Arngrove Northern League
27 October 2007
Red means go for City
by Ken Milgate

Durham City 0

Billingham Synthonia 0

Forced to play with only ten men after 34minutes, City produced a spirited second-half performance and might even have claimed all three points but for John Jackson.  The whole team displayed commendable spirit and character, but Andy Appleby gave the Synners’ defence a testing time with his persistence and tireless pursuits and wins my choice of man-of-the-match.

The visitors’ bench breathed a collective sigh of relief on 9minutes when Appleby was floored in the penalty area; two minutes later, it was their counterparts’ turn to hold their breath when Richard Smith and Neil Campbell gazed a little too closely into each other’s eyes, the latter swooning in response to the close attention of his marker.  The referee warned both players to curb their passion.

On the quarter hour Steven Richardson waited in vain for the ball to come down to him when he received a Keith Graydon lob on the edge of the six yard box, while the former was denied by a decisive block tackle three minutes later as he turned on receipt of a Stewart Morris pass.

Lewis Dodds was the next City man to go for goal, his bullet near-post header from a Graydon corner flashing past the post.

The defining moment of the match was Rasher’s dismissal for deliberate hand ball on the line; his slow walk off the pitch and subsequent requested evacuation of the dug-out merely delayed John Mohan’s magnificent save from Campbell’s spot kick.

City did not take long to increase their application, a move initiated by Morris epitomizing the team’s subsequent resolve: his successful full-stretch attempt to keep the ball in play on the touchline produced the perfect pass for Appleby to chase.  Alas, his shot was high of the crossbar with City’s only other forward in attendance, Richardson, closely marked.

In first-half stoppage time Mohan was released from spectator duties to save a Lee Flanagan shot at his near post.

Both Richardson and Dodds had early second-half attempts on goal before Campbell headed into the side netting.

As City continued to harass and tackle for their lives, Jackson made three smart saves in the closing seven minutes to thwart City.  He was quickly off his line to rob Jamie Clarke before saving from Richardson who managed a more than decent shot on goal from a tight angle.  His last-minute save from Stephen Harrison was the pick of the three.

City toughed out a physical game with admirable graft and commitment.  In the circumstances of the match a point was a good return; of more importance was the fact that City competed when the going got tough.

Durham City – Mohan, Harrison, Capper, Dodds, Bowes, Smith (R), Butler, Graydon, Appleby (Clarke 77), Richardson, Morris (Bell 90+)

Subs not used – Caffry, English, Pitt

Billingham Synthonia – Jackson, Shaw, Collins (Radigan 46)(Dunwell 84), Hope, Hanson, Close, Flanagan, Beaumont, Campbell, Iley, Jameson