Hebburn Town’s FA Cup journey came to end on Saturday as they were beaten three-nil by National League North’s Chester FC at the Deva Stadium. The Hornets were the obvious underdogs going into the game and the scoreline reflected the gulf between the two sides.

Amar Purewal remained unavailable for this one, and Daniel Moore made two changes from the midweek stalemate at Morpeth Town. Joe Walton had to settle for a place on the bench as Bailey Adamson lead the line, and Robbie Spence replaced new-boy Paul Van Zandvliet as the latter was cup-tied.

As the match began, Hebburn were up against it, as Chester were adamant in keeping possession to try and break down the Hornets’ defence, and the first chance went to the Seals in the seventh minute. Iwan Murray beat Michael Turner in a foot race down the right-hand side and crossed the ball into the box, but Kieran Hunter was there to punch away from danger.

The Hornets were given an opportunity to go ahead in the eleventh minute. Adamson pressed goalkeeper Elyh Harrison into making a mistake, as he played the ball straight to Spence, who didn’t hesitate in trying to lob the keeper from twenty yards. Ultimately, the ball dipped just over the crossbar, hitting the roof of the net. Inches away from Hebburn taking the lead.

The hosts then created two opportunities in a matter of minutes as Tom Peers and Dan Turner saw their efforts blocked.

In the twenty-first minute, Olly Martin pounced on a loose pass and drove towards the Chester box, but his touch let him down and the ball rolled safely into the goalkeeper’s gloves. Up to now, Hebburn were competing well against the side that was one step
above in the football league pyramid.

Michael Turner then won his side a free kick in the twenty-fifth minute after a tussle with the Chester players. Liam Noble’s delivery was no trouble for the Seals as Harrison caught the ball, relieving pressure off his defence.

Another chance fell to Hebburn in the twenty-eighth minute. Martin fizzed in a low cross towards the unmarked Adamson, but the forward mistimed his strike and the Chester defence cleared. Just a minute later, The Seals were ahead. Turner lost possession inside his own box and the ball ricocheted kindly into Tom Peers’ path, and he fired low and hard across Hunter to give his side the advantage.

In the thirty-sixth minute, another Chester effort arrived on the Hebburn goal. This time, Charlie Caton tried his luck from the edge of the area but struck straight at Hunter. Just four minutes later, the hosts pressured the Hornets goal again. Murray found space on the right and sprinted up the pitch, before playing the ball into Turner who saw his effort blocked, and forced a corner. The following corner came to nothing and Hebburn cleared.

In the forty-third minute, the Seals almost found themselves two to the good. Donaghy was on hand to clear Caton’s header off the goal-line. A heroic stop. After one minute of additional time, the referee brought an end to an entertaining first half of cup
football.

Neither manager opted for a change during the break. Just two minutes into the second half, the Hornets were under pressure once more. Liam Noble was shown a yellow card as he tripped George Glendon just outside the box. Murray fired the resulting free kick into the wall.

In the fifty-sixth minute, Turner went close for Chester again following a well-worked corner routine, but subsequently fired over. On the hour mark, Moore opted for a double substitution. Liam Murray and Walton replaced Joe Posthill and Spence.

Just a minute later, Harrison Burke went on a marauding run from full-back, breezing into midfield and let fly from distance but his effort was high and over the bar. Whilst the scoreline was only one, Hebburn were still in the game despite being under the cosh for large parts.

A third Hornets change came in the sixty-eighth minute as Martin made way for Leo Robinson. Shortly after, Chester went close to a second goal yet again from a counter attack, after Hebburn lost possession. Caton struck towards goal and saw his effort deflect wide for a corner. The resulting corner came to no avail. A fourth change for Hebburn came in the seventy-seventh minute as Daniel Moore replaced Adamson.

Just two minutes later, Chester were two-nil ahead. Peers was allowed space to turn in the Hebburn box and beat Hunter at his near post for his second, and to almost certainly put the game beyond the Hornets.

In the eighty-fifth minute, Moore clashed with Ben
Pollock and that sparked fireworks from both sets of players. After the dust settled, assistant Mark Hudson and Seals boss Calum McIntyre received bookings after heated words of exchange. Chester then rubbed salt in the Hornets wounds, adding a third goal in the third minute of stoppage time. Glendon struck into the bottom corner from the edge of the area to put the rubber stamp on the win.

The defeat now means that Hebburn exit the Emirates FA Cup at the Second Qualifying Round. Attention now turns to league action on Tuesday night, where the Hornets will be looking to bounce back with a good performance and three points against Whitby Town.

Man of the Match: Jack Donaghy

Match Attendance: 1,504

By Dan Carlton