Chester-Le-Street 2-2 Heaton Stannington

Straight to penalties after 90mins.

Chester won 3-2 on penalties (2-2 after 5 penalties each)

On a cold and misty winters’ night, the Stan travelled to Chester Moor for a last 16 tie in the League Cup but unlike the Brexit vote there was no postponement. There were 4 changes from Saturday’s home league draw partly due to being cup tied (Cooper), work commitments and a clash with a Carlisle Youth Academy match.

Both teams started on the attack but the 1^st 7 minutes was mainly a period of Chester pressure. In 7 minutes Robertson forced a corner, the ball from which was headed away under pressure. Holland then supplied Kerridge who shot over. The Stan kept pressing although there was good defending by Fulcher in 11 minutes and in 13 minutes Charmey shot just wide under pressure. A minute later and Hoggins passed to Kerridge on the left who had time to tee his shot up and blasted the ball from the edge of the box into the net.

In 16 minutes Charmey was brought down but no foul was given. Chester countered but they were blocked then shot wide. There was then 5 minutes of Stan pressure including 2 efforts by Robertson. In 23 minutes, a Chester free kick led to a clear header in the box but in the wrong direction. The rest of the half was mainly Stan efforts although they defended well, including through Holland, when they had to.

Hoggins hit the post in 30 minutes when he should have scored. The Stan deserved their lead but should have had the match wrapped up by half time. With Chester looking threatening at times, this could haunt them in the 2^nd half.

The 2^nd half, like the 1^st, was to prove lively. A Stan attack was cleared in 48 minutes followed by a snap shot by the home team which bounced off the side of the post and went along the line for a lucky escape for the Stan. The Stan remained under pressure for most of the next 10 minutes. This included Chester heading over the bar at point blank range and a free kick that wasn’t initially cleared.

From 60 minutes, Hoggins began to be a real threat again and in 63 minutes he had a great shot which was saved by Steavens. Kerridge then, after a great run by him and a cross from Holland, put the ball just wide. Hoggins then broke through the defence and Steavens couldn’t get a hold of the ball but it hit off Hoggins as he rounded the keeper and went out.

Chester then had a high dangerous cross but it was cleared before they headed wide. In 67 minutes, Kerridge brought the ball down under pressure in the 6 yard box but his shot was blocked for a corner from which the ball went across the goal mouth and was just missed by Hoggins. In 70 minutes a Chester attack was blocked but went back out to Jack Oliver who blasted the ball into the net from the edge of the box for 1-1.

The Stan didn’t give up and Hoggins hit the side netting in 71 minutes although there was also good defending by the Stan when needed. Holland shot just wide 2 minutes later and Robertson tried his luck 2 minutes later but the keeper caught. Miller then headed in the box from a free kick but the rebound shot was well over. A Robertson shot was then caught by the keeper.

As with a number of players from both sides in the cold conditions, Hoggins got cramp and had to be replaced in 79 minutes by Martin Oliver who had been out injured for 7 weeks. Holland advanced and crossed to Charmey whose shot was blocked and Holland’s rebound went out.

The Stan continued to seek a winner with Chester now on the back foot although the Stan did have to head clear in 85 minutes. Charmey and Kerridge had chances before, in 88 minutes, Robertson counter attacked but the keeper appeared to get to the ball 1^st but didn’t hold it and Robertson got to it and shot into the net for 2-1.

Due to injuries, there was over 6 minutes of stoppage time and in 92 minutes the Stan were going to need it as Regan came out to clear, when he didn’t need to, but didn’t manage to hold the ball and Oliver made it 2-2. The Stan had 2 further chances to Chester’s 1 with the 2^nd seeing Holland counter and pass to Robertson who sent Charmey clear in the box but he hit his shot right at the keeper which meant penalties next as extra time is not played in the competition.

The home team went 1^st and scored the 1^st penalty followed by Charmey’s effort being saved. Regan then saved and Kerridge made it 1-1. Both teams missed their 3^rd penalties with Regan saving and Robertson blasting his over the bar. Chester blasted their 4^th over but Regan scored to make it 2-1 for the Stan. If Chester had missed their 5^th penalty, the Stan would have won but they scored and Middleton, who could have won the match for the Stan, hit the post so it finished 2-2 as sudden death now approached. Chester scored but Hall’s effort was saved by Steavens so Chester won.

The Stan should have had this exciting cup match tied up by half time but their failure to do so led to their unlucky exit due to penalties although they are still in the quarter finals of 2 other cups.

Team: Regan; Middleton; Hall; Miller (C); Bennett; Fulcher (Mason 59); Holland; Charmey; Robertson; Hoggins (Martin 75); Kerridge.

Goals: Kerridge 14, Robertson 88.

Sub not used: Sayer.

Yellow Cards: Hoggins.

Attendance 85.

Kevin Mochrie