Durham City News

10 January                                                                                                        2004

City sparkle on brewery visit

by Ken Milgate

Dunston Federation 0

Durham City 2

Robson 11

O'Donovan 60

The defensive pairing of Sam Kitchen and Michael Canavan was central to City's hard-fought and well-merited victory against their Championship rivals, but this was essentially a non-stop team performance with wingers and central attackers putting the home side under constant pressure.

City took the early game to their hosts, Robbie Herbert slotting just wide from the edge of the box on 5minutes, while Glen Robson's right-wing cross a minute later produced a finger-tip save from Michael Dunwell's header even though the latter was leaning backwards and could not get enough power behind the effort.

For Dunston, Paul Hollier's tenth minute angled shot was beaten down by Adam Dowell.

On 11minutes City took the lead:  Billy Irwin was booked for a foul on the lively Steven Stewart and Herbert's floated free kick was touched on by Lee O'Donovan for Robson to bundle home at the back post.

It took Dunston six minutes to mount a counter in an attempt to even the score, City's defence backing off to allow David Southern a long run before laying off to Hollier, but once again Dowell was equal to the task.

A minute later a delicate Stephen Halliday pass from midfield produced a cracker from all of 25yards from Dunwell which Stuart Dawson did well to turn round the post diving to his left for a corner from which Sam Kitchen headed agonizingly wide of the far post.

Dunston were having no joy against the dominant defensive duo of Kitchen and Michael Canavan who were winning all their duels both in the air and on the ground.  In a rare breach on 37minutes sub Paul Hogg's header thudded off the crossbar, but Dowell seemed to have the danger covered.

City pressed the home side in the opening ten minutes of the second half with the defence well pushed up to deny space, but on 58minutes Southern was allowed to go on yet another long unchallenged run before his final low shot flew wide of the far post.  A minute later Dowell came boldly off his line to deny Hollier.

On the hour City doubled their lead with a decisive counter-attack, Robson's delicate pass inside his marker setting up O'Donovan to drive low past Dawson's right hand. 

Two tactical moves brought on Gavin Mudd for Herbert and then John Watson and John Hutton for Craig Lake and Halliday respectively to defend the lead with a midfield stronghold, while Robson, O'Donovan and Dunwell continued to menace up front.

On 74 minutes Robson followed up O'Donovan's shot as it almost bobbled out of Dawson's grip, underlining City's desire for even more goals despite the comfort of their lead.

By now City's midfield and defence had effectively stifled Dunston's attacking ambitions, but on 80 minutes Dowell was well behind a vain Ritchie Pitt shot.

On 84 minutes City were within a whisker of a deserved third goal, Dawson saving with his feet as Robson, lurking at the back post, sought to convert Stewart's free kick.

Dunston managed the last goal attempt in stoppage time, but Dowell was well down to deal with Stephen Holmes' low drive to keep another clean sheet.

The victory avenged an abysmal display at home to Dunston in early September and strengthened City's claims at the top of the table.  City were certainly up for the game;  the workrate and commitment to a common cause were the hallmarks of a memorable and pulsating match.

Dunston Federation - Dawson, Farrey, Taylor, Robson, Irwin (Hogg 19), Holmes, March,

                                       Pitt, Hollier (Snaith 76), Pickering (Young 79), Southern

Durham City - Dowell, Lake (Watson 73), Stanger, Herbert (Mudd 60), Kitchen, Canavan,

                           O'Donovan, Robson, Dunwell, Halliday (Hutton 73), Stewart