FA Cup First Qualifying Round - 8 September 2012

DURHAM CITY V SHILDON

It is warm and sunny again – September is so the new summer!  The sky is blue, the clouds are fluffy & white, and the pitch is green.  Of course, this being New Ferens Park, home of Durham City FC, its plastic and will be green all season except when it snows. The ground is open on three sides with a large 300 seater stand on the other, providing an excellent elevated view as well as some covered (today shaded) standing room.

Shildon followed up the previous round’s 6-0 replay win with an 11-0 thumping of South Shields, but Durham City have home advantage and will hope that their opponents have used up their goal allocation for the month. With Durham in bright blue and yellow, Shildon this week are in all red with the now familiar white V.

After a cagey start there is a flurry of action on 10 minutes. Shildon’s Hughes finds space on the right and produces a dangerous cross; Durham’s Thompson responds with some trickery at the other end but his attempted back heeled pass is blocked; and Shildon’s usually reliable centre half Flynn unwisely dribbles out of defence, loses the ball but his team suffers no worse than a scuffed shot wide.

Shildon begin to look the more composed and after 15 minutes Lee Chapman picks up the ball on the right; using an overlapping run as a decoy he shifts the ball once, twice, left across the box before unleashing an unstoppable left foot drive high into the net.

One nil behind, Durham respond with vigour, but when the Shildon back line is turned any cross is capably dealt with. The Durham defence is less sure and are left all at sea by a short corner routine that creates space for a shot over the bar. They are beaten again when right back Hunter slots a gem of a pass through the defensive line for centre forward Greulich-Smith to run onto and place the ball calmly past keeper Winter to make it 2-0.

Again Durham make a positive response; Thompson comes close with a looping volley and centre forward Fenwick has a shot deflected for a corner. But the half ends with further attempts by Shildon; Briggs tries to catch Winter out with a quickly taken free kick, then from the opposite corner of the box Chapman curls his free kick attempt over the bar.

The 2-0 half time lead is just desserts for Shildon. Solid at the back, fluid up front and skilful in midfield, but they are not coasting as they have had to work hard to win their individual battles.

Durham are out early for the second half and attack from kick off, getting 5 minutes pressure before Shildon get going again. Twice Shildon have dangerous overlapping runs but crosses from Greulich-Smith and Hunter produce only blocked shots. Durham’s reply is an ambitious 35 yard free kick that is fielded by goalkeeper Finch.

By the hour mark Durham have made changes and now have full back Stoker up front with substitute Pounder. The latter immediately lives up to his name and pounds in a shot out of nothing from the edge of the box to make it 1-2. This is a boost for Durham who are now showing more urgency and belief.

Shildon, no longer looking in control, replace Clarkson who was prominent in the first half with McCabe; and when on 73 minutes full back Christensen breaks down the left and crosses, it is the sub who rises at the far post to head in firmly to restore the two goal lead.

Shildon now regain composure; Durham’s efforts since half time have taken their toll and they are visibly wilting in the heat. Shildon‘s other substitute Garvie however is fresh and is making good runs down either channel. One sees him through one on one with Winter, the Durham keeper, who stands firm and makes a great one handed save.

Durham’s hopes are fading, and when Pounder has to leave the field injured they have to see out the last few minutes with only 10 men. Shildon threaten to capitalise and right back Hunter shows great pace to storm down the right and put over a deep cross that Garvie does well to reach, but he is unable to control the volley. No matter as the game is safe and Shildon are able to see it out, worthy winners despite their wobble after half time.

The visit to New Ferens Park has been very pleasant with no issues with the plastic pitch that provides a natural bounce and true surface. Durham City now must look to the FA Vase for glory while Shildon, their early season momentum maintained, look good for couple of Cup rounds yet.