by Jeff King
FA Youth Challenge Cup - 1st Round Qualifying - Monday 16th September 2024
Chester-le-Street United 1 v 0 Whickham
Another superb well supported night at The Riverside saw United's Youths overcome a dogged and determined Whickham side in a tight entertaining encounter.
Since entering the FA Youth Challenge Cup United have had great success and it's competitions like this that are a measuring stick for the Chester-le-Street/Park View Academy project and one those eligible to play in are desperate to do so.
The win was their second in this season's competition and once again came against a side from a higher league as they defeated a youth side of the Ebac Northern League Division 1 for the second time.
They did it despite being without three or four players through injury or unavailability that might otherwise have started. Olly Dixon being one that is eligible to play but who has not been able to make the squad so far this term.
Coming in to the starting XI from the side that played in the last round were Keane Mitchell, Matthew Henderson and Ben Gallagher. They replaced Jammie Frizzel, Casper Skrzecz and Leo Fasuan with the latter being on the bench.
There were also first time call-ups from United's very young Durham FA Under-18s squad for Shay Pye and Ethan Connelly as rewards for their impressive starts to their Chester careers.
The opposition had travelled to The Riverside full of confidence and hope. In the previous two rounds they had won 5 - 2 at Workington and 3 - 1 against Billingham Town also on the road. They also had a 100% record in all competitions this season.
The game could hardly have got off to a better start for United as they rocked the visitors inside the first 2 minutes to take the lead. Nathan Conroy making it successive goals in successive games this campaign.
He took advantage of hesitancy from Kane Gray just inside the Whickham half to dispossess the defender and run clear from the chasing pack. Showing good pace and strength he advanced into the Whickham area.
Whickham keeper Robbie Smith came off his line to meet him but Conroy's control and composure were exemplary as he coolly slid the ball past the keeper from 10-yards into the bottom corner.
The visitor's despite being stung did recover quickly and prompted by skipper Finn Davies did press forward looking for an equaliser. All too often though their approach play was good but their final ball was lacking.
Davies fizzing one low cross through the Chester area that no-one got on the end of and then when they did get the ball into dangerous areas the United keeper Rylie Irwin showed bravery, power and awareness on a couple of occasions to come and clear the danger well.
One such timely intervention leading to a head injury for Whickham striker Lewis Parker who after long attention changed his shirt and with head bandaged bravely played on.
On the counter United actually created the better chances. a 20-yard right foot drive from Gallagher was splendidly kept out by a great low diving save to his right by Smith.
Harvey Lawrence, one of the finds of the season for United, then burst into the box from midfield carrying the ball under control with him. From the inside right channel he spotted Smith off his line and went for the chip which was inches too high.
These were United's best moments of a tightly contested game where both sides were not giving an inch. Whickham's best chance coming from a fortunate set-up when a ball forward ricocheted off Jonathan Beattie to Owen Kingsland.
Kingsland was through into the Chester box but from 14-yards out pulled his angled left foot shot just wide of Irwin's right hand post.
The last major incident of the first half saw United forced into a late substitution deep into six minutes of injury time when Kymani Severin hobbled off to be replaced by Evan Cubby.
United had perhaps conceded possession and territory to Whickham in the first 45 minutes but as they left the field they had the slender lead and the better of the chances.
United opened the second half with Lawrence continuing to look lively on the left and being well supported by Mitchell. They were causing problems for the visitor's defence.
In response everything they thre at United was superbly dealt with and marshalled by United's defence particularly the two centre backs Riley Everett and Dan Walton.
From a United free kick skipper Dylan Robson floated a great delivery centrally from 40 yards out that saw Mitchell get in front and between defenders to send a great header from about 8-yards narrowly wide of the right post.
Davies continued to be Whickham's best provider and would have been disappointed to see Kingsland blaze well over the top from 10-yards out after Davies found him with a great pass.
Then it was Parker who was wasteful. Racing on to another incisive through ball he was clear on goal with only Irwin to beat. The Chester keep stood tall and then at the crucial moment spread himself superbly to make a great saving block.
Conroy was leading the Chester line well and showing great strength. His play almost lead to United doubling their lead when he robbed Jake Bakou not far from the Whickham box.
He bore down on goal but showing great awareness saw Cubby in a superb position and slid the ball across the box to the awaiting substitute. Cubby did hit his effort well but Smith was somehow equal to it and made a superb parry to keep his side in the game.
From the resultant corner delivered by Lawrence, Robson got up well to power a header at goal from 10 yards but it was always rising as it went over the top. Robson promoting his side well from midfield set-up the next close chance.
Great holdup play on the left saw him wait for Lawrence to run around him before he slipped the speedy wide man into the box. Lawrence got to the byline before cutting the ball back to Henderson who arrived into the six-yard area.
Henderson perhaps didn't get the connection he wanted but Smith still had to react sharply and smartly to turn the ball away from close range to prevent United going two-up.
It was Henderson again that was denied by the flying Smith moments later when he struck a great 22-yard right foot effort that Smith once again got down really well too and kept the ball out.
The pressure was building on the Whickham goal but Smith in particular was not allowing it to be entered. A Gallagher right wing low cross almost reaching the unmarked Lawrence at the back post but Smith claimed it well.
At the other end Whickham couldn't really find a way past a dominant home defence and when the did they lacked composure in front of goal.
Kingsland squandering their last significant chance when he scooped over a great chance when well positioned in the Chester box about 12-yards out. United though were doing well to hold their lead and in the end saw the game out very well.
A measure of the comment after the game was that Whickham had shown up well but hadn't took advantage of the good possession they had. Mainly down to United's defence who allowed precious few looks on goal.
United on the other had created some good chances that they got on target but only to find Robbie Smith in fine form in the visitor's goal.
Such was Smith's performance between the sticks that he won the Whickham committee's Man of the Match award. The United accolade going to Everett who marshalled his defence in superb composed style.
Perhaps also a the manner of importance and measure of the game was that United only made the one substitution in the game and that an enforced one.
TEAM : 1. Rylie Irwin 2 . Jonathan Beattie 3. Keane Mitchell 4. Matty Henderson 5. Dan Walton 6. Riley Everett 7. Nathan Conroy 8. Ben Gallagher 9. Kymani Severin 10. Dylan Robson 11. Harvey Lawrence
SUBS : 12. Leo Fasuan - DNP 13, (GK) Louie Aldus - DNP 14. Evan Cubby (for Severin 45 + 5 mins) 15. Jack Wilson - DNP 16. Ethan Stobbart - DNP 17. Shay Pye - DNP 18. Ethan Connelly - DNP
SCORER : Conroy
MAN of the MATCH : Riley Everett
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