Before Christmas we put six past Manchester United at Kingsmeadow and the win had us at the top of the league over the festive period. We started tonight’s game in fourth place needing a win to keep our hopes of finishing as high as possible alive.

The reverse fixture was one we dominated in every position from the first minute and the game at Leigh Sports Village tonight was no different for the opening quarter, until a sending off made for a long evening for the Blues.

Myles Peart-Harris’s heavily deflected attempted made its way over the line to give us another early lead. Frustratingly the game was turned on its head when Lucas Bergstrӧm was dismissed and the home side would eventually equalise through Shola Shoretire but not after some solid defending by ten-man Chelsea. However the advantage was just too much for us to sustain for much longer as Shoretire doubled his tally before the break.

Another Ethan Wady penalty save gave us a glimpse of hope in the second half, but it didn’t last long as Amad Diallo buried a free-kick for United’s third.

Their fourth came nine minutes from time and put the game to bed with Henry Lawrence’s late goal just a consolation. The result means the table remains unchanged from a Chelsea point of view, with two games against Blackburn remaining.

Starting XI

For Friday night’s game Andy Myers named four changes. Lucas Bergstrӧm had the job of keeping the net and ahead of him Sam McClelland took the armband in place of Dynel Simeu. Myles Peart-Harris was back in development squad action having returned from injury, as was Jude Soonsup-Bell who led the line. On the bench was Henry Lawrence who has had a stop-start 2021 due to injury.

Familiar beginnings

It took three minutes for Chelsea to establish a two-goal lead against United back in December. This time we were had the lead inside the sixth minute.

Xavier Mbuyamba won the ball and spotted Myles Peart-Harris in space behind the home defence. A perfectly-weighted pass into the attacker’s path had him through on goal, but in taking his time to shoot, he invited Brandon Williams back in time to make a challenge.

The ball took an awkward bounce and started heading towards goal. Before Nathan Bishop could scoop it away from danger it crossed the line and we were in the lead. 0-1 Blues and Peart-Harris had his 11th goal of the season in all competitions.

Harsh decision weakens the Blues

We were confident going forward after our opener but harshly reduced to ten men, nine minutes after the goal. Goalkeeper Lucas Bergstrӧm was adjudged to have handled the ball outside of his area and shown a straight red card by the referee.

The decision by the man in charge left our attack heavily depleted. Man United took control of the ball and all of a sudden, we had a lot of work to do in defence.

Up until the 44th minute, Chelsea had answered all the questions asked of them by the home side. However Shoretire found space inside the box and despite being outnumbered, picked out the far corner to draw the hosts level and unfortunately he wasn’t done there.

There was enough time added on to the end of the first half for Shoretire to add a second for his team. A finish from the corner of the box had us behind at half-time.

Second-half battle

We were doing better in the second half to restrict United’s dominance but it remained a tough task that was made even tougher when a home penalty was awarded for a foul in the 65th minute.

It was another questionable decision by the referee but Ethan Wady responded in the best way possible. Our keeper got a strong hand to Hannibal Mejbri’s spot-kick and kept the Blues within a chance. It was a second penalty save for Wady in as many games, however he was unable to stop Amad Diallo’s fierce strike moments later.

Diallo stepped up to take a free-kick 25 yards from goal and arrowed the ball into the far corner. Wady’s hand wasn’t enough to deny the hosts a third.

A fourth followed for United, Mark Helm was unmarked in the middle and coolly slotted home a cross from the left. The goal, nine minutes from time, ultimately put an end to a disappointing evening in Greater Manchester, as Henry Lawrence’s consolation from distance was too late in the game to provide a platform to build on.

What’s next?

Our first season at Kingsmeadow ends with a game against Blackburn Rovers on Friday 30 April. Kick-off next week is 7pm.

Chelsea Lucas Bergstrӧm; Dujon Sterling, Sam McClelland (c), Xavier Mbuyamba (Bryan Fiabema 61); Tino Livramento, Thierno Ballo, George McEachran, George Nunn (Ethan Wady 16); Myles Peart-Harris, Harvey Vale; Jude Soonsup-Bell (Henry Lawrence 46)Unused subs Charlie Webster, Declan FrithBooked Ballo 21; Livramento 43; McEachran 69Sent off Bergstrom 15Scorers Peart-Harris 6; Lawrence 92

Man United Nathan Bishop, Brandon Williams (Alvaro Fernandez 79), William Fish (c), Charlie Wellens, Charlie McCann, Amad Diallo, Anthony Elanga, Mark Helm, Shola Shoretire (Martin Svidersky 78), Hannibal MejbriUnused subs Ondrej Mastny, Charlie Savage, Dillon HoogewerfBooked Fish 22Scorers Shoretire 45, 45+5; Diallo 70; Helm 81