Match Report

Late Le Fondre Penalty Gives Reds Three Points Against Hebburn

An Adam Le Fondre penalty five minutes from time saw Mark Beesley’s side rack up another home win.

Ron Sithole caused a couple of early problems for the visitors, getting forward with some pace, but it was Town who had the first clear cut chance, with Liam Murray drawing a low save from Dan Atherton with a low shot.

Le Fondre had the ball in the goal on 25 minutes, looking like he’d managed to spring the offside trap before chipping it over Dan Cameron, but the assistant’s flag went up. A couple of minutes later, Charlie Munro found some space in the box and rose to meet a cross from the right, but his header missed the target from 12 yards out.

Five minutes before half time, Ajay Weston saw his goalbound shot cut out by a sliding block from a Hebburn defender, before another good FC move came to nothing with Matty Grivosti firing well over from 20 yards.

The Reds continued to finish the half strongly, as a good move down the left saw a cross into the box cleared as far as Dec Evans; his shot from 30 yards was knocked down and picked up by Cameron. Fitzmartin had a chance to give the Reds the lead second before the half-time whistle, but his shot from 20 yards curled wide of the far post.

The first chance of the second half came for the visitors, with Gary Martin being left in acres of space 20 yards out, but he failed to control his shot and it flew well over.

The Reds should have been in front on the hour mark. Ajay Weston’s superb free kick from 30 yards beat the keeper and hit the underside of the crossbar before bouncing back out. Despite appeals from the FC players and the SMRE crowd, play was allowed to continue and the ball was cleared by the visitors. Video of the incident, and a superbly timed photograph from our own Lewis McKenna showed that the ball was well over the line.

A couple of minutes later, the visitors had a chance as a powerful shot from the right saw Dec Evans get his head to it and deflect it over for a corner. Matty Thomson then had a sight of goal from 20 yards at the other end, but fired just over.

As FC pressed to break the deadlock, they were almost caught out on the counter, Atherton doing well to come out of his goal and get a solid block to keep the scores level.

A good save from a corner from Cameron ten minutes from time gave the Reds another corner on the opposite side. A great delivery saw Rudy Misambo get up and head the ball into the goal, but the referee blew his whistle for what he saw as a foul by Misambo.

Atherton was then called into action, making a good diving save to his left to deny substitute Foalle.

As FC fans thought they might be looking at a second frustrating goalless draw in a row, the breakthrough came with five minutes to go. Ron Sithole beat Murray on the edge of the box and advanced into the area. Murray, attempting to recover stuck a foot in, bringing down Sithole. The referee showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Adam Le Fondre stepped up and hammered the ball high into the top right-hand corner to give the Reds the lead.

Hebburn, now needing something themselves to rescue a point, came forward. A free kick delivered to the far post was met by the head of former FC player Matthew Elsdon but went just wide. Into injury time, a nice move from the visitors saw a shot from the right hand side well-saved and help by Atherton.

There was a final nervy moment for the home side as a long throw into the box was headed around, before being cleared by the FC defence, with the referee deeming that was to be the last action of the game.

The final whistle was welcomed by loud cheers from the FC faithful, and an animated reaction from Mark Beesley in front of the SMRE, as an important three points sees his side keep up the pressure on Lancaster City and Warrington Rylands at the top.