Chester-le-Street Town Juniors - The team were knocked out of the AXA FA Youth Cup with a last gasp goal at Emley.

An away game at Emley was a very tough draw for the club who were making a return to the Youth Cup after a few years absence.

Half of the Emley side comprised of Under-19 Northern Alliance and reserve team players, got off to a perfect start with former Huddersfield Town player Nick Jagger scoring after being put clear by Liam Kaye.

Chester-le-Street then settled down for long spells outclassed their opponents with some fine football. It came as no surprise to the visitors when Mark Anderson's 30-yard effort nestled in the top corner of the goal for an equaliser on the half-hour mark.

Minutes later debutante striker David Tait's well placed shot agonisingly came back off the inside of the post as Chester finished the first period on top.

The North-East side turned up the heat on Emley after the break and former Bradford City goalkeeper Nathan Hall pulled off top class saves from Andrew Robinson, Ryan Drummond and David Tait. As the half progressed Craig Ellison went close with a fine effort before Andrew Dawson's superb 25-yard volley came back off the junction of post and cross bar.

Emley weathered the storm as Chester failed to turn their domination into goals and in the 62nd minute the hosts' Nick Jagger rose unchallenged at a corner to head Emley back in front.

The spirit of the Chester side did not diminish and within two minutes a fine flowing move ended with Tait scoring a superb equaliser for the Cestrians.

Again, Chester took the match to Emley but in the now familiar pattern of the game it was the home side who had the next say with Matthew Armitage scoring the 86th minute winner for Emley with a fine header from a corner.

With six of the Under-18 players unavailable due to holidays, injuries and suspensions, five of the clubs Under-17 players were drafted into the squad and all played a part in the match. Chester's Youth manager John Kay was pleased with the side's performance saying: "We were by far the better side for much of the 90 minutes but we failed to defend two corners properly and got punished. We can take a lot from the game but I'd much rather have played badly and won. All of the lads played excellent football."

Returning to league action following such a big occasion is not an easy adjustment but neither the Under-17s not 18s were defeated on their opening day.

The Under-17s who were missing key forward Craig Ellison who is with Sheffield United, drew 3-3 at the Riverside against Hylton Castle. In an even fixture the visitors were 2-0 up at half time before Andrew Coulson, Mark Adamson and Dean Stephenson replied. The game finished 3-3.

The Under-18s started with a local derby away at last season's County Cup finalists Birtley Town/Hilda Park. Chester had seven players making their debuts and it was one of these, ex-Middlesbrough player Graham Kyme, who opened the scoring with a fine five minute strike. Kyme scored again before Brunskill reduced the arrears to 2-1 when he shot through Chris Simpson's legs just before half time. Into the second half and David Tait who netted 56 goals for his previous club South Tyneside last season, scored a crucial third goal for the Cestrians. Andrew Collinson added the fourth just near the end. Ryan Drummond was Chester's man of the match.