by Jeff King
Ebac Northern League Division 2 - Friday 27th September 2024
Billingham Town 1 v 2 Chester-le-Street United
No-one in the United camp is going to deny they were disappointed with their performance and result against FC Hartlepool in The Isuzu FA Vase Challenge Cup. A 3 - 0 home defeat was not what they wanted after a run of good results.
So, it was great to see the team show real bouncebackability in returning to league matters and keep their fantastic run on the 'bread & butter' competition rolling on. A fifth successive win took United to 9th in the Division before Saturday's fixtures.
On a cold September Friday night under the lights at Billy Toon, Chester showed real metal, commitment, togetherness and purpose as for the second time this season they visited Bedford Terrace and came away with three valuable points.
There was one change to the starting XI and it wasn't unexpected. Riley Everett who has been playing so well of late out with an injury sustained in that Vase tie against FC Hartlepool.
Jamie Frizzel who came on in his place last weekend came back into the starting XI with Ollie Barnett moving inside to partner his skipper Dylan Wilkinson in the centre of the defence.
United were in the ascendency from the off. Brandon Young showing good control and awareness to find Ben Gallagher in midfield. He in turn played a neat ball to his right to find Michael Mallaburn in space.
Mallaburn not hesitating in whistling a 22-yard right foot rocket at goal that Andrew Coulson had to be wary off as he tipped it over the bar. Mallaburn delivering the corner into a great area for Frizzel to come late on to it.
Unfortunately for United and Frizzel despite the fact he was unmarked about 10-yards out he couldn't get his header on target and it flashed high and wide of the Billingham goal and a good chance had been spurned.
Young then lifted a delightful ball over the Town defence to free Charlie Loveday on the left side. He took the ball on and then fizzed a great low cross towards Nathan Conroy at the back post. But Lennox Barry did well to clear for Town.
Wilkinson then took command of a situation striding out from defence past two Billingham players before threading a great ball through the heart of the home defence.
Young timing his run perfectly to get on the end of it but his finish from just inside the box lacked power and didn't trouble Coulson in the Billingham goal.
Then it was Gallagher finding Dan Robinson overlapping on the right. The full back tried a first time cross which came off Matthew Robinson for a corner. Mallaburn's delivery hitting the first defender and Town cleared well.
A long ball into the heart of the Chester defence by Harry Ord saw Wilkinson's commanding clearing header reach Conroy on half-way. He showed exceptional skill and control to beat two defenders and then send a superb curling diagonal ball out left to Loveday.
The speedy wide attacker showing good skill and awareness as he controlled it well before darting inside. Unfortunately his finish didn't match the build-up play and he blazed his shot well over the bar.
Then another enterprising attack down the right by United and Gallagher resulted in another corner. Mallaburn played it long to the back post where both Stephen Siyanbola and Conroy tried to fashion an opening.
The ball came loose though outside the box to Young who spotting Coulson off his line tried a superbly audacious long-range chip that was inches over the bar with the keeper floundering in no-man's land.
Eventually one of Town's long balls finally released some of the pressure and Robinson up with the attack wide left won a corner off Conroy. Town skipper Dale Hopson delivered it well and in the ensuing short scramble Paul Young poked it just wide of Chester's far post.
This sparked Town into some form of offensive threat. Alfie Turnbull in midfield doing well to set-up Hopson in midfield who turned the ball right into Matty Waters' path.
The midfielder made room and unleashed a well struck 25-yard effort that flew true but just wide of Chester's goal with Hughes watchfully seeing it past the post.
On 34 minutes United had two good chances to break the deadlock. Young finding Loveday wide left with a neat pass. Loveday then crossed into the box finding Conroy about 12-yards out.
Conroy took a good touch and then fired his shot on-target only to see it blocked by Paul Roddam. The loose ball spinning into the path of Loveday who looked a certain scorer but he scuffed his shot and Ord cleared the ball virtually off the line.
Town won a free kick midway inside the Chester half on the right. Hopson took it and sent the ball into the Chester area. The United defence did get there first but three times their clearances only fell back to the home side.
The final time the ball came back into the area it fell to Roddam who hit his effort well only to be thwarted by a brave block from Wilkinson. It did spark Billingham's first meaningful spell of possession in the Chester half.
John Stephenson showing pace and guile to set-up a shooting chance for his skipper Hopson but this time it was Barnett that came up with a good block to stem the danger.
Then Stephenson looked to have got away from the United defence when Waters played a great through ball for him to run on to. However just as he was about to shoot Frizzel covered across and made a great intervening tackle.
Chester though finished the half on the front foot. Mallaburn combining well with Robinson to send him away on the right where he won a throw-in. Mallaburn took it and found Siyanbola inside the Billingham box.
A neat turn by the big striker did give him room for a shot on his weaker right foot and his effort from a tight angle flew well across the face of the goal and out the other side of the box where Ord tidied up for the home side.
The referee's whistle ended a half that United had in truth dominated but had failed to make their possession and play in and around the Billingham area count and would have been frustrated to go into the dressing rooms level.
Billingham had the first opening of the second half when Barnett hesitated when he had a chance to clear and Stephenson nipped the ball off him only to be fouled by the United centre back.
It was a free kick in a central position about 22-yards out. Hopson took careful aim and curled the ball well around the United defensive wall only to see it fly just wide of the post with Hughes seemingly having it covered.
United then created the next chance. Another excellent bit of play saw him find Loveday with a sweeping diagonal ball. Loveday held the ball up well before sliding in Young who got around the Town defence.
However, the angle was against Young and although he got his shot away it was an easy save for Coulson at his near post.
Then United were indebted to their goalkeeper for keeping them level in the game. Waters releasing a great ball past the United defence for Stephenson to speed on to and advance into the box.
Hughes though as he's so often down this season was quickly off his line to meet the forward and spread himself superbly to make an excellent and crucial block in yet another 1-on-1 situation.
Town were now looking dangerous and threatening the United goal. Stephenson doing well on the left hand side of the Chester box to retrieve a ball and then set-up Young with a shooting chance but from 12-yards he fired wide.
Despite looking as if they might get on top, United rocked the home side on the 59th minute as they finally made their overall possession count and took the lead. The goal coming from captain Wilkinson his first of the season.
Frizzel was fouled on the left touchline by Turnbull as he advanced into the Billingham half. Mallaburn took the free kick and lifted it long into the Town area. The ball reaching Wilkinson at the back post who had lost his marker.
United's skipper controlled the ball on his chest before heading it across Coulson and into the far corner of the net from inside the six-yard box and it gave United a precious advantage.
Billingham almost equalised moments later. Turnbull opening up the play by finding Waters inside the box. He held the ball up well before laying it back to Hopson who hit a great strike from about 16-yards.
He was though denied the leveller by Hughes who once again came to his side's rescue diving full length to his left to parry the ball to safety. Up the other end in an entertaining game and it was Conroy almost carving a chance out.
His ball into the box hitting Roddam and spiralling into the air. When it came down Young got on the end of it but although his effort was on target it lacked power and Coulson saved easily.
The home side were now really pushing for that equaliser and went close twice in quick succession. Turnbull setting Hopson up on the edge of the area but his snapshot was straight at Hughes who held it well.
Then Robinson fouled Turnbull not far outside the United box and Hopson curled a good free kick around the wall but also, fortunately for United, around the far post as well.
The game was becoming really open as both sides searched for their goal that would alter the course of the match. Mallaburn's free kick from the opposite touchline just seeing Barnett fail to stretch far enough to turn the ball home.
Loveday retrieved it on the left and crossed low to the back post where Conroy got in first but unfortunately could only divert the half chance wide. Town were still in it but United had Hughes.
Frizzel was booked for pulling Turnbull back as he attempted to race clear. Hopson's free kick found Barry inside the area. He twisted past Siyanbola but once again found Hughes coming from his line quickly to close down the angle and make another brilliant brave block.
Conroy had sprayed one or two long passes either side and always seemed to find a Chester player. His latest one finding Loveday on the left who immediately cut inside on his right foot but then fired well over the bar from 20-yards out.
The clock ticked to 78 minutes and Chester grabbed a second to move into a decisive lead. It came from a really neat move initially started by Young winning the ball in midfield and finding Conroy on the right.
He held the ball up waiting for the overlapping run by Robinson and then played the ball into the defender's path. Robinson controlling well before driving into the box and then crossing to the near post.
The accuracy was pinpoint and United's #9 and top scorer was able to guide his header neatly past the static Coulson who was wrong footed by the head back across him as it hit the back of the net to double United's lead.
Now the question was could United see the final ten minutes or so out. Just about was the answer although they were given a scare and allowed Billingham to pull one back.
It came from a corner on 83 minutes. Delivered by Hopson to the near post and met on the volley just outside the Chester six-yard box by a great volley from Ord who saw his effort flash past Hughes into the net and the deficit was halved.
With seven minutes plus whatever added time there was allotted, four additional was the call, there was still plenty of time for Town to level the game. But in truth they never looked like finding the goal that would have given them a point.
Chester controlled the final few minutes to see out the game in comfortable style and secured their eighth win of the campaign lifting them temporarily into the top ten of the division.
The win was in the end a deserved one. They had dominated the first half without scoring and although Billingham did look more of a threat in the second 45 minutes United struck at good times to take the lead when it mattered.
A performance that showed how much resilience they have picked up and the knowhow and experience this young group are beginning to show is there for all to see. A great win away from home and another three points safely bagged.
TEAM : 1. James Hughes 2. Dan Robinson 3. Jamie Frizzel 4. Ben Gallagher 5. Dylan Wilkinson (c) 6. Ollie Barnett 7. Nathan Conroy 8. Brandon Young 9. Stephen Siyanbola 10. Michael Mallaburn 11. Charlie Loveday
SUBS : 12. Dylan Robson - DNP 14. Dan Walton - DNP 15. Kymani Severin - DNP 16. Harvey Lawrence (for Conroy 90 minutes)
SCORERS : Wilkinson 59 mins, Siyanbola 78 mins
MAN of the MATCH : Dylan Wilkinson.
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