Arngrove Northern League
29 April 2008

To Dodds the laurel, to Bay the victory
by Ken Milgate

Whitley Bay 2
Chow 21
Robson 27

Durham City 1
Richard Smith 45

Despite an inspired individual performance by Lewis Dodds, City forfeited their long unbeaten run in their final match of the season in what was a pulsating encounter between two evenly-matched sides.

On 10minutes John Toft’s left-foot drive was deflected for a corner after he had cleverly turned his defender; a minute later Ian Davison came out on top in a one-on-one on City’s goal before Tommy English forced Terence Burke to save.

Bay took the lead on 21minutes when Paul Chow touched in a Mark Minto cross, the ball tucking in at the back post through a crowd of bemused players.

Six minutes later the home side doubled their lead when Damon Robson rifled home a powerful left-footer after City’s defence had been split open.

City should have pulled a goal back on the half-hour but English at the back post hit his drive across the face of goal when a shot from the outside of the boot might have been more telling.

Chow headed wide a Chris Moore cross before driving wide off the post after receiving a gift of a pass courtesy of John Mohan’s grub clearance.

City went in at half-time with a lifeline when Richard Smith followed up to poke the rebound over the line after Burke had turned a Keith Graydon free-kick onto the post.

The goal clearly inspired City in the opening exchanges of the second-half and Steven Richardson went close on two occasions before Graydon lobbed over the bar.
Bay weathered the storm and it took a goal line clearance by Dodds on the hour to keep City only a single goal behind.

On 63minutes Moore drove wide after a powerful run and Richard Smith sent a free-header over the bar ten minutes later.

As play switched from end to end, there was excitement enough on a chilly late April evening.

City survived more Bay pressure, Mohan tipping over and Dodds flinging himself full length to register a clearing goalmouth header in a packed box.

The balance of play then gave City chances to draw level, but Graydon sliced a Richardson feed, an English shot was deflected for a corner when the top corner looked the likely destination and Ian Dixon headed straight at Burke. Even sub Stewart Morris went close in a one-on-one with Burke with seven minutes remaining.

In a grandstand finish an English free-kick grazed the outside of the near post deep into added-on time before the referee blew an end to City’s unbeaten run but memorable season.

That’s all, folks!

Whitley Bay – Burke, Rowe, Minto, Woodhouse, Coulson, Dugdale (Taylor 54), Moore, Robson, Kerr, Chow (Picton 65), Robinson (Graham 54)

Durham City – Mohan, Harrison, Davison (Capper 62), Dodds, Bowes (Morris 62),
Richard Smith, Toft (Farrell 72), Graydon, Richardson, Dixon, English

Subs not used – Calvin Smith, Bell

Man of the match – Lewis Dodds