Child's play for Town as Hickman and Gredziak sink Chester-le-Street

NORTHALLERTON TOWN 2 CHESTER-LE-STREET 0

 

A GOAL in each half from Grant Hickman and Wayne Gredziak were enough to give Town all three points against Chester-le-Street on Saturday, as they closed the gap on leaders Ryhope CW to three points with a game in hand.

 

On 'Kids 4 Free' day, a crowd of 113 arrived at the RGPS to see if Town could continue their impressive recent run of form against an inconsistent Chester side who had lost 5-0 to Tow Law the previous week.

 

Town manager Mark Fanning was looking to start a busy week with maximum points, so added Colin Anderson and new signing David Alderson to the squad that had performed so well in the FA Vase replay at Consett in midweek. With Ian Smurthwaite unavailable, however, it meant a return to the starting line-up for Steve Butterworth in the only change from Tuesday night's narrow defeat.
 

Town almost got the perfect start when a slick passing move between Adam Emson, Gredziak and Carl Chillingsworth inside the opening minute freed Butterworth, but the visiting goalkeeper Matthew Crook did well to block his shot.

 

Then, six minutes later, the keeper could only stand and watch as Gredziak crossed to Butterworth and his first time volley flew past Crook but, unfortunately for Town, just the wrong side of the post.

 

An injury to Danny Shoulder after just 15 minutes meant an earlier-than-expected debut for Alderson, while the captain's absence saw Craig Winter take over free kick duties and it paid dividends with the crucial opening goal just past the half-hour mark.

 

Winter's well flighted set-piece was headed upwards by a Chester defender and Hickman waited for the ball to drop before nodding home, despite the best efforts of defender Matthew Smith on the goal line.

 

But Town had goalkeeper James Briggs to thank for preserving their lead, as he produced a stunning save to keep out a powerful cross-shot from Marc Nixon as half time approached.

 

Town pressed the visitors back at the start of the second half but it took 15 minutes for the pressure to result in a second goal.

 

Chillingsworth and Butterworth battled for a loose ball in the penalty area and as it ricocheted across the goal, Gredziak headed back across the keeper to make it 2-0.

 

The visitors sensed they were still not out of the game and Briggs again produced another crucial save, diving at the feet of Michael Hepplewhite who had broken clear. The loose ball was then fired back towards goal by Nixon but Hickman threw himself in front of it and the danger was cleared.

 

Town should have added a third late on when Butterworth headed across goal for Chillingsworth who hooked his shot over the bar from 8 yards.

 

Stuart Dunn replaced Steve Banks on 68 minutes and, with 15 minutes to go, James Bowman replaced Alderson, who is still building up to full match fitness.

 

"I'm starting to sound like a stuck record," said Fanning at the end. "But that is another clean sheet and another three points which keeps that gap between us and the chasing pack."

 

TOWN - Briggs, Shoulder, Banks, Hickman, Winter, Parkin, Laing, Butterworth, Chillingsworth, Emson, Gredziak. Subs - Bowman, Dunn, Alderson, Craggs, Anderson.

CHESTER-LE-STREET - Crook, Smith, Davison, Patterson, Robson, Henderson, Doyle, Pattison, Nixon, Hepplewhite, Lynch. Subs - Dukes, Weir, Scope, Forsyth, Wilkinson
 

REFEREE: C. Dean

 

ATTENDANCE: 113

Heartbreak for Town as late Slocombe goal ends Vase dreams

CONSETT AFC 3 NORTHALLERTON TOWN 2

An injury time goal from Consett substitute Matty Slocombe brought Town's FA Vase dreams to a heartbreaking end at Belle Vue on Tuesday night.

After a second half performance as good as anything they have produced all season, Town were caught out by a sucker-punch in the fifth minute of stoppage time at the end of a pulsating cup tie.

"Yes, we are disappointed to lose so late, but we can take the positives," said manager Mark Fanning.

"Last year we were 4-0 down inside half an hour in the League Cup here, so we were determined to keep ourselves in the game this time, and we did that.

"At half time we realised we had nothing to fear so we went for it a bit more. It could have gone either way in the end but we gave as good as we got," he said.

After heavy rain overnight and most of the morning, the match was in doubt until a 4pm pitch inspection deemed it playable, but the surface remained heavy.

The Town starting XI showed four changes from the original tie three days earlier. James Briggs returned in goal, while Steve Banks was preferred to Stuart Dunn at left back, Marcus Laing replaced Steve Butterworth in midfield, and Wayne Gredziak was back in place of James Bowman.

Town almost got the perfect start when Craig Winter met a Gav Parkin corner at the near post, but Consett goalkeeper Chris Elliott produced a marvellous save down to his left and Gredziak's follow up was blocked.

But that was a rare foray forward from Town in a first half largely dominated by the hosts. Mickey Mackay, Steven Aiston and Anthony Lund all tried their luck from distance, while Ian Smurthwaite did well to spectacularly clear an effort from Aiston off his own goalline.

The goal Consett had been threatening, however, finally arrived in the 24th minute, just as it had done on Saturday. Callum Smith created the opportunity with a ball in from the right and Aiston applied the coup de grace from 6 yards.

Town responded well to going behind and they were close to an equaliser twice in the final ten minutes of the half. Adam Emson was sent clear down the right by a lovely ball from Gredziak, but he dragged his shot wide of the far post, while Carl Chillingsworth then saw a powerful drive from 25 yards deflected behind for a corner.

After a reserved first half display, Town really came to life after the restart. Gredziak fizzed an effort just wide of the right-hand upright within a minute of the resumption, while the former Durham City man then seemed to be caught in two minds after a lovely ball from Emson six minutes later. With just Elliott to beat, Gredziak elected to square the ball to Chillingsworth when a shot may have been the better option, and the chance was gone.

It was not all out-way traffic, however, as only a smart save from Biggs denied the lively Lund soon after.

But Town were deservedly level just past the hour-mark. A free kick from Parkin was not cleared by the Consett defence and Smurthwaite hit a stunning volley from 25 yards that gave Elliott no chance - reminiscent of his strike at Brandon last season.

Parity, however, lasted barely two minutes. A cross from Lund struck Banks on the arm from point-blank range and, after some initial hesitation, referee Paul Brown pointed to the spot. It did seem a very harsh decision.

But after the Town protests had died down, former Hartlepool striker Mackay stepped up and confidently dispatched the kick past Briggs.

That led to a thrilling final twenty minutes as the game really opened up. Grant Hickman, who had been the Town goalscoring hero on Saturday, thought he had repeated the trick with a stunning strike from 10 yards, but Elliott produced an even better save to tip it over the top.

Town then thought they should have had a penalty of their own fifteen minutes from time when Chillingsworth appeared to be pushed in the back by Carl Piecha, but Brown was unimpressed.

"I didn't think it was a penalty if I'm honest," said a candid Chillingsworth afterwards. "The officials got that one right to be fair."

Fanning's side really stepped up the pressure after that and Hickman headed narrowly wide before Emson, usually so deadly in such positions, fired inches wide of the far post after a lovely ball from Gredziak.

But Town looked to have rescued themselves in the final minute of normal time when Winter rose to head home another Parkin corner and send the travelling fans into ecstasy.

Despite so little time remaining, neither side was content to just hang on for extra time. Chillingsworth was denied by the outstanding Elliott again as Town sensed a dramatic winner, but it was the hosts who won it in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Substitute Ryan King was initially denied by Briggs but the loose ball fell to fellow-replacement Slocombe who smashed it back past the beleaguered Town goalkeeper and into the net to leave Fanning frustrated.

"We didn't get what we deserved, but that's football," he said. "I'm not sure where the five minutes of stoppages has come from but we didn't really want another period of extra time after Saturday, which was why we pushed on to try and win it.

"It's more important we pick up three points on Saturday anyway as the league has always been our priority."

Town will look to do just that when Chester-le-Street are the visitors on 'Kids 4 Free' day. All under 12's will be admitted free with a full paying adult.

CONSETT - Elliott, Pearson, Davison, Cuthbertson, Scorer, Piecha, Smith, Robson, Aiston, Mackay, Lund. Subs - King, Jameson, Thompson, Slocombe, Martindale.

TOWN - Briggs, Shoulder, Banks, Hickman, Winter, Parkin, Smurthwaite, Laing, Emson, Chillingsworth, Gredziak. Subs - Craggs, Butterworth, Bowman, Colman, Dunn.

REFEREE: P. Brown

Late Hickman header keeps Town's Vase dream alive

NORTHALLERTON TOWN 1 CONSETT 1

 

A late header from Grant Hickman earned Town an FA Vase replay against Division One side Consett after an epic 1st round battle at the RGPS on Saturday.

 

Manager Mark Fanning had been on a scouting mission to Consett recently and made four changes to his starting XI in a switch to a 4-4-2 formation to nullify the danger of former Hartlepool striker Mickey MacKay.

 

So Wayne Gredziak, Marcus Laing and Anthony Roberts all dropped to the bench, with James Bowman, Ian Smurthwaite and Stu Dunn coming in to replace them, while Carl Chillingsworth returned in place of the absent Col Anderson.

 

After a tight opening twenty minutes, it was Consett who took the lead when defender David Scorer  was given far too much time to fire home an unstoppable shot from 25 yards - the first goal conceded by Steve Craggs this season.

 

Town were playing some good football in the first half but they failed to seriously test visiting goalkeeper Chris Elliott, and Consett were close to doubling their advantage just before the break when MacKay struck the post.

 

With half time approaching there was more concern for Town when Smurthwaite required lengthy treatment after a clash of heads, but thankfully the damage was not as bad as first feared and he was able to continue.

 

Town knew they were still in the tie and they came out looking far more dangerous at the start of the second period. They were close to grabbing an equaliser within five minutes when Adam Emson got to the bye-line and cut the ball back for Steve Butterworth, but his shot was well saved by Elliott.

 

Fanning introduced Gredziak soon after as Town looked to keep their Vase dream alive. The game opened up after that, with Consett being frustrated by Town's excellent defence and Town themselves creating a number of half chances. But with less than ten minutes to go, the Division One side still led.

 

Town, however, dug deep and they were rewarded on 83 minutes with a fully deserved equaliser. Gav Parkin's corner from the right reached the back post where, reminiscent of his Ernest Armstrong Cup winning goal, Hickman ghosted in unnoticed to head past Elliott.

 

In fact Town almost won it in stoppage time when Gredziak's cross eluded both Emson and  Chillingsworth in the centre sending the tie into extra time.

 

The extra half an hour saw both sides have chances to win the game. Twice Consett got in behind the Town defence but both times the danger was cleared, while at the other end Gredziak's through ball freed Emson, only for his shot across goal to be scrambled to safety.

 

"It was a much better performance than we have produced in recent weeks," said Fanning at the end. "And a draw was a fair result. We'll just have to do it all over again in the replay now."

 

Consett manager Kenny Lindoe said: "It was a tale of missed chances at one end, and a goalkeeping error at the other that has cost us the game, but at least we have another crack at it."”

 

The replay is this Tuesday evening at 7.30pm, meaning Town's league match at Ryton & Crawcrook, scheduled for the following night, has been postponed.

 

NORTHALLERTON TOWN - Craggs, Shoulder, Dunn, Hickman, Winter, Parkin, Smurthwaite, Butterworth, Emson, Chillingsworth, Bowman. Subs- Briggs, Roberts, Banks, Laing, Gredziak.

CONSETT - Elliott, Pearson, Davidson, Smith, Scorer, Piecha, King, Robson, Sullivan, MacKay, Lund. Subs - Aiston, Slocombe, Davies, Stanger, Jameson

 

REFEREE: D. Storrie

 

ATTENDANCE: 154

Emson again the difference as Town overcome Whickham

NORTHALLERTON TOWN 1 WHICKHAM 0

A SECOND half goal from leading scorer Adam Emson was just enough to give Town another important three points against a battling Whickham side at the RGPS on Saturday.

Manager Mark Fanning made three changes from the team that had won at Stokesley SC the previous week - Anthony Roberts replacing Stuart Dunn at left back, Craig Winter was back in place of the absent Steve Banks at the back, while Colin Anderson come in for Ian Smurthwaite in midfield.

 

The first half was an even contest with possession shared and neither side creating many clear cut chances. Town's best two openings both fell to Wayne Gredziak. In the 18th minute he glanced Danny Shoulder's cross narrowly wide of the post before he then took a pass from Steve Butterworth and turned his defender before shooting narrowly over the bar.

 

Town started the second half on the offensive, but while much of the game was played in Whickham territory, they defended well and allowed Town very few openings.

 

But Fanning's side were close to making the breakthrough just past the hour-mark, Colin Anderson burst into the box and hit a powerful shot that Whickham goalkeeper Scott Cresswell did superbly to keep out. Steve Butterworth hooked the loose ball back towards goal and, with Gredziak waiting to apply the finishing touch, the ball was cleared from under the bar by a defender.

 

The all-important breakthrough, however, was not far away. Carl Chillingsworth replaced Anderson three minutes later, and within a minute he had helped create goal. Emson's initial shot was blocked but the ball fell to Chillingsworth, who's mishit shot reached Emson 8 yards out and he lifted the ball over Cresswell to give Town the lead - his 15th goal of the season.

 

The visitors went in search of an equaliser with most of their attacks coming through the impressive Jordan Lartey, but every cross that came into the box was handled cleanly by Town goalkeeper Steve Craggs and the defence held firm to keep a second successive clean sheet.

 

"We are still struggling to hit top form," said Fanning at the whistle. "But we are looking solid and keep picking up three points. Long may it continue.”"

 

TOWN - Craggs, Shoulder, Roberts, Hickman, Winter, Parkin, Butterworth, Laing, Emson, Gredziak, Anderson. Subs - Dunn, Smurthwaite, Chillingsworth, Colman, Bowman.

 

REFEREE: K. BECKETT

 

ATTENDANCE: 121

Away-day specialists Town continue great run

STOKESLEY SC 0 NORTHALLERTON TOWN 2

SECOND half goals from Marcus Laing and the returning Colin Anderson were enough to give Town another away victory at Stokesley SC on Saturday.

Arriving with a 100% success rate on the road this season, Town were without goalkeeper James Briggs and in-form striker Carl Chillingsworth, so Steve Craggs took over in goal for his first appearance of the season, while Ian Smurthwaite came into midfield in a change to a more conventional 4-4-2 formation.

Elsewhere Steve Banks replaced Anthony Roberts at right back, while Anderson returned to the bench having missed the previous six matches through injury.

Town started well and almost grabbed an early lead when Adam Emson’s left-wing cross just evaded the late-arriving Steve Butterworth and Laing in the centre, while Butterworth then brought a fine save from home goalkeeper Graeme Willey, who then did even better to keep out Gav Parkin’s follow up.

Stokesley rarely threatened, although they could have grabbed the lead against the run of play after half an hour. Some sloppy play from Town saw Greg Upton burst through from midfield, but with just Craggs to beat, he dragged his shot wide of the far post.

With half time approaching it was Town who stepped up the pressure as they searched for the crucial breakthrough. Wayne Gredziak twice came close to ending his seven-match goal drought in the final ten minutes of the half - first being denied by the outstanding Willey before heading over from an Emson cross five minutes before the break.

With the words of manager Mark Fanning still ringing in their ears, Town came out at the start of the second half with a much higher tempo to their play and only the agility of Willey kept them at bay. He denied Gredziak again five minutes after the restart, before turning a free kick from Emson around the post, and diving full-length to deny Butterworth.

But the pressure finally paid off just past the hour-mark, with a goal that was almost a carbon copy of the opener against Brandon three days earlier. Parkin whipped in a dangerous corner from the right this time, and Laing arrived to nod home at the near post. Having waited 11 games for his first Town goal, he had now scored twice in as many matches.

Emson almost doubled the lead six minutes later with a neat lob over Willey following a long clearance from Craggs, but he was denied a 15th goal of the season when the ball landed just the wrong side of the post.

It did matter in the end, however, as Town sealed the points – and a ninth win in their last 11 matches – deep into stoppage time. A lovely flick from Gredziak sent substitute Anderson clear and he fired past Willey from six yards - his first goal since the opening day of the season. It was also the first time Town had won without Emson finding the net.

"We had to roll up our sleeves and grind out a result," said Fanning at the whistle. "The football was not pretty at times but a clean sheet and a fifth straight away win this season was pleasing. All of this means we are keeping the pressure on those around us."

Town now have a rare midweek off before the visit of Whickham next Saturday.

STOKESLEY SC – Willey, Jones, Robinson, McManus, Bell, Butterworth(L), Redman, Aninakwak, Bonner, Upton, Bivins. Subs – Hodgson, McNichol, Kamara, Lee, Hawkins.

NORTHALLERTON TOWN – Craggs, Banks, Dunn, Hickman, Shoulder, Parkin, Butterworth(S), Laing, Emson, Smurthwaite, Gredziak. Subs – Anderson, Bowman, Roberts, Winter, Colman

REFEREE: K. Beckett

ATTENDANCE: 78

Chilli doubles up again as Town march on

NORTHALLERTON TOWN 4 BRANDON UNITED 2

IN-FORM Carl Chillingsworth struck twice as Town came from behind for the second time in four days to beat a battling Brandon United at the RGPS on Wednesday evening.

Veteran striker Chillingsworth had scored four times in the previous four matches, including a brace of headers against Seaham Red Star the previous Saturday, and he continued that run with another two headed goals to finally see off the challenge of Brandon on a wet night in Northallerton.

The match had been in doubt after heavy rainfall left the pitch under water on Tuesday, but thanks to the hard work of Les Hood and Dave Rennison it went ahead as planned, although the kick off was delayed for half an hour after assistant referee Mark Waldock had been stuck in floods on the way to the ground.

The Town starting XI virtually picks itself these days, but manager Mark Fanning was forced into a change when Craig Winter was unavailable due to the imminent arrival of his first child, so Stu Dunn started at left back, Anthony Roberts switched to right back with Danny Shoulder moving to the centre alongside Grant Hickman.

But as has been a theme in recent matches, Town started slowly. The visitors, who began the night in the bottom four, had a game-plan to frustrate Fanning's side and for twenty minutes it worked to perfection.

And they even got the bonus of an early goal. Just 12 minutes had elapsed when Ryan Readman was given time and space to turn on the edge of the penalty area and his shot squirmed under the body of goalkeeper James Briggs.

But that seemed to spark Town into life. Wayne Gredziak, who had not scored for five matches, looked determined to end that drought as he brought the best out of Brandon goalkeeper Ryan Graham, while Adam Emson chipped just wide after a lovely ball from Roberts.

The goal they had been threatening duly arrived, however, in the 26th minute but it came from a rather unlikely source. For all his great work in midfield in recent weeks, Marcus Laing had yet to find the net for his new club, but he picked the perfect time to break that duck with a close range header from a Gav Parkin corner.

And the turn around was complete two minutes later. Again Parkin created the chance with another inch-perfect corner from the left, and this time it was Chillingsworth who was the beneficiary with a near post header.

Emson was close to making it 3-1 just past the half hour mark after a great run down the left, but his shot flew inches wide, while Gredziak again came out second best in his private duel with Graham - the Brandon keeper making another fine save to deny him.

But Town did add a third just before the break. Gredziak skipped clear down the right and when his cross was missed by Chillingsworth in the centre, Emson arrived to force the ball home at the far post despite the best efforts of Graham to keep it out.

To their credit, Brandon worked hard to get back into the match and they almost reduced the arrears within seconds of the restart. Mark Bell was sent clear in the inside right channel and beat Briggs with a first time shot, but the ball skimmed the side netting on its way past the post.

In truth the second half was a scrappy affair in which neither side were able to get into a rhythm. Town had the better chances, with Steve Butterworth, Parkin and Gredziak all denied by the impressive Graham, but it was the visitors who grabbed a lifeline with fifteen minutes left.

Bell whipped a great ball in from left and Stephen Moody arrived to flick a powerful header beyond the reach of Briggs from 12 yards.

But before they had the opportunity to build on it, Town went straight up the other end to seal the points. Gredziak may not have found the net himself but he had been at the heart everything good from Town and it was his superb ball in from the right that gave Chillingsworth the chance to head his second - and 9th of the season - at the far post.

Chillingsworth should have ended the night with a hat-trick when substitute Ian Smurthwaite pulled the ball back from the left in stoppage time, but he smashed high over the crossbar into outer space and it finished 4-2.

"I am just happy to have won," said Fanning at the full time whistle. "It was not our best performance by any means but we played well in spells.

"The 3rd goal was a lovely move. Had we done that more often it could have been a cricket score, but Brandon worked hard and made it difficult for us.

"We needed the fourth goal and it came at a vital time. I'll take a 4-2 win after a performance like that," he said.

Town now face a tough trip to Stokesley SC on Saturday as they look to keep the pressure on leaders Ryhope CW.

NORTHALLERTON TOWN - Briggs, Roberts, Dunn, Hickman, Shoulder, Parkin, Butterworth, Laing, Emson, Chillingsworth, Gredziak. Subs - Banks, Bowman, Smurthwaite, Colman.

BRANDON UNITED - Graham, Lancaster, Clarey, Wraith, Conroy, Readman, Jackson, Costello, Moody, Bell, Mordue. Subs - Reade, Hilder, Blackburn, Hird, Rumble.

REFEREE: C. Gilbraith.

ATTENDANCE: 92

Town bounce back in style to stay in touch with the leaders

NORTHALLERTON TOWN 5 SEAHAM RED STAR 2

TOWN bounced back from an unlucky midweek defeat with what turned out to be a comfortable victory over Seaham Red Star at the RGPS on Saturday.

In a now familiar tale, Town started slowly and had to come from a goal behind before clicking into gear with three goals in fifteen minutes at the start of the second half to seal an important three points.

“I’m just happy to get back to winning ways,” said manager Mark Fanning at the end.

“We struggled for the first twenty minutes, but once we got going we did enough to win the game. We played better on Wednesday and lost, but that's football.”

Fanning made one change to the starting line up from that midweek defeat by Esh Winning, bringing in Anthony Roberts in place of Stuart Dunn at left back.

Seaham arrived in North Yorkshire in good form, having won their previous two away games, and they settled much quicker. They were rewarded for that fast start inside four minutes when Alan Pegram fired past James Briggs after a neat ball from Daniel Gray, and Town were forced to come from behind again.

But the goal sparked Fanning’s side into life and they equalised seven minutes later. Adam Emson crossed from the left and Carl Chillingsworth arrived to head low into the net from 8 yards.

The game really opened up after that and there were chances at both ends, but it was Town who grabbed the lead just prior to the half-hour. Again it was Chillingsworth who found the target with a header from Roberts' cross – his 7^th goal of the season.

The next goal was always going to be important and it was Town who got it just two minutes into the second half. Chillingsworth turned provider this time with a lovely ball to send Stephen Butterworth clear of the Seaham defence, and he found the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area - his fifth goal in the last five matches.

And the game was as good as over four minutes later. Gav Parkin, who was having a fine game in the centre of midfield, found Adam Emson with a defence-splitting pass, and the Town leading scorer controlled the ball before rifling past Seaham's debut-making goalkeeper Aiden Grant to make it 4-1 – the 13^th strike of an incredible campaign for the former Stokesley man.

But Town were not quiet finished and they went nap just past the hour-mark. Butterworth squared the ball for Parkin to fire low to Grant's right for the goal his overall performance deserved, his first of the season.

Parkin then thought he had doubled his total ten minutes later when he ghosted into the box to meet substitute Dunn's free kick and lashed the ball home, but his celebration was cut short by referee  Paul Mosely for an infringement – the 4^th Town goal to be disallowed in three days.

Seaham were a beaten side now but to their credit they finished the game strongly, forcing Briggs into three saves in the closing stages, the best of which saw him get down low to his right to push a shot from Michael Pattison around the post.

The visitors, however, were rewarded four minutes from time when Pattison and Paul Kane combined to set up Pegram for his second goal of the day to make the final score 5-2.

Town continue their promotion challenge when Brandon United visit the RGPS on Wednesday evening. Kick off is at 7.30pm and admission is £5 for adults and £2.50 concessions. Oh and don't forget to buy a programme, just £1 for 40 pages!

NORTHALLERTON TOWN - Briggs, Shoulder, Roberts, Hickman, Winter, Parkin, Laing, Butterworth, Emson, Chillingsworth, Gredziak. Subs - Craggs, Dunn, Smurthwaite, Colman, Bowman.

SEAHAM RED STAR - Grant, Stubbs, Gray, Pegram, Bryson, Phillips, Watson, McKeown, Gordon, North, Malley. Subs - Pattison, Olusuga, Kane, Thorp, Goodman.

REFEREE: P. Mosely

ATTENDANCE: 102