Chester-le-Street cup success a great way to end season – Gamble

Chester-le-Street United manager John Gamble described winning the Alan Hood Charity Cup as “a great end” to their first season as a Wearside League club.

It was their hosts that edged in front midway through the first-half when Adam Bell’s header rounded off a neat passing move.

Michael Spellman restored parity seven minutes before half-time with a cool finish and then doubled his tally to put United ahead in the early-stages of the second-half.

A Josh Crews header with 20 minutes remaining all but settled the contest and left his manager to praise his young side for an impressive display.

He told The Echo: “It’s a great end for these lads.

“Some of them have been with us for three years, but it could be the end of the journey for them, and they move on somewhere else.

“I think we would like to keep them all together because, as you have seen today, they are a really good young side, but we will see.

“I think when the game is on a knife-edge, there will always be a little chance for the opposition.

“But I think every time we went forward, we looked like we were going to score but there was some poor finishing and good goalkeeping.

“We are a newly-formed club, this is the only trophy we can win this season, and we have won it.”

Boldon manager David Crumbie revealed his pride at his side’s performances throughout the season – but admitted United deserved to lift the trophy for an organised display.

“I am really proud of the lads despite the result,” admitted the Boldon boss.

“We started well, got ourselves in front, but they are a good side and I said before the game they are probably the best we have faced in the league.

“I thought we matched them, but the injuries we had showed a bit.

“Going one up, in the time we did, we could have gone on to win it if we got a second goal. But they are organised, for a young team they did not panic, and I think they deserved it.

“They may have taken their foot off the gas in the closing stages and gave us some chances – but they could havebeenoutofsightif(Andy) Hunter hadn’t made three or four one-on-one saves.

“I am still proud of the lads; it’s been a great season despite the result today.”