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F.A. Cup Extra Preliminary Round
18 August 2007
Capper pips Rasher in
monkey chase
by Ken Milgate
Brandon United 0
Durham City 5
Chapman 42
Graydon 56, 81
Morris 83
English 87
Three goals in the final nine minutes flattered somewhat a superior
City side who made hard work of victory, the scoreline doing little
justice to a young spirited Brandon outfit who played football to the
end. Setting up City’s fifth goal with a quality
cross, Stephen Capper just edged out Keith Graydon as my
man-of-the-match with his disciplined composure and infectious
enthusiasm to be involved at all times as City left Welfare Park
£500 the richer.
As early as the second minute Jamie Clarke had beaten the offside trap,
only for Chris Carr to parry his shot and then save Lee
Chapman’s rebound effort.
Two minutes later, the home keeper was well-positioned to field
Graydon’s long-range effort, but Carr was at full stretch on
6minutes to keep out a raking Lewis Dodds drive from a Capper pass.
On 13minutes Andy Bowes’ bullet header from a Graydon corner
bounced off a home defender before John Mohan was eventually called
into action to knock down a Chris English shot.
In the space of three minutes City missed three good chances to open
the scoring: on 31minutes Clarke struck a post following a good run by
Stewart Morris and then shot straight at Carr after build-up play by
Graydon; Clarke’s right-wing cross was a shade too long for
Craig Price’s outstretched leg at the back post.
Three minutes before the interval City found the back of the net when
Clarke stepped over a drive into the box from the right to leave
Chapman time and space to beat Carr with a rising drive.
Five minutes after the interval City survived a potential reverse when
Capper’s clearance cannoned off Johnny Rogers, but Mohan was
alert to the danger and scrambled across his goal line to
save. Four minutes thereafter a low English drive had Mohan
at full stretch to smother.
The fight-back was soon nipped in the bud on 56minutes when Graydon
caught Liam Rowe, on for the injured Carr, way off his goal line,
having lost the ball in a tackle in midfield; City’s
midfielder coolly chipped the loose ball into an untenanted goal from
the half way line.
Rowe was at full stretch on the hour to keep out a left-foot shot by
Tommy English, on for Price, before an English left-wing cross found
Morris in space but the latter’s first-time effort flew past
the post.
Graydon has an eye for “forward-straying”
goalkeepers, and on 81minutes he punished Rowe for the slightest
encroachment off his line into play with the deftest of lobs.
On 83minutes Morris got the goal his afternoon toils deserved when his
low left-footed drive punished a host of hesitant home defenders in the
penalty area.
The scoring was complete some three minutes from time when
Capper’s left-wing cross had Rowe flapping at the near post,
English taking full advantage with a poacher’s goal.
There have been more entertaining goalless draws, but
Graydon’s goals were the hallmark of a class player; City
must learn to switch on more, irrespective of the opposition.
Brandon United
– Carr (Rowe 45), Ward, Pritchard, Snowdon, Furness, Peachey,
Rogers, Davidson,
Cody, Heslop, English
Durham City –
Mohan, Butler, Capper, Dodds, Bowes, Low, Morris, Graydon, Clarke, Chapman (Farrell 68), Price
(English 59)
Subs not used – Harrison, Caffry, Smith (C)
Related Links:
Player Profile - Harra
07/08 Morpeth v City
07/08 City v Bishop
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