Chester le Street Town handed debuts to goalkeeper Phillip King and defender Adam Thirlaway when they entertained Willington at Moor Park with the score ending 3-2 in favour of the hosts. Chester came close to taking the lead after 5 minutes when Luke Collins drove the ball across the face of the goal but Jak Mitchell just failed to make contact. Willington made a quick break after 7 minutes with Jordan Lee racing clear but Phillip King was quickly out to make a good block. After 31 minutes a corner from the right found Alexander Walker but his header came back off the post and was cleared. Chester regained possession and a good ball was played down the right to Collins who fired in a great shot which rebounded off the bar and Michael Hepplewhite was quick to react and volleyed the ball into the net. After 37 minute some good play saw the ball moved down the left to Luke Ridley but his hot went just over the bar. Chester doubled their lead after 39 minutes when a good cross from the right found Collins and he lifted the ball over the keeper into the net.
After 48 minutes, Harrison Scott played a good ball down the right to Hepplewhite who fired a cross into the middle but it just evaded Collins. Three minutes later, Keir MacDougall drove the ball across the area but although Mitchell was in space he failed to make contact with the ball.
Willington pulled a goal back after 55 minutes from a controversial penalty. The ball was played into the Chester area and it looked to have just bounced up and hit MacDougall’s hand but the referee awarded a penalty which Ashley Davis converted although King got a hand to the ball. Willington restored parity after 76 minutes when Chester lost possession in midfield and the ball was moved quickly down the right for Jordan Lee and he cut into the box to fire in. After 80 minutes the ball was played over from the left to Owen Lancaster but he fired his shot straight at the keeper. After 87 minutes, a cross from the left found Hepplewhite and he fired in a good shot which was blocked with David Surrey firing the rebound over the bar. In the next attack Luke Collins broke clear one on one with the keeper but he was unable to convert . Then after 89 minutes Hepplewhite fired in another good shot which was blocked and Willington launched an immediate attack. Davis raced clear into the area but King was quickly out to make a great block. Play switched straight to the other end and Hepplewhite cut into the box to lift the ball over the keeper for the winning goal.
The Supporters, Coroporate Clothing Sponsored, Man of Match was awarded to Michael Hepplewhite
Team: Phillip King, Harrison Scott, Adam Thirlaway, Connor Lyon, Alexander Walker, Christopher Stephenson (David Surrey 78 mins), Jak Mitchell, Keir MacDougall, Michael Hepplewhite, Luke Ridley (Owen Lancaster, 69 mins), Luke Collins. Subs Not Used : Ricky Fenwick , Calum Greaves, Harry Whisker.
