It was a tough week for Durham's boys this week as the ones suffered a sour defeat at Newcastle, having conceded two penalties for handball, before United were dumped out of the Durham Trophy on penalties at Shotton Colliery. Read more below...
Newcastle 1s 3 - 1 Durham 1s. Written by Reuben Bull
After a strong and resilient performance from the 1s last Wednesday against Notts Trent the boys went into this north-eastern derby full of confidence.
A wet and windy day did not deter the boys in white from playing their stylish brand of football. Moving the ball along the floor, and not resorting to long-balls, pleased head coach Furness. Newcastle were on the backfoot and Durham took full advantage. Captain fantastic Gibbons struck one of the sweetest cross-turn-shots ever seen at Cochrane Park, from the right corner of the 18-yard box into the top left corner to open the scoring. Following this, Durham maintained their dominance throughout the first half and dealt with the attacks the Newcastle players threw at them, with Bull only being called into action from a header from a corner. However, fortunes were to change for Durham. Durham had the ball in the back of the net again after a goal mouth scramble from a corner saw Alfalahi squeeze the ball in from close-range, however this was called for offside (after the boys had celebrated and turned back to run back over halfway) to the confusion of Durham. Towards the end of the half a corner was swung in by Newcastle and headed away by Merrett, yet the referee blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot. Confusion ensued as neither team really knew why this had been given. The referee claimed a handball from Camarda. The Newcastle no.9 stepped up and blasted the ball down the middle to bring the game level at half time. 1-1.
Durham were not deterred and went into the second half full of confidence that they would get something out of the game. A very enjoyable game for the neutral saw wave after wave of attack from both sides. A close-range free kick drilled into the bottom from Newcastle was to underdo all of Durham’s hard defensive work, 2-1. Newcastle were to be awarded another, slightly less dubious, penalty as the ball was deemed to have hit England’s hand blocking a shot that was bound to be on target. Newcastle’s no.9 stepped up again, and almost identical to his penalty in the first half, went for power over placement and blasted the ball down the middle to put Newcastle 2 goals to the good with 10 minutes left. The tide of the game had changed, and Newcastle successfully ran down the clock in the left and right corners of Durham’s half.
It may not seem like it, but there are plenty of positives to be taken from this game. The back 5 were resolute when defending, leading to their demise only coming from set pieces. The midfield trio were controlling the mid-third of the pitch throughout. The forward line were able to make many chances and were unlucky to not have scored more.
Attention for the 1s turns to the Durham County Cup and the Wearside league as they are not to play a BUCS fixture until November 16th away to the University of Nottingham, which is set to be a great game, which the boys will look to demonstrate their bouncebackability.
Leeds Trinity 1s 1 - 3 Durham 2s. Written by James Nugent
This Wednesday, the 2’s squad made the trip down the A1 to Leeds Trinity in the hopes of securing their 3rd win on the bounce. After their quicker than normal warm up, the referee got the game underway. The 2’s centre backs, Yuta Osawa and Harry Glassey settled the game down to our pace moving it side to side waiting for the right pass forward. When the forward passes came, the forwards Hec Platt and debutant, Oscar Schuller, were dangerous in every possession, creating chances from the off. Chances came thick and fast for the 2’s with Hec turning their right back inside out and back to front, before being ragged to the floor just outside the box, slightly left of the D. Well, he won it, and he wanted it. Hec placed the ball down softer than a baby in a crib, before rattling it into the bottom corner on the keepers side. The keeper got a hand to it, but the pace beat him. Their right back was replaced, early shower for him.
The next 10 minutes or so were pretty comfortable for the 2’s, with no real threat from trinity. However, with their only chance, Trinity’s left winger decided to dribble the ball into the stands and carry on back onto the pitch. Somehow, this was missed by the referee. Their forward, in his credit slotted it past the tallest man in Durham, keeper Sam H-P. Nicolai Lewis was today's right back and has been a brilliant addition to the 2’s coming in as a fresher, he, like us all were bemused. As you can imagine, we weren’t all too pleased with the goal being awarded. Even the Trinity players and their fans thought it was hilarious, although their smugness was eradicated quickly.
Our chances still kept coming, they couldn’t get anything. With 3 corners in quick succession came 3 golden opportunities to go ahead. James Nugent, old and creaky fired each corner in with Yuta coming so close to a second goal for the season but going just wide. Well, third times a charm I’ve heard, and the man mountain Zu Macdermot (apparently Zu is short for Finlay, don’t worry I have questions too) used his big size 14’s to cushion the ball into the back of the net. Zu ran over to James to celebrate the goal looking very much like a Gandalf and Frodo hug. 2-1.
The second half went underway after some debate on whether we still have rolling subs in adult football, to which Trinity were astonished that we don’t. Rule book is in the post. After 20 minutes or so Zu and Oscar, made way for some fresh legs, with Xav Watson and Freddie Hodgson coming on to help us see the win out. HOWEVER, with 5 minutes to go, Xav picked the defenders pocket in the box, threw him off him like an old scarf and fired it home. 3-1.
A brilliant performance from the team, as always, still aspects to improve but still fantastic. An unreal performance from Robin Oldfield in the centre of the park, winning battles, driving forward, and creating chances earned him the Player of the match.
In conclusion, a great day of football. 3 points. Top of the league.
Durham 3s 1 - 5 York 1s. Written by
Fresh from an important cup win against Huddersfield 1’s, the 3’s went into the game against York 1’s with a strong belief that they could get their first 3 points of the season and started on the front foot with McCartney striking the crossbar from 25 yards after clever work from Will Heath in the midfield. However, against the run of play the visitors took the lead with a fortunate finish after goalkeeper Tom Glaister’s tackle fell to the feet of the York attacker who finished it into an empty net.
Despite this initial set back, the 3’s continued to put York under pressure with Heath going close from the angle and McCartney forcing a save from the goalkeeper from a header. Despite this pressure, York added a second with a great finish from 25 yards out. For the rest of the half Durham controlled the game but could not find a goal with Vickers striking an effort over from the edge of the area and an array of set pieces leading to nothing.
Going into the second half Durham started sluggish, which allowed York to add a 3rd goal with a tidy finish after the striker ran clear one on one. With Durham struggling to conjure up many chances to note York added a 4th goal after a set piece was failed to be cleared. From here Durham had a foothold in the match with McCartney having a shot saved after a through from Heath and Nacho nearly working an opportunity in the area after some close control on the wing. Despite this possession York posed a threat on the counter with Curson blocking a York chance off the line after taking it round the goalkeeper and Tom Glaister making a string of vital saves to prevent York from adding to their lead.
Entering the latter stages of the match York added a 5th goal after Durham failed to clear a corner. Nevertheless, Durham did pull a consolation goal back through a nice finish from Spencer Taylor after making space for himself in the area.
A disappointing day for 3’s all round but they will be looking to bounce back with in their cup against Liverpool John Moores 1’s.
Shotton Colliery 0 (4) - 0 (3) Durham United. Written by Freddie Merrett
A wet and blustery Saturday afternoon saw Durham head to Shotton Colliery for the first round of the Durham Trophy - a keen target for the boys to collect some silverware this year.
The game got off to a fast start with the soft and greasy surface combined with the bracing winds, proving difficult for both teams to get to grips with early on. Both sides enjoyed short spells of possession before a promising move down the left for Shotton was blocked on the slide by Merrett. In the period that followed, United established some authority, moving the ball well through the first two-thirds and creating some opportunities in front of goal. A couple of neat set piece routines almost proved Shotton's undoing, but Durham lacked precision. Towards the end of the first half, Durham created a couple of clear cut opportunities, both of which unfortunately were squandered meaning it was level at the break.
After a rallying cry at half time from Furness, the boys returned to the field for the second half. After a nicely worked first move of the half for Shotton, Durham once again established complete territorial control, dominating possession - a goal seemed all but inevitable. Durham continued to go through on goal with multiple one on one chances and a couple of all-but-open goals, but to the bemusement of all, each and every chance was squandered, with some heroic goal line clearances from the Shotton back four to match, meaning the game continued in stalemate. The last ten minutes proved nervy for United who had to soak up wave after wave of attack from the men in blue; the boys stayed resolute and ensured they kept a coveted clean sheet. Full time 0 - 0. Straight to the lottery that is penalties.
With the first 2 penalties being scored by both sides, Shotton got their nose in front as their third taker scored, before their goalkeeper kept out United's effort. 3-2 became 4-3 after four spot kicks each. Shotton's 5th man stepped up to seal Durham's fate, however Arnold had other ideas, making a fantastic save down to his left, taking the sides back level. However, the celebrations were fleeting as Durham's fifth taker stepped up and had their penalty saved in almost identical fashion to United's third penalty. Durham were out of the cup.
A disappointing end to a tough week for Durham's boys with lots of lessons learned, but they will look to bounce back over the coming week.
Comments