Arngrove Northern League
23 October 2007
Consett direct
by Ken Milgate

Durham City 0

Consett 3
Moffat 7
Patterson 48
Johnson 49

City not only lost their unbeaten League record but had their weaknesses cruelly exposed and exploited by a thoroughly impressive Consett outfit.  To rub salt in the wounds, Consett also prevented City from finding the back of the net for the first time this season in competitive football.  The guests controlled the game with their pacey direct football and might even have improved their goal difference by a greater margin.

Keith Graydon’s first-minute corner flew across the goal line begging for an instinctive striker to touch it over  the line; six minutes later Mattie Moffat, unmarked at the back post, gave John Mohan no chance with a fierce drive from David Pounder’s right-wing cross after Graydon had headed clear an initial corner.

Mark Gaffney was too quick for City’s nippiest player, Steven Richardson, robbing him with a brilliant tackle as City’s number 10 hared towards goal at speed.

Consett’s electric pace on the break almost earned Steve Johnson a second on 18minutes as he chased a Gary Ormston through-ball, the by-line sparing City’s blushes, while Richardson rose well enough to a right-wing cross only to plant his header too close to Craig Turns.

Confusion between Andy Bowes and Mohan almost gifted Moffat a goal on 33minutes as City struggled to cope with Consett’s superior speed of thought and play.

In first-half stoppage time Graydon forced Turns to save with his fingertips from a free-kick, but City trooped off at half time in pensive mood.

The game was effectively over four minutes into the second half when City found themselves three down.

Two defensive blunders in one fatal minute allowed Mark Patterson to beat Mohan with a deft lob-cum-shot and Johnson to slot number three unmarked from close range.

Three City substitutes failed to have an impact on the game as Consett continued to wreak havoc through a shell-shocked defence with shot after shot scudding wide of Mohan’s uprights.

Consett looked dangerous every time they mounted an attack while City’s counter efforts were, in comparison, ponderous square-ball affairs, too often ending in a poor final ball which conceded possession.

On 67minutes Jonjo Dickman’s hooked shot hit the bar before rebounding to safety as Consett continued to press home their advantage, much to City’s discomfort, rather than sit on an unassailable lead.  When under comparative pressure they defended in such numbers and with such drilled efficiency that the proverbial eye of the needle presented an easier target for threading passes.

Saturday will be the perfect opportunity for City to bounce back.  On the night, they were beaten by the better side but are still top of the League with points and games in hand.

Durham City – Mohan, Harrison, Capper, Dodds, Bowes, Smith (R), Butler (Appleby 56), Graydon, Clarke (Farrell 76), Richardson, Morris (English 65)

Subs not used – Bell, Caffry

Consett – Turns, Gaffney, Johnson (D), Dickman, Piecha, Robson, Ormston, Patterson (Coulthard 60), Moffat (Ewart 85), Johnson (S), Pounder