Durham Uni M4s 2 - 1 Durham City M1s

This Saturday saw us travel to MC’s other pitch to play Durham Uni 4s – our fellows in more than geography: we share a tough start to the season and we are both near the bottom of the table. We knew a win would cement us in the league and give us continued confidence. Alas it was not to be. The quality of both sides fluctuated wildly throughout the game; we were just found lacking.

However, nobody can doubt that we dominated the first-half. We looked dangerous going forward, we began to transfer the ball round the back with vigour, and we soon snuck ahead. Proving his ruthless reverse-stick finish last week was no fluke, Matt Kettley did it once more. A speculative ball forward was picked up by James Plyming (who, once again, was excellent throughout). Skinning several Uni players, James then passed to Matt. Our captain blitzed by his defenders, drew the keeper, and smashed the ball into the goal. 0-1! Some intense defending on our end ensued and we ground out the rest of the half. A short-corner for us after the whistle couldn’t see us double our lead, as a breakdown in our communication skills led to a poor routine – a situation that, sadly, set the tone for the second-half.

It wasn’t long before Uni equalised. A scuffed cross from the left of our ‘D’ rose away from goal, everyone committed to its direction, then a Uni forward dangled his stick at it and poked it in. 1-1. As has happened so often this season, our heads went. Poor attempts at aerials, bad passing, and a lack of thought put us on the defensive throughout the half. We never lost hope, but we did lose our composure. Eventually, a ball snuck down the right-hand side to a Uni forward whilst we were committed forward. Proving more adept at 2v1s than us, the Uni forward found his team-mate in the ‘D’. 2-1. Every chance we got seemed to be a centimetre too quick or too slow, or directly at the Uni keeper’s head. The margins really were that fine. Another short-corner in the dying minutes couldn’t see us regain parity.

Once again, there’s plenty to work on. At least MC’s teas weren’t terrible.

MoM: Matt Kettley (great goal)

DoD: Duncan Robertson (defending the wrong goal)

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