Durham County Challenge Cup Second Round

05 November 2008

Late score gives little cause to celebrate

by Ken Milgate

Darlington RA 0

Durham City 1 Ripley (og) 114

With the lottery of a penalty shoot-out barely six minutes away and the night sky still lit by the occasional firework, this damp squib of a football match was finally settled when the hapless Max Ripley turned a Tommy English drive into his own net.  For the detail that the defender took the pace off the ball and probably did not alter the flight much as he attempted to clear, I am indebted to the behind-the-goal supporters of both sides.

For all the endeavour in the middle third of the pitch the finishing was abysmal.  For the hosts Nick Lyons won an early free-kick outside the box which was headed clear only for Kyle Anderson to drive well wide of the post.  For City Nathan Fisher, who was always eager for the ball, showed excellent control to take a crossfield pass before cutting inside and firing wide of the far post.

With visibility affected by drizzle and mist, Aiden Vout took no chances, tipping over Neil Robinson’s shot-cum-cross on 12minutes.

Six minutes later John Toft hit a thunderous half volley well over and an Adam Johnston effort on the half hour was wide of the target, both chances set up by the industrious Fisher.

Marc Radmore headed over from a corner before David Duke registered the closest goal attempt some ten minutes before the break, Simon Clark tipping over the 25yarder.

Calvin Smith it was who featured in two early second-half moves, seeing his low drive deflected for a corner and a subsequent right-wing cross cleared only for his namesake, Richard, to head the clearance wide.

Stewart Morris drove wide and Duke forced Clark into a smart save on 54minutes as the game continued to unfold with very little pattern of play apart from Darlington’s ten-man defence whenever City were on the offensive. 

On 65minutes Christian Holliday almost slipped the ball past Vout on a breakaway attack before Duke hit the crossbar with a left-foot drive.

In the closing ten minutes of normal time Johnston’s diving header from a Stephen Harrison cross flew wide, as did efforts by Toft and Calvin Smith.

Four minutes into extra time Johnston shot wide before Kev Duggan missed a golden opportunity to embarrass City on 100minutes when he went for glory but cleared the bar with team members in support.

In the second half of extra time English had two pots at goal with a low drive and a free-kick which was deflected for a corner.

Fortunately, he was to be third-time lucky, thanks to Ripley.

The midweek marathon was hardly an ideal preparation for City’s weekend return to League action in physical terms, but there were many lessons to be learned in other areas of the game which I hope will be addressed by all concerned before City take on the Magpies of Chorley.

Darlington RA – Clark, Bowman, Ripley, Radmore, Smith, Duggan, Anderson (McMonies 73), Robinson,  Holliday (Huscroft 84), Carter (Enfield 105), Lyons

Yellow card – Neil Robinson

Durham City – Vout, Harrison, Dodds, Duke, Dixon (Laws 40), Richard Smith, Morris (Cogdon 71), Calvin Smith, Toft, Johnston, Fisher (English 69)

Subs not used – Turns, Pitt

Man of the match – David Duke