Strong showing against higher league team bodes well for next season.

A strong performance from DCHC mens 1st team made their promotion intent clear for next season by soundly beating a competent Sunderland Broom 1sts.

Durham started very positively and dominated the game with some wonderful, patient and incisive hockey. They were unfortunate to not go ahead in opening 20 minutes, which saw Durham penetrate the Sunderland D on multiple occasions. Still, Sunderland held firm and refused, for the time being.

After such a dominant and impressive display, it was disappointing for Durham to concede just before halftime from a penalty corner, in a half where Sunderland chances were rare. Durham responded well though and quickly won a penalty corner for themselves, from which Iain Mason wrong-footed the keeper to score from the top of D. A relief, to be sure, but a shame never-the-less that the sides were going into half time as equals.

After half-time, Durham renewed their efforts and were amply rewarded. Identifying a weakness in the Sunderland penalty corner defense lead to a slick routine which reaped results, with Jambo and Mason linking well for Mason to slot the ball home. Still Sunderland remained resolute and responded in kind, again from a penalty corner.

Sunderland could not resist indefinitely though and more chances came for Durham. Again Mason and Jambo linked up well to give Jambo a one-on-one with the keeper, only for Jambo to narrowly put the ball wide of the post. Durham could feel the chances coming.
Later, Graeme Jorgenson picked up the ball well on the wing and drove down the Sunderland baseline, eliminating defenders as he went. He cut and played a dangerous ball across the D, which a Sunderland defender had no choice but to try to deal with and in so doing, put the ball into his own net.

And still Durham pressed on. After some nice, patient team play involving many of the Durham players, Adam Khan, on his debut appearance for the 1sts received a tricky, bouncing ball on the edge of the D. A less composed man would have attempted to control the ball and allowed the defenders to put a tackle in, however Khan was not such a man and flicked the bouncing pass first time to beat the keeper with a wonderful finish off the post.

Despite having scored 4 goals, did Durham relent? Absolutely not. Still piling on the pressure and dangerous ball played into the top of the D found its way to Jorgenson, who took it on first time on his reverse. A defender got enough of the ball to eliminate any danger in the shot, but Jordan Bell showed killer instinct to be in the right place at the right time follow up and sweep the ball past the keeper, on his reverse and off the post again.

Durham take a massive confidence boost in besting a team in a higher league than it's own and know that if they show the same work-rate and resolve, that they have it in them to beat any team that they might face next season. One game at a time, but promotion is most definitely in sight...