Elliott rocket gains Colliers point against Chester

Elliott’s strike cancelled out Connor Shaw’s 50th minute opener for Chester-le-Street, and the Colliers could have won it when James Watson’s injury time bicycle kick bounced back off the crossbar.

Easington manager Olly Hotchkiss made numerous changes from Saturday’s win at Billingham Town with starts for Josh Barnett, Dane Eltringham, Tommy Best, Denny Tapping and Callum Stanton.

Upon kick-off, it wasn’t the liveliest of starts, but the Colliers were creating a few half chances. Jay Roper had a couple of shots fail to find the target, before Andrew Nelson flicked an effort wide after a clever short corner routine.

Halfway through the first half, Chester-le-Street created their first real chance as Ant Lowerson was forced into an impressive save to tip a header over the crossbar.

The first half wasn’t the most entertaining 45 minutes of football you could ever watch, and it concluded with a couple of half chances for Brad Oliver and Roper failing to find the target.

Early in the second half, Roper had an effort fail to find the target with a shot at the near post on the left.

In the 50th minute, Chester-le-Street took the lead. A pas from the left found Shaw with a bit of space eight yards out, and he directed a first time effort into the bottom corner.

Olly Hotchkiss’ introduced Elliott, Luke Pearn and Tom Hunter in the second half, and it sparked a new threat upfront for the Colliers.

Pearn went close in the 70th minute when his well struck effort clipped the crossbar on its way over, and then Pearn had another chance which forced a quick save from Ross Logan.

Finding his range for three minutes later, Elliott took aim from a long way out in the 84th minute, and it was awkward for the goalkeeper. It bounced right in front of Logan who spilled it, but no one was on hand to latch onto the rebound.

There was absolutely no stopping Elliott’s next effort as he pulled the Colliers level! Taking aim from 25 yards out, Dylan unleashed a rocket into the top corner giving the ‘keeper no chance.

In the last few minutes, both sides fancied their chances, but it was the Green Army who almost won it. Pearn’s strike just say missed the top corner in the first minute of added time, and then there was almost a wonder goal from James Watson. A cross from the right found Watson in the penalty area, and he connected perfectly with a bicycle kick. The ‘keeper was beaten, but it crashed back off the crossbar.

What a winner it would have been, but in the end, the points were shared.

Full-time: Easington Colliery 1-1 Chester-le-Street Town

Easington Colliery: Lowerson, Barnett (McGuinness, 77′), Eltringham, Watson, Forster (c), Nelson (Richards, 68′), Tapping, Best, Oliver (Pearn, 61′), Stanton (Elliott, 61′), Roper (Hunter, 55′)

No unused subs

Chester-le-Street Town: Logan, Goherty, Atkinson, Huddleston, Bateman, Dixon (c), Scothern, Pearson, Shaw, Hardy, Akal

Subs: Hepplewhite, Gray, Colledge, McAloon, Harland

Attendance: 194

Referee: Jack Whitfield