Chester le Street Town turned in a good performance but still went down 3-1 at home to Penrith, they conceded a goal after 3 minutes, the defence failing to deal with a ball into the area and Andrew Murray-Jones took advantage to fire in. The home team came close to an equaliser after 10 minutes. David Latham played his way into the left side of the area and shot past the keeper but the ball deflected off a defender into the keeper’s hands. Four minutes later, Latham was played through on the right and hit a good lob over the keeper but it rebounded back off the bar and the ball was cleared. After 23 minutes, Martyn Coleman dribbled into the area but Jack Wilson made a good block. After 39 minutes, the ball was played down the right and passed inside to Daniel McGuire but his shot on the turn cam back off the bar. Penrith doubled their lead after 51 minutes when a through ball saw Coleman beat the offside trap and he raced on to go around Wilson and tap into the empty net. Chester le Street pulled a goal back after 54 minutes when a good passing move saw the ball played through to Dominic Laws on the right and he produced a good finish, shooting accross the Penrith keeper. However, Penrith regained their two goal lead after 58 minutes. A ball into the area was not dealt with and after several played failed to clear the ball, it was played right to Coleman and he turned well to fire a great shot into the far corner of the net. After 63 minutes, Coleman was played through and he cut in from the right to fire in a shot which brought another good block from Wilson. After 66 minutes, the ball was played in from the left but McGuire fired his shot straight at the keeper. After 70 minutes, the ball was played in from the left to the near post and it was headed back to Laws but he fired well over the bar from close range. After 82 minutes Chester were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area. Alex White drove the ball around the wall but the keeper made a great save to turn the ball onto the bar and it was cleared. It was definitely a strange game and with the possession and chances we created was hard to see how we lost the game. But that is football !!
Team: Jack Wilson, Christopher Stephenson, Alex White, Joe Grant, Andrew Grant-Soulsby, Danny Hepplewhite, Kieran Megran, Daniel McGuire, Jack Honour (Joseph Hailes, 74 mins), Dominic Laws, David Latham (Michael Hepplewhite, 74 mins). Subs Not Used : Mark Pattison, Aaron Reynolds.
Crowd: 95
Referee: Mr. John Matthews, Stockton,
Assistants: Mr, Geoffrey Mann, Stockton & Mr. Peter Osgood, Newcastle
