Match Report by George Gompertz.
Pictured: Rory England
As we grow accustomed to the short, dark days of January, August seems like an awfully long time ago. Durham kicked off their season on August 27 th , against this weekend’s opponents Farringdon Detached, on a day where the beaming sun and water breaks were the topics of conversation. The weather this time around was polar opposite (pun very much intended), and Durham were also looking for a reversal in the scoreline, having had their bubble burst by a last minute winner in the season opener.
With the 1s having the biggest BUCS game of the season coming up on Wednesday, the squad was very much rotated, but given the strength in depth of this Durham side, the lineup was as capable as ever of beating any team in the league.
Durham started the brighter of the two sides, but the first goalmouth action of the game occurred in their own box. A wide free-kick was crossed in and headed goalwards, only to be deflected onto the crossbar by the hand of goalkeeper, Sam Hughes-Penny. The ball ballooned off the crossbar and landed in the midst of six players before eventually being cleared by captain Alex Costa.
Five minutes later and Rory England created the game’s first big chance. After performing ball rolls on the edge of the box whilst waiting for an option, he played it into Freddy Hodgson, who held it up well and gave it back to Rory. One touch around the defender, and his cross-goal strike with his weak foot found the inside of the post from 12 yards out.
Less than 30 seconds later, that practice proved worthwhile as he found the back of the net. A failed clearance found the feet of Christian Pestell, who controlled it expertly and gave it to Rory. He let the ball run across his body and, from 20 yards out, found the top corner with his weaker foot. A fantastic strike, drifting away from the Farringdon keeper, as he slightly struck across the ball to put Durham 1-0 up within 10 minutes.
Although the home team were on top, Farringdon found some joy through an out-ball to the No.11 on the right wing. Unfortunately for the visitors, this led to little more than corners and wayward crosses.
Half-time, and Durham went into the break a goal to the good, but with the knowledge that they had more to give. Perhaps with the knowledge that there was more they must give; a 1-0 lead turned into a 1-2 defeat in August, let’s not forget.
The first 25 minutes of the 2 nd half were largely unremarkable, with little action happening in either box.
The closest anyone came to being remotely excited was when Alex Costa’s 25 yard pop-shot sailed narrowly over the top.
On 70 minutes, front man Freddy Hodgson had another half chance, as he appeared to be through on goal. The heavy pressure from the man on his back caused his touch to get away from him on the edge of the box, however, and the last defender was happy to clear the ball out for a corner.
With 15 minutes to go, the game finally kicked back into action. With both teams starting to tire, the game opened up a bit and Durham countered with a 4-on-5. Rory went wide right to Billy Clark, who got into the box, chucked in a stepover and burst past his man with ease. He then stood up an inch perfect cross to Freddy Hodgson, who beat his man in the air and headed into an effectively open goal from 6 yards out to put Durham 2-0 up. A well worked team goal, as well as a piece of individual brilliance,
show that Durham have plenty of strength and variety in attack.
No sooner than we had picked the ball out of their net, were we picking it out of ours. Just two minutes later, a well-worked one-two put the Farringdon man clean through on goal. Looking nailed on to find the net from 8 yards out, Jonah Blake came out of nowhere with a heroic last-ditch recovery tackle. Unfortunately for the centre back, the tackle ricocheted straight off the knee of fellow defender James Nugent and into the goal. Now only 2-1 up and with 10 minutes to play, we were in store for a grand slam finish.
Durham had chances to win it. Second half substitute Oscar Schuller had a chance on the counter attack to put the game to bed on 85’. Schuller, carrying the ball on the counter attack, played it right to Clark, who found his man on the cut back, but the shot from 8 yards out went wide.
As the clock struck 90’, Schuller had one final chance to put the game to bed, but from a wide left, Thierry Henry-esque angle, the keeper made a good save at the far post to keep his side in it. The shot- stopper did his job once again, as R. England waltzed through a tiring defence, but his low driven shot from just over 20 yards out was smartly saved.
As we entered what felt like the 15th minute of added time – perception of time always seems warped when clinging onto a lead - there was time for one last chance. Having got in down the left hand side, the Farringdon man had a chance to snatch a point from a fairly tight angle. ‘Hit hard and hope’ was the mantra, but the ball sailed harmlessly over the top.
In the end, it was the hope that killed the visitors, with Durham dominating almost all of the game. But by not taking their chances, Farringdon were always in the game, however Durham had just enough on the day, reversing the scoreline from earlier in the season, and picking up their second win in a row in the process.
FULL TIME: DURHAM 2-1 FARRINGDON DETACHED
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