Arngrove Northern League
01 December 2007
Missed chances, lost points, shameful slagging
by Ken Milgate

Seaham Red Star 2
Chapman 28
Price 75

Durham City 2
English 42, 89(pen)

Tommy English’s continuing return to form earned City a point from the penalty spot; this was a poor return for so much possession, but a due punishment for squandering so much in the last third and retribution for the arrogant baiting within the ranks.

Both sides played some attacking passing football in the opening exchanges, but it took a foul on the edge of the box to halt Steven Richardson’s solo run on goal shortly before Jimmy Farrell headed over a Stephen Capper left-wing cross.  The hosts went even closer when Stewart Morris cleared his line following a corner and Dean Arkley shot wide from the clearance.

Richardson supplied a quality right-wing cross on 17minutes which Farrell touched wide of the post when power might have been the better option.

Capper mesmerized the home defence down the left wing, but his cross was firmly held by Keith Finch, but the keeper had no chance when Stephen Harrison curled a shot wide of the post on 26minutes.

Two minutes later Seaham took the lead when Lee Chapman fed Andy Jennings whose goal attempt was half cleared by the City defence only for the initial provider to smash the ball into the roof of the net past a motionless defence.

Chris Bell then shot just wide of the post before English crossed from the left only for Farrell to get in the weakest of headers.

Seaham were playing tight to City’s attackers, but Richardson’s pace allowed him to deliver a right-wing cross which English struck into the back of the net with a well-taken drive from the edge of the penalty area.

Four minutes into the second half English might have doubled his goals tally for the game, but the acrobatic Finch managed to tip the ball over the bar, the chance due in no small measure to an excellent dummy run by Capper.

The hosts then came more and more into the game, but it was English who drove fiercely at Finch only for the keeper to tip the straight drive from under the bar and over.

Richardson headed over on 64minutes when feet on terra firma might have concentrated his goal attempt more accurately, so much time and room being at his disposal.

With twenty minutes left City missed yet another chance to take the lead when Andy Bowes ghosted in at the back in pursuit of a Keith Graydon free-kick, but the ball bounced off the back of his head to safety.

Against the run of play Seaham went ahead on 75minutes when two City old boys combined, Stephen Halliday crossed from the left for Craig Price to volley home.

City substituted Richardson with John Toft in a bid to attack Seaham with pace, but it was the bustling Andy Appleby, on for Farrell on 87minutes, who chased the ball two minutes later in hope rather than anticipation but enough to panic Finch into a reckless lunge which resulted in City’s salvation-penalty.

Too many City players allowed themselves to be hustled off the ball and too many fancy tricks were poor substitutes for the simple and direct; however, resilience proved decisive in the end – once again.

But the targeted tongue-lashing undermines team spirit.

Seaham Red Star – Finch, Stout (Low 87), Rattle, Anderson, Paxton, Bell, Halliday, Arkley, Jennings (Byrne 71), Price, Chapman

Durham City – Mohan, Harrison, Capper, Dodds, Bowes, Pitt, Morris (Smith(C) 58), Graydon, Richardson (Toft 81), Farrell (Appleby 87), English

Subs not used – Caffry, Butler

Man of the Match – Tommy English