Arngrove Northern League
13 October 2007
Decision, decision, decision
by Ken Milgate

Billingham Town 1
Magowan 15

Durham City 2
Richardson 23
Clarke 58

Absent City fans will note the margin of victory; those in attendance will recall the manner.  On another day City would have been denied their equalizer and awarded two disallowed goals, but what cannot be expunged is the excellence of the team’s performance and the chances galore created, a thoroughly convincing team effort founded on a solid defence marshalled by my man-of-the-match, Andy Bowes.

Yet things started badly for City.  After dominating the opening exchanges with Steven Richardson clear on goal in pursuit of a Calvin Smith – Jamie Clarke engineered through-ball only to be thwarted by keeper and defender and Andy Bowes planting a free-header over the bar from a Keith Graydon corner, City’s midfield failed to get in a tackle and allowed a gap to open up for Andy Foster to cross for James Magowan to steal in and head the opener at the back post.

Next it was the home defence’s turn to be caught napping when Lewis Dodds headed wide of the far post from a Graydon corner.

The equalizer was not long coming when another Graydon assist to Richardson saw the latter slip the ball past Jason Hamilton while the home defence berated the assistant referee for not waving his flag.

Graydon was unlucky to see a trademark free-kick put Hamilton under some pressure at the top angle of his post before a free-flowing City had the ball in the net twice more before the interval, only for the respective “scorers” to fall foul of the assistant referee.

Billingham started the second half with more purpose and only a great saving tackle by Richard Smith kept the name of Steve Huggins off the scorers’ list three minutes after the restart.

Just as the hosts had scored against the run of play, so City took the lead, ironically after a period of sloppy play when the simple passing game became unfashionable; Johnny Butler’s right-wing cross was headed home from the tightest of angles by Clarke.

Richardson could have doubled his day’s goal tally on 64minutes but for Hamilton’s outstretched leg, but Billingham were still a threat on the break and John Mohan and Bowes did a double rescue act a minute later to prevent John McKie restoring parity.

Mohan saved well from Mark Casey before Nick Harrison produced a great tackle to prevent Richardson again, the number five having found some composure after being roasted by Richardson in the first half.

On 73minutes Richardson should have put the result beyond doubt when Graydon dinked the ball over the defence, but the former’s final shot would have drawn appreciative applause from a Paris – committed Johnny Wilkinson.

A minute later Butler hit the post and Clarke’s rebound effort was cleared off the line before Hamilton’s legs again stopped Richardson.

City made three late substitutions, and in stoppage time Jimmy Farrell was denied by the agility of the airborne Hamilton.

City were a pleasure to watch this afternoon, but the quality and quantity of their creativity deserved more than a single goal success.

Billingham Town – Hamilton, Foster, Scott, Casey, Harrison, Diamond (Smith 30), Huggins, Harbron, Magowan, Flockett, McKie (McQueeney 78)

Durham City – Mohan, Harrison, Capper, Dodds, Bowes, Smith (R), Butler, Graydon (Morris 89), Clarke (Bell 83), Richardson (Farrell 90), Smith (C)

 Subs not used – Caffry, English