Top of the Class Performance “Caps” it All

Saturday 22nd December, 2007

Durham City 3                                                           Morpeth Town 1        
Smith C. 4                                                                   Young (pen) 70
Richardson 26
Graydon 52

Ambitious Durham took back the leadership of Division One with a first class performance against Morpeth Town at the Archibalds Stadium.

Mid table Morpeth who have failed to hit the heights of last season when they won the Northumberland Senior Cup, at the expense of Blyth Spartans, were second best all over the park for the entire 90 minutes.

Durham took the lead in the 5th minute when Calvin Smith, who did a superb job in the midfield engine room in the absence of the suspended Lewis Dodds, capitalised on a dangerous free kick, from new signing Adam Johnston, and produced a close range finish (Calvin said from about 20 yards).

It was all one way traffic now, with some terrific one touch football, which should have given Durham more goals before they finally scored in the 26th minute. But it was a picture book goal that was worth waiting for and much appreciated by a decent crowd .

It was substitute Steven Richardson who finished off a flowing passing move between the impressive Stephen Capper and Tommy English which started with Capper picking the ball up in his own half and interchanging passes with English, right to the Morpeth byline, where Capper looked up and passed the ball , unselfishly, to the oncoming Richardson, who had replaced Jimmy Farrell, to finish off. It was a great goal and typical of the football being played by Durham.

Barry Poskett, the visitors keeper then did well to keep out Keith Graydons 25 yard shot whilst Richardson was only denied by the woodwork with just the keeper to beat. Numerous other half chances and openings were created without any addition to the score

The first half came to an end with Durham well worth their 2 – 0 lead.

The second half started with Morpeth showing a little more fight but the game was made safe in the 52nd minute when the industrious Graydon struck a 25 yarder into the bottom corner past the surprised keeper to make it 3 – 0.

Morpeth were thrown a possible lifeline when Stephen Young pulled a goal back from a soft penalty decision to make the score 3 – 1.but in the end Durham were able to record a league-double having won 2 – 1 at Morpeth earlier in the season.

Lee Collings said “ We created and wasted a hatful of chances in what has been the story of our season so far but overall I’ve got to be happy to be top of the table. I still believe that there are about 5 teams in with a chance of the title but we are ambitious and looking to win it ourselves and , with the Directors backing, are hoping to move up the Pyramid. It’s going to cost one of our Directors more money today as he promised to buy drinks for all the players if we were top of the league at Xmas. “

Durham City : Mohan, Harrison, Capper, C.Smith, Davison, R. Smith, Toft, Graydon (Butler,79), Farrell (Richardson,14), Johnston (Morris, 83), English.  Not Used : Caffry, Bell

M.O.M. – Stephen Capper

Morpeth Town : Poskett, Rue, Haxon, (Hood, 45), Metcalfe, Nickalls, Wilary, Wilson, (Henderson, 53), Herron, Young, Sweeney, Mullen.  Not Used : Short, Taylor, Scott