Always great to travel to Darlington for a league game. It was even better that we had a familiar face back in the squad with Adam Pearce making his come back. Toby Fisher stepped up to play in goal, after 4th team regular keeper Raj Singh was self isolating in a St Aidan's college lock in.

It was all Durham City's pressure in first 10 minutes of the match, with Matthew Page and Tony Cuthbert asking questions. Darlington slowly came into the game. They took the lead mid way through the first half after a series of short corners. Scotty's Usain Bolt reflexes cost him, when he was sent to the half way line for breaking too early. Darlington then scored after the shot was deflected past keeper Fisher. Matthew Page managed to equalise for City with a solo effort scoring from the right of the D, shooting into the left corner of the goal. 1-1 !!!!

Darlington then took the lead again after the Durham defence could not clear the ball (they tried, but kept hitting the ball the wrong way). The ball eventually fell to the Darlington left midfielder who fired the ball into the D. Darlington centre forward nipped in front of keeper Fisher and nicked the ball round his pads into the goal. Once again though Durham came back with another superbly taken goal, this time from the left, when Patrick Nicholson drove in from the left and shot from the top of the D, YES TOP OF THE D !!!! 2-2 Half time score.

The second half was a stalemate, with both teams creating chances. Some lovely flowing hockey from Durham with Royle, Plyming and Page all linking well. The young squad is certainly starting to link moves and open up space. Darlington's pressure finally paid off thoughwhen scored with a break away goal with 13 minutes left.

The young Durham 4th team showed its resilience, earning a short corner. Nicholas Royle collected the ball at the top of the D, and struck it goal wards. It took numerous deflections ending up at the feet of James Plyming on the left post how calmly slotted it home. Durham almost went on to win the game, but the end score of 3-3 was a fair result.

Goal Scorers

Page 1
Nicholson 1
Plyming 1

MOTM :- James Plyming (superb performance in the middle of the park from our new Durham Performance Centre player)
DOTD :- James Plyming (He knows why !!!)