Dunston UTS 3 Billingham Synthonia 2

Report by Billy Montague
Saturday 28th March 2015
Ebac Northern League – First Division
Final Score: Dunston UTS 3 Billingham Synthonia 2
Attendance 151

Dunston welcomed Billingham Synthonia to the UTS Stadium for this Ebac Northern League Division 1 game. With only four more games to play, the visitors had endured a very testing season as they attempt to build a new squad under the guidance of manager Conrad Hillerby. They currently occupy the third relegation position in the League table and their need for a good result today was not helped by the absence of influential midfield general Stephen Huggins.
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They did, however, include prolific marksman Michael Sweet in their starting line-up. Dunston recalled Stephen Harrison to the back-line and Dale Burrell had recovered from his mid-week injury and took his place in an otherwise unchanged team from the Newcastle Benfield match.
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The playing surface was in good condition but a near gale-force wind was blowing straight down the pitch as Dunston kicked off with the wind at their backs. In the early exchanges, the home side had plenty of possession but were finding it difficult to exert any real pressure with several players over-clubbing their passes in the wind. Synners were defending stoutly and goalkeeper Peter Burke was able to deal with a couple of crosses with relative ease.
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When the visitiors broke out in the 12th minute some good play by Michael Sweet set up John Alexander 10-yards from the Dunston goal but his shot was bravely blocked by Dan Smith. From the corner, Kris Hughes gained possession and his dangerous cross required a brilliant headed clearance by David Coulson to avert the danger. On 16 minutes Dunston went close when a good set-up by Nicky Kane saw Dan Wilson shoot just over. In the 19th minute it was Kane who went close after chesting down a cross but his shot scraped the cross-bar. A minute later, Andy Bulford got on the end of a Dan Smith low cross but his volley was superbly saved by keeper Burke.
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The keeper excelled again in the 20th minute when Dale Burrell made a great run into the right of the Synners box but Burke pounced on the low cross to deny Bulford and Wilson. He was called into action again when he firstly took another Burrell cross and then guided a powerful shot from the Dunston midfielder past his post. In the 27th minute, some good work by Dan Smith ended with the release into the box of Stephen Harrison but when he looked like scoring, his shot took a bobble and flew straight at Burke. Dunston did grab the lead on 28 minutes when Dan Smith made ground before setting up Andrew Bulford in the right side of the Synners penalty area.
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The Dunston top-scorer gained control with a good first-touch before hammering goalwards where Peter Burke made a fantastic save to keep the ball out. The keeper’s luck was out when the rebound fell nicely to Bulford who slotted home with Burke unable to recover his ground. 1 – 0 to Dunston.
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Boosted by the lead, Dunston continued to press with the help of the wind and went close to increasing the lead on several occasions before the second goal came on 40 minutes. Dale Burrell took a corner which evaded the clutches of the outstanding Burke and Dan Smith was on hand to volley powerfully home via the inside of the post. 2 – 0 to Dunston. Synners battled on gamely to ensure that they didn’t concede again before the break.

Half-time Score: Dunston UTS 2 Billingham Synthonia 0
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In normal circumstances, a two-goal lead at half-time would be a very good advantage but with the strength of the wind on this occasion Dunston knew that the game was far from won. They came out strongly in the second-half and put together some good moves by moving the ball on the bottom in attempt to beat the conditions. In the 55th minute Dale Burrell made a brilliant run on the left and only a strong last-ditch tackle by Tommy Marron prevented his progress on the very edge of the box.
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Dunston increased the lead further in the 58th minute with a superb passing move involving Nicky Kane, Dan Wilson and Dale Burrell which culminated in Kane’s low cross reaching Dan Smith at the far post. The hard-working Smith then unselfishly squared the ball to Andy Bulford who made no mistake from 10 yards out. 3 – 0 to Dunston.
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Billingham Synthonia looked shell-shocked at this stage but battled to get back into the game with Dunston’s Luke Gilhespy and David Coulson having to be at their best to keep a careful eye on the ever-dangerous Michael Sweet. The home side almost increased their tally in the 68th minute when a dangerous Nicky Kane cross was almost headed into his own net by defender Ross McNab with keeper Peter Burke watching helplessly as the ball scraped past the post.
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The resulting corner brought more panic when Burke appeared to carry the ball over his own line from the in-swinging Dan Halliday flag-kick, but the assistant referee failed to spot the incident. As Dunston continued to press, Burke was in top form in taking numerous cross very cleanly but he was beaten in the 75th minute when a good run by Dale Burrell ended with Andy Bulford firing just over. Synners got a vital goal back on 77 minutes when some slack defending resulted in Michael Sweet being fouled by Dale Burrell, with the referee awarding a penalty. The Synthonia top-scorer stepped up to confidently slam the spot-kick home giving Liam Connell no chance. 3 – 1 to Dunston.
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With the encouragement of the goal Synners came more into the game but Dunston were still carving out some good openings and Burke was forced into another decent save to deny Dan Wilson on 81 minutes and substitute Jonny Wightman in the 83rd minute. There appeared to be little danger in the 85th minute when Synners’ Robert Bettson made a break-away run on the right flank and strong appeals for hand-ball went unheeded.
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He made good progress before sending a long cross to outside of the far post where Martyn Woodhouse was lurking un-marked and the Synners substitute sent a terrific header past the startled Connell and into the opposite corner of the net. 3 – 2 to Dunston.
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Synners were unable to grab a vital point as the Dunston defence belatedly shut up shop and it was the home side who almost got another goal when Burke had to be at his best to pluck the ball off the head of Wilson after a Jonny Wightman cross.
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Full-Time Score: Dunston UTS 3 Billingham Synthonia 2
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Dunston Man of the Match: Dale Burrell, despite giving a penalty away, his probing runs and willingness to get on the ball were a vital part of the performance in very testing conditions. Dan Smith also deserves a mention for is work ethic and first goal for the Club.
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Dunston UTS: Connell, Harrison, Halliday, Burrell, Coulson, Gilhespy, Smith (McAndrew), Dixon (Ormston), Wilson, Bulford, Kane (Wightman). Subs not used: Cattanach, Hodgson.
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Billingham Synthonia: Burke, Gardner, McNab, Marron, Rowbotham, Abel, Bettson, Edwards (Newby), Sweet, Alexander (Woodhouse), Hughes. Subs not used: Carter, Briggs..
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Referee, Tony Peart.
Assistants, Stephen Birkett and Kevin McKitterick
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Match Pictures by Billingham Syn HERE
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Remaining home games..
4th April, League fixture versus Morpeth Town Kick off 3:00pm
7th April, NL Cup Semi-Final versus Shildon, Kick off 7:30pm
18th April, League fixture versus North Shields, Kick Off 3:00pm