Carlsberg FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round

01 November 2008

Journeying Citizens master Mariners

by Ken Milgate

Marine 1 – Cumiskey 74

Durham City – Johnston 48, Cogdon 62

City defended bravely and resolutely in the closing ten minutes to defend their well-deserved lead and progress in the FA Trophy, achieving a resounding victory against the side second in the league above.  The result was a personal triumph for Ian Dixon and Michael Laws who shared my man of the match nomination for their awesome contribution at the heart of City’s defence.

City registered the first goal attempt on two minutes when Gavin Cogdon shot over the bar, but their defence had to stand firm to resist a series of free-kicks in dangerous positions around the edge of the box with John Lawless and Steve Hussey being denied.

On 19minutes an Adam Johnston free-kick curled just wide of the post before he dragged wide of the far post a low drive from a John Toft pass.

On the half hour a Hussey free-kick found Karl O’Donnell who forced a great save from Craig Turns, the keeper clutching the ball to his body as he dived to his left.

O’Donnell and Kevin Lynch then saw long-range efforts clear crossbar and upright respectively before the first half ended goalless.

Barely two minutes had elapsed of the second half before Cogdon chased a great through ball from Calvin Smith, only to be blocked out by a defender.  However, a minute later, the same duo combined to set up Johnston who finished clinically, beating Sean Lake low down in the bottom corner.

Lynch sent yet another shot over the crossbar before Johnston headed over a Toft right-wing cross.

Two minutes after the hour mark Cogdon put City two up when he stroked a Stephen Harrison cross into the net after the skipper had retrieved what seemed a lost cause.

The hosts made two substitutions, Paul Woolcott replacing the yellow carded Freddie Potter and Joe Fowler coming on for Lynch, but it was Peter Cumiskey who put Marine back in contention on 74minutes with an unstoppable shot out of the blue which gave Turns no chance.

Four minutes later City’s goal had a narrow escape when Woolcott’s low drive from the right skimmed across the six-yard box for a goal-kick.

Dixon headed off the line on 82minutes and Turns saved from Joe McMahon as Marine pushed forward for an equalizer with City defending ever deeper and inviting the home side on.

The back pedalling paid off as City withstood the siege and even managed to break away several times on the counter as the referee signalled three minutes on added-on time.

City overcame the hardly ideal preparation of a long journey and late arrival at the Arriva Stadium to get back to winning ways with style and character, everyone working their socks off.  But it was Laws and Dixon principally City have to thank for what manager, Lee Collings, hopes will be the start of a new unbeaten run.

Marine – Lake, Potter (Woolcott 72), Brazier, Williams (Tuck 54), McMahon, Lynch (Fowler 72), Lawless, Hussey, O’Donnell, Cumiskey, Bigland

Yellow Cards – Freddy Potter, Steve Hussey

Durham City – Turns, Harrison, Capper, Dodds, Dixon, Laws, Toft (Morris 86), Calvin Smith, Cogdon (Jake Richardson 88), Johnston, English

Subs not used – Fisher, Bell

Yellow Card – Stephen Harrison

Men of the match – Ian Dixon and Michael Laws