCORERS : Siyanbola 30, 56 Frizzel 62 Conroy 70 MAN of the MATCH : Stephen Siyanbola
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