Report by Joe Bryant.
It has long been said that setting goals is key to success, in life and in football. At the start of the season the 2s’ objective for the year was clear – win the league. And, having gone into Christmas sitting pretty with 4 wins from 4, spirits were high within the squad come the return of BUCS football on the 25th of January.
The resumption of the season’s action came in the form of the short trip to Sunderland, and it seemed the Christmas break had seen the lads come back with a new injection of desire to get the job done. Early goals from Hector Platt and Harry Lampier (C), including a brace from the returning skipper, put Durham in control. Sunderland fought back into the game via a dubiously awarded penalty before Ben Jones made it 4 after the break. A late Sunderland consolation proved to be too little too late, as the home side struggled to beat the ever-reliable Sam Hughes-Penny.
4-2. Job done. 5/5.
7 days later and the lads were back at home, as they welcomed title rivals Leeds down to fortress MC. The boys were bang up for it, having seen the 1s stay up in spectacular fashion earlier in the day, and it showed. 3-0 up at half time and cruising, courtesy of 2 goals from the imperious Christian Pestell and a Freddy Hodgson header. The 2nd 45 saw more of the same as Nugent and Schuller added to the tally before an own goal compounded the visitors’ misery to make it 6. A first clean sheet of the season achieved on the way to making it 6 out of 6.
Following a fortnight-long break, a trip down to York beckoned, and with it the opportunity to all-but-secure the title. This was a game that the squad knew would be a tough test against an opposition that had caused them problems at home. The return fixture had seen the lads go 1-0 down before fighting back into the game thanks to some fluid forward play and cracking goals from Lampier and Bryant. While the home tie had finished 4-2, the boys knew nothing was guaranteed.
They were right to be wary – 1-0 down after 10 minutes and struggling to break down a dogged York side, there was animated frustration among Durham as the home side soaked up wave after wave of pressure. The champions elect had chances, hitting the crossbar following a corner as well as going close from distance on a couple of occasions through Platt and Bryant. Half time rolled around and still no breakthrough. Bhamra’s message at the interlude was clear – keep calm, play our football and the goal would come.
He was almost proven right immediately, as a trademark Harry Glassey diag found Platt, who set Hodgson to rifle home. Durham’s delight was quickly brought to a halt by the referee however, who ruled the leveller out for offside to the bemusement of most at the game. It was starting to look like one of those days for Durham, as further chances went begging. But moments like this are where managers earn their salt, and Bhamra had a couple more tricks up his sleeve.
Bryant and Pestell off to be replaced by Schuller and Johnson. 3-4-3.
Pressure was building on York, whose gameplan was clear – hold what we have. Durham continued to turn the screw but to no avail. In fact, it was the home side that conjured up the best chance of the half so far with Hughes-Penny denying the number 9 on the counter from point blank range to deny what looked like a certain goal. The 4th year proving time and again why he is so invaluable to this otherwise relatively young Durham side. The consequent introduction of Alex Baptist reiterated the visitors’ intentions to get back in the game.
Eventually, the pressure told.
As the 85th minute came around, Hatfield combined. Glassey once again found Platt with a long ball and the winger slotted home to make it 1-1. Game ON. No sooner as the game resumed than York had a golden chance to retake the lead but unfortunately for the home side the winger’s header came back off the post and into the arms of a grateful Hughes-Penny. The man mountain then bowled the ball out to Baptist for the substitute to break. He picked out a lovely lofted through ball to Hodgson who raced away from the defence and fired home.
2 minutes. 2 goals. Could 2 seasons in Northern Tier 3B be coming to an end?
How the boys then saw out the remaining 5 minutes was a credit to their work all season – committed, intense and disciplined. 7 out of 7 never sounded so good.
A quiet bus journey home followed…
Leeds trinity’s subsequent walking-over on the Friday confirmed the title for the lads, capping off a scintillating week for the boys. TITLE SECURED!
As messages of congratulations rolled in from club-mates past and present, focus shifted to the 2s vs 3s derby on the evening of Monday the 20th – the first instalment of the 2s’ bid to go 10/10. They say special things happen under the lights, and they certainly have done in DUAFC history: this same fixture 12 months previously had seen the 3s take a surprise victory, one that ultimately spelled the end for the 2s’ title hopes that season. With lads in the dressing room who had been on both sides of that result, focus was at a season-long high: the same thing cannot happen again.
The 3s team came flying out of the blocks, as well they might after a Chris Maiello team talk, and raced into an early lead through a Joe Vickers header. Bhamra’s message was unchanged and clear – do what we do, and we will win the game. Following a flurry of chances for the 3s, which could have seen them 3 or 4 up, Schuller levelled the game with a smart finish following a Platt freekick. The half time whistle came with the scores still even, and following the break it was a tense encounter. Emotions ran high as both teams refused to give an inch. There were chances at both ends but neither team managed to get a hold of the game, prompting the coaches into making some changes which saw Bhamra introduce Bryant and Steed while Maiello turned to Iqbal. Then, less than 10 minutes from the end, Hodgson finished off a sweeping Durham move to make it 2-1 and put the 2s on the brink of 9/9. Knowing that defeat could spell the end of their season, the 3s then threw everything at their club counterparts, and to their credit looked very dangerous at times, with Hughes-Penny being called into action on multiple occasions. It was to no avail however, as Hodgson added a third at the death to seal the 3 points for the 2s.
9 down. 1 to go. History can be made away to Leeds next week, in a game that, should the boys deliver, will live long in the memory of many at this fine club.
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