Durham City M1s 2 - 0 Chesterfield M1s

After a long break over the Christmas period, and a cancelled game last weekend, hockey was back at Maiden Castle for the Durham City Men’s 1’s. The perfect start to the season meant nothing after the winter hiatus.

Despite Chesterfield being bottom of the league this fixture would be no easy game. The lack of hockey had shown at Tuesday Training and so a positive result would have to be hard fought.

The game started with spells of pressure at both ends of the pitch. However, neither side could find the quality in the last third to create a clear opportunity amongst these opening exchanges. Durham were far from their best. Balls were mistrapped. Passes were bobbly. There were too many double turnovers for Durham to show total control in the game. Often the attacking play was rushed and was easily picked off by playing into the oppositions’ sticks. However, Durham broke the deadlock when a crash ball into the D was met expertly by a flying dragon. He perfectly deflected the ball past the keeper and Durham were ahead.

The game would remain tight. Chesterfield won their first short corner of the day. Although it was charged down well it showed that the opposition still remained a threat. Unlike some matchdays this year, Blair was called into action on numerous occasions. Making strong saves to keep Durham ahead. Chesterfield’s closest chance of the half would come from a counterattack where the ball made its way to their unmarked forward who managed to manoeuvre himself for a backspace shot. It flew narrowly past the left post. A scare for the often unbreeched Durham defence. The tense one goal lead was widened as half time drew nearer. An uncharacteristically less than full-blooded ‘wang’ from Ben may have ordinarily resulted in a long-corner or a sixteen. On this occasion the man of the moment popped up again. The Dragon deflected the ball high into the goal and it ricocheted off the bar, with the familiar ‘DING’. It flew back down into the ground and nestled neatly into the corner. An important two goal cushion for the home side at the break.

The second half was filled with similar patterns of play to the first. Durham were able to maintain possession and control the game for the most part but Chesterfield still had periods of play that threatened the Durham goal. Chesterfield even hit the post from a short corner that had to be cleared off the line in a dramatic scramble. There was still lots of great forward play from Durham that was missing the key final touch or pass. Perhaps on another day the team could have been more clinical. Durham were comfortably able to hold out to the end and register another three points and the first win of the new year. After this weekend’s victory the team once again travel to second place in the league, Brigg.

MOM: Plyming. Two great goals, one of which was a sumptuous deflection.
DOD: Roberto for his wild swing.

#D-OFF #Doitwithoutdobbo