Durham City M2s 9 - 1 Newcastle Uni M4s

A comparatively warm morning awaited an eager Durham team, looking forward to being able to play some hockey! The anticipation however soon turned to concern for the wellbeing of our opponents who, with 15 minutes until push back, were nowhere to be seen. Push back time came and went, and still no opposition. Five minutes later, seven players arrived (none of them a 'keeper) and the game could begin once they were ready.

Newcastle Uni started the game with an irregular 5-2-0 formation which proved effective at preventing scoring opportunities. Durham (rather sportingly) didn't score until after the 'keeper arrived five minutes into the game with two more players. Once the 'keeper was in place however, Durham started to pick up to their usual intensity and quality.

Over the course of a dominant first half, Durham slotted away four goals, two from short corners with practice paying off in particular for the former centre-back turned midfielder Timmy Hassell who managed to get his first of the season, slotting it home between the keepers legs.

The second half started quickly with two further goals coming in the first 5 minutes making it 6-0 to the in-form home team. Durham pressed their advantage hard, however in a rare break-away forray by Newcastle Uni they managed to scramble the ball over the line to make it 6-1. Luckily, the resolve of the home side paid off, despite Dan Pudwell missing a few glorious chances in his desperate bid to avoid his hatrick, Durham scored three more ensuring that Thomas Steel sealed his own hatrick.

A resounding 9-1 victory for the team in gold fully deserved and rewarded with extra pies since the opposition had ordered for a full compliment of 16!

MOM - Thomas Steel for a well taken hatrick.

DOD - Dan Pudwell for chronic hatrick avoidance.

#jug'o'juice #Timmythreepies #latestarters