Unibond First Division North

19 August 2008

Dodds dazzles for fast and fit City

by Ken Milgate

Durham City 1

Richardson 82

Wakefield FC 0

For the second match running Steven Richardson found the opposing goalkeeper in inspired form until he beat Andy Woods with a low close-range shot after the keeper had parried a Shaun Bell header with some eight minutes remaining; similarly as at Skelmersdale, Richardson ran Lewis Dodds to the wire only to be pipped as man of the match by the converted central defender who was in imperious form: some of his long-range passes from defence to set up counter-attacks were copybook examples as City recorded their first Unibond victory, both Richardson and Gavin Cogdon threatening for the duration with their pace and movement off the ball.

City attacked from the off and Wes Milnes headed a first-minute Stewart Morris right-wing cross powerfully over his own crossbar; two minutes later Cogdon wove a path into the box before crossing to Richardson who spooned his first-time effort high and wide.

At the other end Adam Jones set up Delroy Ferguson who shot narrowly wide of the far post, Craig Turns getting the barest of touches to concede a corner.

On 9minutes Tommy English set up Richardson with a cracking through ball only for the striker to clip his shot wide of the far post.

On the quarter hour Graham Marchant nearly capitalized on a defensive lapse but snatched his shot wide of the far post.

Woods smothered a Stephen Harrison low cross at the foot of his post before he was quickly off his line to deny Richardson converting another English through ball.

City might have gone ahead in bizarre fashion on 28minutes when a Morris right-wing cross was thumped clear by a Wakefield defender only to ricochet over the bar off a fellow Bear for a corner.

Three minutes later Woods was again alive to the danger when he beat Richardson to the ball as the latter intercepted a pass.

Five minutes into the second half Cogdon turned smartly in the box but his final shot lacked any power; three minutes later it was Richardson’s turn to set up English who thought his power drive had crossed the line despite the keeper’s initial parry, Richardson being booked for his adamant protest in support of his colleague’s claim.

An English thirty-yarder just before the hour had Woods looking anxiously over his shoulder as the bar flew wide of the post.

Within the space of seven minutes Richardson spurned three further goal chances, pulling his first shot wide before denied twice by smart keeping.

The tireless striker finally got his just reward on 82minutes before limping off to be replaced by Jimmy Farrell.

City saw out the four minutes of added-on time without undue alarm to maintain their successful start, their comparative physical fitness being a key factor in achieving and securing victory against a Wakefield side who entertained with slick ball-to-feet football and combative resolve.

Durham City – Turns, Harrison, Capper, Dodds, Dixon, Houlahan (Laws 47), Morris (Fisher 75), Bell, Richardson (Farrell 86), Cogdon, English

Subs not used – Riches, Toft

Man of the match – Lewis Dodds

Yellow Card – Richardson (53)

Wakefield FC – Woods, MacQuarrie, Turner, Jones, Milnes, Laight, Sparks (Wright 78), Sobers, Marchant (Barrick 64), Howarth, Ferguson (Ryder 88)