by Jeff King (With A Huge Nod To Anthony Johnson)
Durham County FA Under-18s Saturday League - Saturday 22nd February 2025 Newcastle Blue Star U-18s 1 v 1 Chester-le-Street United U-18s
It was another tough test today for the ever improving CLS Utd U-18’s this time with Newcastle Blue Star being the hosts.
A pretty even first half saw limited chances from either side in what was a difficult pitch to be able to play much football on. Liam Gribbin had United's only real chance throughout the first thirty minutes as his shot just went wide.
Blue Star went ahead on twenty minutes as a long ball down the middle was flicked on into the path of the forward whose shot was clinically finished from the edge of the box.
Good work down the right from Robson allowed him to play the ball into the channel where Shay Pye and Gribbin combined well to force a corner.
The resulting set piece was fiercely driven in by Max Hepworth and skipper Harrison Price rose highest in the six yard box to hammer the ball into the roof of the net to equalise.
Second half was backs to the walls a bit at times with the physically stronger home side naturally being more dominant in the contact areas especially in central areas.
A few wasted chances from the opposition and some resolute defending plus two great saves by the CLS Utd keeper Lambert kept United in the game.
As the game headed towards the final minutes Peacock drove into the box from the right and his shot was blocked well by a last ditch tackle.
Thirty seconds before the final whistle Pye smashed a shot from 12 yards which the keeper saved unbelievably well pushing it onto the crossbar.
The advancing Linsley couldn’t quite get his head onto the rebound with the open goal facing him. It was the last chance of a well contested game which ended with honours even.
POST GAME COMMENT from ANTHONY JOHNSON - Great point for our lads to keep them top of the division against a very capable older and physically more developed group but nevertheless it was more good learning from our youngsters on how to stay in games which they did tremendously well and should have nicked it at the end.
TEAM : 1)Lambert 2)Robson 3)Hepworth 4)Moss 5)Price 6)Young 7)Beattie 8)Connelly 9)Pye 10)Gribbin 11)Bell
SUBS : 12)Linsley came on at 60 mins 14)White came on at 55 mins 15)Peacock came on at 70 mins 16)Ngoyi Wansay came on at 60 mins.
SCORER : Price
MAN of the MATCH : Harrison Price - the skipper lead by example today with a great headed goal but also defensively was excellent winning his battles and headers in the box with some timely clearances.
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