Chester le Street Town crashed to a 6-0 defeat at Heaton Stannington who went top after their victory.
Chester had to defend a gale force wind in the first half and most thought that it would turn out to be a game of two halves. In the first half they defended extremely well. After 10 minutes, Adam Laidler cut in from the left to fire in a good, low shot which brought a good save from Jack Wilson. After 18 minutes,. Christopher Stephenson made good cross towards the near post and Alex White nipped in to turn the ball goalwards but keeper Matthew Swift made a good block. After 24 minutes, Daniel Robinson went clear and moved into the area but he fired over the bar from a good position. After 31 minutes a good move saw the ball played to Jake Turnbull and he raced to the right by-line before pulling the ball across the face of the goal but nobody was there to take advantage and the ball was cleared. Heaton made the breakthrough after 43 minutes when a corner from the right fell to Shane Jones and although he appeared to mis-kick the ball, it wrong-footed Wilson and went into the net. So we reached the interval only one goal down and most supporters thought it was a good performance and would probably give us a good chance in the second half. How different it turned out ! After 52 minutes, Chester gave the ball away deep into the Heaton half and it was quickly played Abubaker Salim who raced forwards to cut into the area and fire across goal into the far corner. After 64 minutes, Chester again lost possession and it allowed Robinson race to clear and fire in. Heaton should have extended their lead after 68 minutes when Salim raced down the right and cross to Robinson in the middle but he scooped the ball over the bar from close range. But, two minutes later, Salim raced in from the right to fire in the fourth goal. After 76 minutes, a corner from the left into the middle was turned into the net by Iulian Petrache. Heaton completed the scoring after 85 minutes when the ball was played down the left and pulled into the middle for Ryan Bailey to turn into the net at the near post. As I said at the start about it being a game of two halves, it certainly was – we were good in the first half and woeful in the second.
Team : Jack Wilson, Christopher Stephenson, David Surrey, Connor Lyon (Arron Thompson, 57 mins), Daneil Hepplewhite, Alexander Walker, Joshua King, Michael Hepplewhite, Alex White, Andrew Clarkson, Matthew Ridley (Brid Thompson, 75 mins). Subs Not Used : Aaron Reynolds, Calum Greaves.
Attendance 160
Referee : Mr. Malcolm Hogarth, West Denton Assistants : Mr. Matthew Davidson, South Shields & Mr. Jonathan Gray, Benton
