By Jeff King (With A Nod To Anth Johnson)
Durham County FA Under- 18s Saturday League - Saturday 8th February 2025
Cleveland Hall U-18s 5 v 7 Chester-le-Street United
United's U-18’s made it three wins in a row on Saturday game day coming out on top in a goal fest away to Cleveland Hall after going down to ten men late in the first half.
The Chester lads had the better start with Max Hepworth going close in the first two minutes before taking the lead from the same player's cross that took a deflection to put United one up.
Moments later Shay Pye lobbed the keeper from twelve yards to give Chester a two-goal cushion but were pegged back fifteen minutes in when the home side got one back from a long throw before equalising five minutes later.
Worse was to come for United who fell behind on forty minutes from a penalty following a red card for Alex White having been the last man as the striker went clean through before stumbling inside the box.
United though showed great fortitude and resilience hit back immediately following the restart. Linsley’s cross found Pye who drew United us level from inside the six yard box to take the game into the break at a breathless 3 - 3.
Soon after the second half opened a clever free kick from Brooklyn Moss found Pye who stood the ball up at the back post for Sam Beattie to head home from an acute angle.
Next it was substitute Ethan Bell with an impact from the bench as he played in Pye who shot across the keeper into the bottom corner to register his hat-trick goal.
Credit to Cleveland Hall who wouldn't lie down and came storming back to score two goals in quick succession to get back on level terms.
United though finished the stronger and following great work from Beattie to close the keeper down he got his reward with the keepers clearance rebounding off him into the net.
The game was sealed for United with five minutes remaining as Beattie showed good vision to find Pye who rounded the goalkeeper to fire home our seventh.
TEAM : 1)Reid 2)Price 3)Ngoyi Wansay 4)Moss 5)White 6)Connelly 7)Pye 8)Young 9)Beattie 10)Linsley 11)Hepworth
SUBS : 12)Bell 14)Lambert
SCORERS : Pye 4, Beattie 2, Hepworth
MAN of the MATCH : Shay Pye - another lively and explosive display from Shay with some clinical finishing aided by his unselfish strike partner Sam Beattie.
Anth Johnson's Post Game Thoughts : A back and forth game that saw our lads dig in especially in the second half when down to 10 men. Some excellent play in the last third from the forward line was where we excelled today to keep our good run of form going.
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