WHICKHAM 1 DUNSTON UTS 2
Dunston UTS players celebrate after they scored against hosts Whickham during yesterday’s Ebac Northern League Division One clash. Dunston won 2-1 goal from Michael Pearson.
A corner from the right found its way to the midfielder at the far post and he rifled a volley through a crowded area and into the far corner of Dan Lister’s net.
Whickham thought they had equalised two minutes later when an inswinging cross from Dan Lowther found Stevens and he flicked the ball past Dryden, only to see his celebrations cut short by a debatable offside flag.
The chance seemed to like the hosts but their frustrations continued to grow as Dunston keeper Dryden denied Burrell and Thear in quick succession.
The pressure paid off six minutes before half-time as a sublime free-kick from Lowther got Whickham back in the game.
The young midfielder curled a 20-yard effort over the wall and it found its way past Dryden at his nearpost.
It was no more than the Lang Jacks deserved.
The two sides struggled to create anything meaningful in the opening stages of the second half as play was punctuated by some fussy officiating.
A first chance finally arrived just before the officiating as Jordan Nellis wasted a golden chance to restore Dunston’s lead by heading wide from six yards with the goal at his mercy.
Fitzpatrick was next to try his luck as the game heading into the final 20 minutes but the striker dragged a shot wide of Lister’s near post.
His moment finally arrived five minutes from time as Dunston substitutes Liam Brooks and Jack Elliott combined well to present Fitzpatrick with a chance that he couldn’t miss.
The striker was left unmarked at the far post and tapped home a cross from Elliott from close range, before wheeling away to be mobbed by his teammates.
It should and could have been more comfortable for Dunston as Nellis wasted a fine opportunity to settle any nerves by smashing a rising effort against the crossbar from six yards out.
The miss meant little and Fitzpatrick had dealt his former club with a blow from which they couldn’t recover.