Chester le Street Town moved out of the bottom three after a crucial 2-1 victory at fellow-strugglers Darlington RA.
Chester nearly took the lead inside the first minute when the ball was played down the left for Alex White to race on and hit a low cross into the middle but Ben Thompson was unable to get a good contact on the ball and it looped over the bar. Chester should have taken the lead after 29 minutes when Thompson made ground down the left and crossed into the middle to Daniel McGuire but he fired over from the good position. Chester made the breakthrough after 43 minutes when a long ball was played down the middle for Kieran Megran to chase. With the keeper running out Megran managed to get a foot to the ball and lob it towards goal and although the keeper and defender Daniel McLachlan raced back they could not prevent the ball going into the net.
Darlington RA were awarded a penalty after 54 minutes when Alexander Walker was penalised for a foul but Jack Wilson made a great save from James Wilson’s spot-kick. Chester doubled their lead after 67 minutes when a ball down the left set White in chase and as the keeper rushed out White went around him to fire the ball into the net from the tight angle. Chester should have increased their advantage after 75 minutes when Danny Naylor raced down the left and hit a great cross into the middle to the unmarked Brid Thompson but he headed over from only six yards. The referee awarded Darlington a second penalty after 83 minutes, although few in the ground could see how he had reached that decision. This time Glen Donaldson fired in to set up a nervous finish. But the defence held firm to hold onto the three points.
We should have had the game wrapped up far earlier which would have prevented the nervous finish.
Team : Jack Wilson, Christopher Stephenson, Aaron Reynolds, Thomas Iley, Alexander Walker, Kevin Dixon, Daniel McGuire, Kieran Megran, Ben Thompson (Brid Thompson), Alex White, Danny Naylor. Subs Not Used : Craig Marron, David Surrey, Andrew Clarkson
Attendance 73
Match officials : Mr. James Bancroft, Norton Ms. Lynn Brown, Darlington & Mr. Colin Thurlow, Middlesbrough
