by Jeff King (With A Huge Nod To Colin Wotherspoon)
Wearside League Division 1 - Saturday 22nd December 2025 Chester-le-Street Reserves 1 v 2 Willington AFC
The league leaders came to town and in the end left with a win and three points to continue their title search but after a terrific scare from an excellent United side and performance.
Willington came in having lost only twice in the league all season having scored over 100 goals and with a fourteen point advantage at the top of the table. Anyone though watching this game would have thought United were the closest challengers.
United's reserve lads came up against runaway league leaders Willington on Saturday at The Riverside, and played their part in what was an end to end fast flowing game of football.
Both teams showed ability in possession and commitment and desire throughout, although it was Chester's young reserve lads who looked the most comfortable in this environment in the early stages of the first half without taking any of the dangerous situations they created.
Willington eventually found their way into the game and started to create opportunity’s of their own. The first half flew by with goal scoring chances for both sides but the sides went in at the break all square 0 - 0.
The second half the continued at a frantic pace, Jude Anderson smashing the ball of the post when it looked like he had scored, Willington had chances as well without any change in the score until on 75 minutes the visitors took the lead.
A long clearance from the Willington keeper found Matty Henderson jumping to head the ball in front of both his centre backs but he mistimed his jump and ended up flicking the ball behind for their on-running striker
He found himself 1 v 1 with young Harry Telfer and smashed the ball low down the middle to put the league leaders 1 - 0 in front.
It was a cruel blow for the young United lads and 5 minutes later the task became even tougher when centre back Dan Walton was dismissed for pulling back the Willington striker who was bearing down on goal.
This double blow only inspired the youngsters to keep pushing forward and they got their rewards on 86 minutes when Jude Anderson found himself on the ball inside their box.
As the keeper rushed towards him he lifted the ball over his head and it found its way into the far right corner to get us back level at 1 - 1. It was the least United deserved for their efforts throughout the game.
Deep into added on time and for the second time this month United had to deal with losing points with the very last kick off the game which is so hard to take.
Willington got a corner on the right hand side which United should of dealt better with to prevent the in swinger which was brilliantly headed off the line at the back post post by Jack Wilson.
But the resulting corner from the opposite side somehow was scrambled in at the back post to send the players, staff and supporters of Willington wild in their celebrations as they celebrate a late smash and grab win.
COLIN OTHERSPOON POST GAME THOUGHTS :
Another devastating finish to the game was hard to take but overall I was proud and delighted how this young group of lads went about their business today against a much bigger, stronger side, both teams played their part in this exciting game of football.
Shout out to Joe Walls not long back from ACL damage played 75 minutes at left full back and was also excellent in this position he just cramped up late in the game and was replaced.
TEAM : 1. Harry Telfer 2. Joe Sykes 3. Joe Walls 4. Matty Henderson 5. Dan Walton 6. Riley Everett 7. Kymani Severin 8. Keane Mitchell 9. Jude Anderson 10. Olly Dixon (c) 11. Harvey Lawrence
SUBS : 12. Finn Cook (for Dixon 65 mins) 14. Jack Wilson (for Mitchell 75 mins) 15. Leo Fasuan (for Walls 75 mins)
SCORER : Anderson
MAN of the MATCH : Jude Anderson
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