Written by Oli Williams
It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon in the north-east which saw Durham United travel to Silksworth Colliery Welfare in the first round of the Shipowner’s Charity Cup.
There was an air of anticipation in the changing room as United fielded a fairly new side, with plenty of debutants earning a place in the starting XI. The pitch was in fairly good nick (for a Wearside fixture), the sun was out, and the lads were ready.
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In the first 10 minutes, Durham started with a high intensity, playing on the front foot and transitioning the ball well between defence and midfield. The midfield 3 of Lee, Dixon and Liles picked up the ball in promising areas, created a few half chances and earned Durham a couple of early corners.
But, Silksworth were solid, playing no nonsense football and clearing their lines well and, eventually, they started to get the ball down and began to move it around. Durham defended well in a low block whilst Silksworth tried to create an opening.
A forward pass was then quickly intercepted by the left back Cook and he played it wide quickly to Oscar Schuller. He found himself driving forward in a 4 v 2 situation but couldn’t quite pick out the right ball. [Editor’s Note: I’m sure he also enjoyed having that move scrutinised many times over in the analysis session afterwards…]
As the game reached half and hour, Durham began to find joy in the wide areas with Tom Boothroyd and Schuller, who were linking up well with fullbacks Cook and Harry Loosemore to create opportunities.
A great example of this soon followed as Loosemore received the ball out wide and played a crisp ball into the feet of our striker, Ben Pearson. He took a neat first touch to spin inside and chip the ball over the defender, before putting in a teasing looped cross into the back post towards Boothroyd, who was just out of reach.
Gaps were starting to open up even more now for Durham, as Zane Liles and Owen Dixon were linking up well in the middle. On one occasion, they got the ball out wide to Schuller who fed it back down the line to Birkett. He confidently beat his man down the byline and pulled it back to Sacha Lee, who found himself in a great position just inside the box but couldn’t keep his shot down.
Shortly after the half time whistle blew leaving the game goalless and United frustrated, having passed up some good opportunities.
Half-Time: Silksworth Colliery Welfare 0 - 0 Durham United
As the second half began, Durham didn’t quite come out with the same intensity, and we were on the back foot as Silksworth mixed playing out from the back with playing long. Ultimately, however, United rode the wave of pressure with their goal untroubled.
On the hour mark, there was a potentially game-changing moment. Goalkeeper Patrick Dixon neatly distributed the ball out wide to Ryan Cook. A pass into midfield led to a pass through to Pearson.
Just as it looked like Pearson would get onto the end of the ball and have a golden chance at goal, the Silksworth centre back comes out of no where with a WWE style tackle, taking out Pearson 20 yards from the goal and leaving the referee no choice but to send him off.
With the Silksworth striker now taking up a position of centre half, it was very clear on their game plan – defend, defend, defend [Editor’s Note: Looks like it’s not just Ben Pearson who can play at the back or up front].
This allowed Durham’s centre back pairing of Williams and Nissim plenty of time on the ball as they moved it side to side, probing and waiting for gaps to open up. In some ways, this was too much time and, without a need for urgency, Durham looked lost for ideas at times.
The game progressed into the latter stages, with the Durham defenders continuing to play their own private game between themselves. Eventually, as Silksworth began to tire, chances presented themselves.
Suddenly, the ball was hooked over the top from the midfield, in behind the Silksworth defensive wall, and Durham were through on goal…
Pearson latched onto the ball just inside the box and fired it towards the goal but the keeper came charging out and made a good save. The ball ricocheted straight into the path of Boothroyd; this was it, but no!!
Boothroyd struck it straight at the keeper and it bounced out for a corner. It was starting to feel like no matter what United did, the ball just wouldn’t cross the line.
In the last minute, Cook linked up with Winger Caine McCartney, who had looked promising since coming off the bench. Cook clipped the ball nicely over to Caine who turned the jets on, blitzing past the full back and driving down the line.
At first it looked like he would shoot, but he kept going and going towards the front post and suddenly found himself in the 6 yard box. He tried to open his body and place one in the far corner but the ball agonisingly skimmed the outside of the far post.
That was the last action of the 90 minutes and, still at 0-0, we went straight to penalties.
After a quick discussion, Durham’s finest lined up on the halfway line in arms, ready for the spot kicks.
Silksworth won the toss and chose to go first.
Up they stepped and dispatched the first penalty well.
First up for Durham was Pearson, who saw his effort saved. A cruel outcome for somebody who had a great game.
With four green lights and the score at 3-2, the Silksworth’s keeper stepped up, much to the surprise of the Durham players. Despite his best Ederson impression, he failed to convert.
The remaining 4 all stepped up and scored leaving it 4-4 going into sudden death. Boothroyd followed their first taker to make it 5-5, and they finished the next to go 6-5 up.
Next up was Cook, another who had a great game, creating many chances down the left and defending admirably as well.
He opened his body up to slot it in the far left, but it wasn’t to be. The Silksworth keeper completed his redemption arc, guessing the right way and getting a strong hand to it.
And, so, that is as far as the road will take us in the Shipowner’s Charity Cup. Attention now turns to a massive Wednesday in the BUCS leagues, which sees all three teams in action.
Non-League action returns on Saturday when United will travel to the coast to take on Seaton Carew in the Alan Hood Charity Cup.
Full-Time: Silksworth Colliery Welfare 0 - 0 Durham United (6-5 on penalties)
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Line-Up: Patrick Dixon; Harry Loosemoore; Oli Williams; Max Nissim; Ryan Cook; Owen Birkett; Sacha Lee; Zane Liles; Oscar Shuller; Ben Pearson; Tom Boothroyd
Substitutes: Freddy Alcock; George Vardon; Sam Metheringham; Caine McCartney; Paddy Harvery
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