Wakefield M2s 2 - 4 Durham City M1s

The morning of the first match of the 23/24 season dawned - and a medium length trip to Wakefield was on the cards for Durham City Men’s 1st team.

After losing their much loved goalkeeper and journalist Matt Coe - it falls on this author to document today’s highs, lows and everything in between.

Remakes are very fashionable these days - Ghostbusters, Tony Hawks Pro Skater, and in this instance - Durham City Men’s 1s 2009-2010. Messrs Dobison, Fotheringham and Kettley Senior getting the band back together. Big shout out to Simon Lee for facilitating child care. Shez almost was unavailable thanks to a 1cm gash to the leg that he sustained in Thursday’s friendly and had required professional medical attention (a single staple).

There were some notable absentees this weekend - Ant is still recovering from a rather vigorous reverse Turkish haircut. James Plyming’s dad is being coronated as Pope of Durham as we speak, and new boy Alex is romancing his missus in Nottingham. Nevertheless, a strong squad was assembled with old man Dan Pudwell stepping up to help out.

Shez’s hair was red and his leg was bleeding.

The game started poorly for Durham. Despite an intense pre-season, we conceded twice fairly quickly and found ourselves 2-0 down. Not the ideal start we had envisaged. Rob’s mother Mandy kept the supporters in good voice however and we rallied quickly. Mason started to orchestrate things from the middle and we settled into our rhythm. Some good link-up play on the right wing and the ball fell to Thomas Steel who cooly slotted into the bottom left. Great finish and game on. Soon after a loose ball was fired into the ‘D’ and Matt Kettley got a very faint (yet highly important) touch that steered the ball under the keeper to give us a Desmond going into half time.

Shez’s leg was still bleeding.

The half-time team talk was summarised by “more of the good bits, less of the shit bits.” Inspirational stuff.

Durham started the second half quickly. Dobbo’s and Dunc’s passing range from the back started to cause problems for Wakey. Rob finally started to move and some good skills won a short for the North Easterners. Dobbo winged a drag flick into the bottom left - Durham took the lead. Moments later Matt Kettley found Shez in the ‘D’ - who then produced a finish that was simultaneously akin to Lionel Messi chipping Neuer in the Champions League and also a complete fluke. A reverse stick sweep lobbed the keeper and Wakefield were left stunned. 4-2.

Durham had good control for the rest of the game apart from some frantic action in our own ‘D’ that lead to a penalty flick to the “Green Army.” There was just one problem for the Wakefield flicker - a 6 foot 4 ginger Scotsman. One of the Wakefield substitutes remarked “he’s really big that keeper” before Blair casually saved the attempted flick. Bloody lovely.

Durham could have extended their lead as Steve Kettley almost scored after a flowing counter attacking move, although he blames the pass from his brother. Any further Wakefield ventures into our half were snuffed out quickly by Timmy and Chris Hepworth and the game finished 4-2 to the visitors.

A great start and Shez achieved haemostasis.

MoM - Blair

DoD - Shez. The reigning champ of DoD has started strong - with 3 hair colours in a week and his bleeding leg.