The Y&E took an important 1-0 victory at home against a strong Chester Le Street Town side at Bedford Terrace on Saturday.
After a 2-1 home win last Tuesday against Newcastle University, the Eagles were hoping to build on that win to take another three points. In their way was a Town side that sat just behind the Y&E in 5th place in the league table. Most fans of both sides were expecting a close game and that is how it panned out.
Jacko made a couple of changes from the line up against Newcastle Uni. Defender Leo Cheesebrough picked up a knock on Tuesday and was ruled out, Cam Wild came in for him. Harry Williams was back, with Josh Larkin moving to the bench. We lined up with Callum in goal, Joe Dalton at right wing back, Sam Conway on the left, Cam, Dan Jones and Jack Dalton in the middle of defence. In the middle of the park, HST and and Joe Hillerby. Tom Atkinson up front, with Ste Roberts and Harry Williams playing as the 10s in behind him. An experienced bench with Charlie Fixter, Josh Larkin, Joe Scaife Wheatley, Foz Garton and Alex Dougall.
Early stages of the match could be best described as scrappy and niggly. Both sides were cancelling each other out and there was a fair few fouls. We had an early chance on 13 minutes after Ste Roberts won the ball on the left hand side, cut in and laid it to Harry Williams who shot from distance and forced a good save from Lawrence in the visitors goal. The resulting corner fell to Joe Dalton, who tried a dinked shot, but it went wide. There was a couple of early bookings for Town, with Ryan Dougherty, and Callum Munro both having their names taken. They were joined by Town skipper Nick Little who fouled HST and was booked just before the half hour. The visitors were having a decent spell and a shot deflected off Cam, straight to Callum. They forced a few corners as they increased the pressure on use but our defence was holding firm. Fair play as well to the CLS town fan who controlled a clearance out for a throw in on his chest, took a step back and was tackled by a picnic table. No yellow for the table. Some skills on display there, thankfully he was all ok.
We broke the deadlock on 43 minutes, Sam Conway breaking at pace down the left, his low cross deflected to Tom Atkinson, his effort blocked and the ball fell to Hillers outside the box, one touch and boom in the back of the net. His third goal in four games following goals against Colne in the Vase and Newcastle Uni in midweek. Fair play to him, he loves a shot from outside of the box. The ref blew up for half time and we were a goal up, it hadn’t been a classic but we had taken our chance and limited chances for CLS Town.
Into the second half and the game was still even, both sides having half chances. We made our first sub on 55mins, with Josh Larkin on for Ste Roberts. Just before the hour Dan Mariott was sin binned for CLS Town after expressing his disappointment at a referee’s decision. The visitors were having most of the ball, but the sin binning changed the momentum a little towards us. An HST corner was headed by Dan Jones forcing a superb save from Lawrence, the ball was cleared up quickly and Ryan Wright was free on the right, but his effort was well stopped by Callum in our goal. Two minutes later we nearly saw a goal of the season contender, a ball up to Tom, who flicks the ball past a defender, it sits up and he shoots from the right edge of the box, beats the keeper but not the crossbar. We made another change with Foz on for Joe Hillerby.
The sin bin period came to an end, and Marriott caused some issues on our right hand side, dispossessing Cam, before driving along the by line where he was fouled by Dan Jones, just outside the box. The travelling Cestrian support were not happy, thinking that Dan should have been given a red rather than the yellow the ref dished out. The free kick was cleared and Sam Conway looked to break with the ball, but was held back by Nick Little who was booked. The visitors had an effort just wide on 74 minutes and a minute later, a good break between our Harrys (Titch and Williams) up the middle of the park, found Tom who rounded the keeper and got a shot off at a tight angle but it was cleared off the line.
In to the last 10 minutes we made a further change, Joe Scaife Wheatley on for Joe Dalton. It was getting a little tense, and Callum was called in to action with six minutes left, diving to punch clear a cross, winding himself as he landed, forcing physio Jimmy in to an elongated sprint to treat him. Thankfully he was Ok. Scaife chased down a ball down the left, winning a free kick in a dangerous position. The ball crossed over and fell to Josh Larkin who tried an effort but it was tipped over the bar. From the corner Dan Jones put in a diving header, and suffered a cut to his head. He was patched up and able to continue. The ref indicated 8 (eight) minutes of stoppage time. A couple more subs, Charlie Fixter on for Harry Williams and Alex Dougall on for Tom. With the game closing out, the visitors were denied twice by Callum with some superb saves, the scored of which falling to a Town player who managed to put it over from a 8 yards. That was the game and the ref blew for full time. A big 1-0 win for the Y&E.
Credit to CLS Town, they are a very god team and had some chances to get a point. Like the first game this season, it was another close one. They’ll be there or thereabouts come the end of the season. They had a good away support at the game, best of luck to them for the rest of the season.
As for the Y&E, an important victory on the back of the Newcastle University win in midweek. We have bounced back well after our defeat against Billingham Town. Defensively we were quality today, the central three of Jack, Jonesy and Cam were solid throughout, winning plenty of headers, getting important blocks in as well. Jonesy was awarded Man of the Match from match sponsors Carter Steel. There was good performances throughout the team and all of the subs came on and contributed. Callum was superb in goal, what a keeper he is. Class.
A bit of momentum now as we head in to a the rest of a busy November with a FA Vase 2nd round tie at home against Fulwood Amateurs next Sunday. Another historic game for the club awaits!
Howay the mighty Y&E
Match Details
Saturday 1st November. Bedford Terrace TS23 4AE
Attendance – 119
Scorers – Joe Hillerby 43mins