Chester le Street Town played their first game on a Saturday in six weeks when they travelled to play Washington AFC at New Ferens Park Durham, and it resulted in them gaining their first victory in six games with a 1-0 win. Chester came close to taking the lead after 9 minutes when Nathan Wade raced away down the left, beat two defenders and crossed into the middle for debutant Kallum Hampson-Broadhead to get in a header which rebounded back off the bar. Chester made the breakthrough after 37 minutes when the ball was played wide right for Harrison Scott to race forward and cross into the middle where Michael Hepplewhite got in a good header and although the keeper Adam McCann made a good block, Nathan Wade III fired in the rebound. Chester came close to a second goal after 44 minutes when a long clearance found Michael Hepplewhite in space and he quickly set another Chester debutant Bailey Prudhoe free, but his shot from the edge of the area brought a good save from McCann as he tipped the ball over the bar.
Chester le Street failed to maintain the level of performance in the second half allowing Washington to come close to an equaliser after 54 minutes when a ball in from the right found Alex Dobinson his shot on the turn crashed down off the underside of the bar and the ball was hooked clear. Washington came close again in the last minute when some poor defending by Harrison Scott saw the ball only cleared to the edge of the area and Jak Hanson fired in a good shot which Max Coombes managed to tip over the bar. As the second half closed it degenerated with both clubs having players booked and as Chester le Street tried to maintain possession in stoppage time, Michael Hepplewhite was sent off for his second yellow card. Not a satisfactory second half performance by the Cestrians but a very welcome three points.
Team : Maximiliano Coombes, Harrison Scott, Adam Thirlaway, Calum Greaves, Alexander Walker, Nathan Wade III, Kallum Hampson-Broadhead (David Surrey, 87 mins), Keir MacDougalll, Michael Hepplewhite, Bailey Prudhoe (Niall Fingleton, 70 mins), Luke Collins (Christopher Stephenson, 60 mins). Subs not used : OwenHenderson, James Connor
