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Arngrove Northern League
19 April 2008
Dalmatian matters
by Ken Milgate
Durham City 2
Graydon 57
Johnston 77
Seaham Red Star 0
City notched their hundredth and hundred and first League goals of their Championship-winning season in a comfortable win which leaves them one victory short of beating Bedlington Terriers’ seven-year record of 101points with two away games to play.
George Courtney did the honours of presenting Keith Graydon with the Arngrove Northern League Trophy prior to the game before the squad and coaching staff posed proudly for photographers.
Steven Richardson was a whisker away from connecting with a Keith Graydon lob at the near post in the second minute while John Mohan, on his return to goalkeeping duties, was forced to tip over an Ian Watson shot after Christopher Bell’s right-wing cross had beaten all in the box.
By far the best move of the match ended in an equally impressive tackle by Graham Low as Stephen Harrison was checked in the act of shooting after an exquisite City move from midfield on 20minutes.
The game burst into life on 36minutes when Tommy English hit the post with an in-swinging corner before his left-foot curler, seemingly destined for the far top corner from my vantage point, produced a marvellous save from Keith Finch.
With five minutes of the first half remaining Harrison sent over a deep hanging cross only for Adam Johnston to head straight into Finch’s midriff.
Three minutes into the second half a Graydon textbook ball over the top had Richardson stretching underneath the ball and sending it harmlessly over the bar, sub Stephen Burns doing likewise for the visitors five minutes later.
The deadlock was broken when Graydon rounded off his solo run with a stinging drive into the top corner to record City’s century of goals in the Championship.
Two minutes later another English curler drifted agonizingly wide of the post.
On 64minutes a Stephen Capper left-wing cross caught John Toft in two minds, his attempted low header being in hindsight the wrong option.
Finch excelled again a minute later to deny English after Richardson had set him up, while Mohan was then forced to tip over an Andy Appleby effort.
Just as Seaham threatened to get back into the game, City went two goals to the good when Low fouled Johnston on the edge of the box, the victim giving Finch no chance with the resulting free-kick.
A wayward Jimmy Farrell header from a Graydon cross was the last belligerent act on 82minutes of a typical end-of-season game that completed City’s home fixtures in an otherwise memorable season.
Although not mentioned in my report, Lewis Dodds and John Butler were man of the match for their respective sides, Dodds for his effervescence in midfield and Butler for his link-up play and sound defending.
Durham City – Mohan, Harrison, Capper, Dodds, Dixon, Richard Smith, Toft (Calvin Smith 82), Graydon, Richardson (Farrell 70), Johnston, English (Morris 77)
Subs not used – Davison, Bowes
Man of the Match – Lewis Dodds
Seaham Red Star – Finch, Butler, Rattle, Low, Moan, Bell (Chapman 61), Halliday, Price, Byrne, Anthony Watson (Burns 46), Ian Watson (Appleby 61)
Man of the Match – John Butler
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