Match Report 12/12/2023
Billingham Synthonia 3, Chester-le-Street United 0

Ebac Northern League Division 2

Teams:
Billingham Synthonia: O Simpson, Miley, Groom (Lines), Davis, A Simpson (C), Scaife-Wheatley (Scotland-Peacock), Porritt, Winstanley (Lavan), Willshaw (Banki), Brown, Hogan (McLeod).
Chester-le-Street United: Irwin, Robinson, Grimaud, Houlahan, Wilkinson (C), Rudd, O'Connor, Laydon, Bewicke, Loveday, O'Gorman. Subs; Marr, Glendinning, Severin, Anderson.

Synthonia welcomed Chester-le-Street United to Stokesley Sports Club and continued a good run of form with a win and the three points.

An early chance for the visitors saw them advance with a ball in from the right to Ryan O'Connor on the edge of the box who brought a save out of Synners keeper Ollie Simpson.

Chester-le-Street were reduced to ten men when Daniel Robinson received two yellow cards. His first caution was for a late challenge on defender Adam Groom in the 11th minute which Synners would argue was worthy of a straight red. Then he was shown a second yellow following an infringement in the box which gave Billingham a penalty kick after 20 minutes. Matty Willshaw stepped up for the spot-kick but sent the ball over the bar.

Chances for Synthonia saw Luke Hogan shoot narrowly wide from the left and then Alfie Simpson head over from a Joe Scaife-Wheatley free-kick.

There were further chances before the break for Synners as they looked to make the extra man advantage count with Declan Brown shooting over the bar and then Jamie Davis headed wide of the near post from a Scaife-Wheatley free-kick.

Half-time: Synners 0, Chester-le-Street United 0

Billingham opened the scoring soon after the re-start when, in the 50th minute, Lewis Porritt slipped in Willshaw on the right with the striker sending a ball across goal for LUKE HOGAN to fire in from an acute angle at the back post.

Synthonia continued to carve out chances with Brown being denied by United keeper Rylie Irwin and then Jack Winstanley shooting over from a shot on the edge of the box.

A second goal came in the 57th minute when a rather soft handball offence in the box gave Billingham another penalty kick; MATTY WILLSHAW again stepped up and this time rifled the ball home.

On the hour mark and Synners made it three to give them a comfortable lead when Brown played a lob over the Chester-le-Street back line for MATTY WILLSHAW who fired in a low shot past the keeper and into the bottom left corner of the net.

Synthonia were also reduced to ten men when goalkeeper Simpson was shown a straight red for reacting to a late challenge, Brown going in goal for the remainder of the match. The scoreline remained the same with a few half chances for both sides not threatening either keeper.

Full-time: Synners 3, Chester-le-Street United 0

Referee: J Payne, Assistants: M Thornton, T Stannett.

Attendance: 60

Match highlights from SynnersTV on YouTube