Arngrove Northern League
19 February 2008
City dispel the gloom with va-va-vroom
by Ken Milgate

Durham City 3
Richardson 4, 51
Johnston 77

Spennymoor Town 1
Capper og 12

The swirling fog proved every bit as challenging an opponent as the players in black and white with indiscernible numbers on their back, but three quality goals stretched City’s lead at the top.  Those who had forsaken armchair warmth for foot stamping rigidity were rewarded on 4minutes when Steven Richardson smashed home a cracker of a full-on volley after John Toft and Keith Graydon had done the spadework.

The lead was barely eight minutes old when Stephen Capper and John Caffry contrived to gift Spennymoor an equalizer, a routine back pass slowmo-ing past the keeper’s outstretched leg.  Credit is due to both players, however, for getting on with the game in professional style, leaving any possible recriminations to later.

Toft’s solo run into the box ended in a final shot off target as the visitors reduced goal-shooting opportunities to an absolute minimum as they closed down quickly to stifle City’s attacks, as witnessed by Graydon’s wide effort on 22minutes.

Three minutes later a covering defender cut out a Graydon left-wing cross in the nick of time to deny Richardson at the near post, while City’s were often guilty of ill-advised attempts to dribble their way out of defence, more often than not conceding possession.

On 36minutes a Stephen Harrison cross found Graydon in acres of space at the back post but he skewed his volley wide.

In the closing minutes of the first half following a mix-up in the Spennymoor defence Adam Johnston blazed high and wide before Capper was off target with a skyward drive.

City finally restored their lead on 51minutes, a goal down to Richardson’s sheer persistence: having harassed two defenders enough to gain possession of the ball, he beat Niki Lawson along the deck.

The goal lifted City’s spirits and a great through-ball from Graydon to Johnston produced a good save from Lawson, and Calvin Smith’s right-wing cross stroked the crossbar.

Lawson held onto a Capper shot before Richardson was clean through on goal but pulled his shot across the face of goal.

In a rare breakaway attack from the visitors Caffry was well-positioned to hold a Richard Storr shot on target before Richardson’s left-foot drive flew narrowly wide as he saw the narrowest of gaps open up in front of him.

City secured the comfort of a 2-goal cushion on 77minutes when Richardson’s sweet right-wing cross was firmly headed home by Johnston at the back post.

Speedy was visibly and understandably peeved to become City’s third and final substitute with six minutes remaining, but that is testimony to his burgeoning confidence with twelve goals in the last four games.

Whatever part he played in the visitors’ fortuitous equalizer, Caffry more than earned his wages with two athletic tip-overs in quick succession to deny Mark Foster and Graham Robinson respectively, while Capper almost set up Johnston with a fourth in stoppage time.

While the game was never a classic, Harrison was my man-of-the-match for his constant availability in space on the right and for being the architect of so many promising attacks down the right, all that as well as discharging his defensive duties with professional aplomb.

Durham City – Caffry, Harrison, Capper, Dodds, Davison, Smith (R), Smith (C) (English 75), Graydon, Richardson (Farrell 84), Johnston, Toft (Morris 82)

Subs not used – McSween, Stobbs

Spennymoor Town – Lawson, Wilkinson, Bishop (Roulston 50), Ward, Foster, Roberts (Jarvis 75), Brightwell, Waite, Robinson, Storr, Irvine