Newton Moor Durham Challenge Cup
10 November 2007
Bell makes sure City don’t drop a clanger
by Ken Milgate

Easington Colliery Welfare 1
Darwish 50

Durham City 6
Richardson 4
English 7 (pen)
Appleby 17, 83
Clarke 49
Graydon 58

Three goals to the good after seventeen minutes, an injury-ravaged Durham City progressed against spirited but largely ineffective opponents, a victory inspired in no small measure by the impressive Shaun Bell despite his lack of match fitness.  The lesson was clearly learnt from the League Cup defeat by South Shields.

On 4minutes a Tommy English left-wing cross became a Bell right-wing cross and Steven Richardson was on hand to poke the ball home from close range.

Bell delivered another pass for Stewart Morris to send over a right-wing cross three minutes later, but Andy Appleby was pulled back as he attempted to position himself for a back-post header, English smashing the penalty into the top corner. 

On the quarter hour Joe Atherton got down smartly to deny Richardson a second goal from an English pass before the provider drove the ball into the side netting.

The game was effectively over when Appleby drilled another Morris pass between the keeper’s legs into the bottom corner.

It was fully twenty-two minutes before Peter Crawford registered the hosts’ first goal attempt, his thirty-yard drive flashing well wide.

Stephen Capper’s distant drive looked all over a goal until a home defender sent the ball high and wide for a corner, and Atherton produced a splendid save, clutching an English placement shot over his shoulder as he was going the wrong way.

Durham were left off on 38minutes when Jonathan Pearson sent a free-header wide from a Paul Doughrity free-kick; Pearson then denied Richardson with a brilliant tackle as the City striker chased a measured through ball from Richie Pitt.

Jamie Clarke replaced Richardson at half-time and was only on the park for four minutes before he gratefully tapped Appleby’s left-wing cross over the line after a home defender had lost possession in a vulnerable position.

Easington scored an unlikely goal on 50minutes when Mohammed Darwish headed down past John Mohan from a Doughrity free-kick, City’s keeper’s slowness to react due in large measure to his long-term injury.

Calvin Smith replaced the tireless Morris on 55minutes; three minutes later Keith Graydon and Appleby broke clear of the home defence, the latter presenting his skipper with a goal on a plate.

Atherton thwarted English yet again on 68minutes and Clarke toe-poked an easy chance wide.

The home side were still competing, and only Mohan’s outstretched legs denied Crawford on 74minutes.

Calvin Smith all but scored the goal of the game with a quarter of an hour left, his long-range scorcher flashing narrowly wide into the fence.

Capper went close the next minute before Calvin Smith was guilty of a poor finish when Appleby was better placed alongside him for the square pass.

City completed their rout on 83minutes when Appleby chased a through ball and rounded the keeper.

Disappointingly from my point of view, City chose to shoot on sight in the closing ten minutes when possession football would have better prepared them for future fixtures; Easington played with ten men

for the last ten minutes and nine for the last four.

Easington Colliery Welfare – Atherton, Lilley, Tarn, Major, Pearson, Darwish, Watson, Doughrity, Crawford, Orchard, Huntley

Durham City – Mohan, Harrison, Capper, Bell, Bowes, Pitt, Morris (Smith (C)55), Graydon (Dodds 69), Appleby, Richardson (Clarke 46), English

Subs not used – Caffry, Butler