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BUCS GW11: Flying Tackles, Headers Galore, and Another 9 Points!

gompertzg

Wednesday 22nd January 2025


Having kicked-off 2025 with a couple of wins in Wearside, the club was keen to keep up that form in the new year and make it three wins in BUCS: You can't fault the ambition...


The 1s made the fairly lengthy journey to Lancashire where they took on Edge Hill, whilst the 2s and 3s were both on home (artificial) turf, taking on Manchester and Northumbria respectively.


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Edge Hill vs Durham (1s): 14:00 (a)


Written by Fred Walton



The 1s celebrate after a big win away in Lancashire
The 1s celebrate after a big win away in Lancashire


After two good home victories in the Wearside League in the past week, we were ready for our first BUCS fixture after the Christmas break. We faced off against Edge Hill and we went into the game hoping for a similar competitive encounter like the one at MC earlier in the season.


After an early rise and a long bus journey down to Liverpool, we arrived at the Leisure Centre sports facility at the University. We were greeted by a much nicer changing room than we have been used to so far this year, however, the niceties were short-lived.


As a couple of us walked up the hill in search of the pitch, we were shocked to see what looked like a u-15 grass pitch, polar opposite of the big 4g pitch we have at MC. My problem was not the pitch itself, but instead when I came around the bend to the pitch, my expression dropped when the lack of a subs bench became apparent to me.


The game started with a flat ball and a messy first couple of encounters, but the gulf in quality was clear to see right from the start. A floury of early corners led to a goal from captain Mez. My bingo card for the game was satisfied early on with a shot from halfway from Gwill, and Alfs chilling off on the floor after a hard challenge.


After a scare when Archer dropped the ball in our six-yard box, the game became a bit scrappy, with tackles starting to fly in and some more close chances for us with Alf and Gwilll flashing a couple past the post.


The second goal came soon enough though, Gwilll sliding it through for Alfs who cooly finished past the keeper. This wrapped up a dominant first half, with us going into the half time break disappointed not to be up by more goals.


Half-Time: Edge Hill 0 - 2 Durham (1s)





The second half started much quicker than the first. Mez played a wonderfully “purposeful” pass through to Alf who had beaten the offside trap. All on his own, he rounded the keeper and put it in the open net. 3-0.


Soon after, the goals began to pile in. Rory Edwards received the ball on the turn on the edge of the box and fired home to make it 4-0.


From the kick-off, we won the ball through Pitsi, who carried it forward and after a deflection on the cross, Alfs was there to tuck away his 3rd of the game. Only a few minutes passed before Chris Wild tapped in a ball bouncing around in the box from a corner, a man becoming quite the goal scorer. 6-0.


Like Déjà vu, we won the ball back early from the Kick off and attacked right away. Ollie played in Rory who has a low-driven shot saved but parried straight into the path of Phil, who tapped it in to make it 7-0.

 

By this point Edge Hill seemed fed up, the chance of getting anything out of the game had gone, and so on came their reinforcements. Many of them seemed to have the task of chopping as many of us as possible. Flying challenges on Rory and others resulted in me fearing for my life with the prospect of coming on the pitch.


7-0 up yet Gwill was still yet to score. He was parading round the pitch in a grump, flying in late into challenges, and shoving anyone in his way. Anyone level-headed could see this was not going to end well so off he came, resulting in me coming on for the final 5 minutes.


The game finished 7-0, a dominant display with the highlight of the trip coming on the way back as we stopped off at the services.


A split decision for Player of the Match between Zach Alfalahi for his goals, and go-go-gadget Alex Dinan


Full-Time: Edge Hill 0 - 7 Durham (1s)


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Player(s) of the Match: Zach Alfalahi and Alex Dinan


Line-Up: Harry Archer; Chris Wild; Freddie Merrett (c); Ellis Challinor; George Pitsillides; Ollie England; Alex Dinan; Rory Edwards; Zach Alfalahi; Phil Kay; Fin Gwillim


Substitutes: Patrick Dixon; Jonah Blake; Sam Benoist; Charlie Bramwell; Fred Walton


***


Durham (2s) vs Manchester: 15:00 (h)


Written by Oscar Cooke



The 2s celebrate as they stay top of the table
The 2s celebrate as they stay top of the table


The lads arrived at MC in time to watch an eye-catching performance from the 3s, in which 3 well-worked goals saw them to a comfortable 3-0 victory.


We headed into the changing room inspired, where Caine kindly handed out the kit after “self-nominating” to do so earlier in the week. After a warmup and some questionable words of inspiration from Nicolai, we headed out onto the pitch and the game got underway. The starting XI was somewhat makeshift, with Nicolai filling in at CB and myself as the defensive midfielder, but we were confident nonetheless.  


The game started with Manchester applying early pressure, with Marko being called into action early on with a crucial save to keep the game 0-0. The early pressure was, however, cancelled out by a goal by Tom Boothroyd after he turned the ball in after a scramble in the box.


Boothroyd continued his fine form in front of goal 10 minutes later when he caught onto a loose ball, rounded the goalkeeper, and put it into the empty net from a tight angle.


This allowed us to fully settle into the game, dominating more of the ball and applying pressure to the Manchester goal. However, the warning signs remained from the opposition with Manchester's attackers acting as a constant goal threat with the crossbar coming to our rescue towards the end of the first half.


After some good counter pressing in the middle of the park, followed by a switch of play, the ball found its way out to the right-hand side with Freddy Alcock winding up to shoot. With shouts of “shoot” or possibly “don’t shoot”, in true Trent Alexander Arnold fashion, he rifled the ball off the bar and into the back of the net giving us a 3-0 lead heading into half time.


Half-Time: Durham (2s) 3 - 0 Manchester





The second half started in similar fashion to the first with Manchester threatening to score and Marko being called into another crucial save to preserve our 3-0 lead. We survived the early second half scare and grew back into the game, limiting Manchester to few chances.


They made their attacking changes to try and get something from the game, leaving them vulnerable to counter attacks on the turnover. This was made evident when a long ball in behind found Caine at the back post who calmly slotted home but, to his disappointment, the goal was chalked off for offside. A harsh call by the referee and no doubt Caine has the footage ready on hand to dispute his decision.


More resolute defending ensured we held onto our clean sheet and what seemed like an endless amount of added time, the referee blew his whistle. The win put us 9 points clear at the top of the table, another step in the right direction for promotion, with Tom Boothroyd voted man of the match, with an honourable mention to Marko. 


Full-Time: Durham (2s) 3 - 0 Manchester


***


Player of the Match: Tom Boothroyd


Line-Up: Marko Porozovs; Freddy Alcock; Oli Williams; Nicolai Lews; Ryan Cook; Oscar Cooke; Zane Liles; Owen Birkett; Oscar Schuller; Ben Pearson; Tom Boothroyd


Substitutes: Florian de Kort; Caine McCartney; Ethan Woodcock; Ben Crew


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Durham (3s) vs Northumbria: 13:00 (h)


Written by Alex Wilkinson


After a well needed rest over the Christmas break, the boys were raring to go for the first game back. After coming out victorious from our last game against Northumbria just before the break, we knew the visitors would be well up for this fixture. Following a motivational team talk and a well-put-together warm up by Nicolai the boys were well underway on this chilly Wednesday afternoon.


Northumbria Kicked off. Even from the first minute it was apparent which side wanted it more. With Durham deciding to keep a high press coordinated by Nicolai, we looked sharp, clearly unaffected by the previous months Christmas indulgences.


In possession, the football was fluid with the likes of Jamie and Rory demonstrating real arial presence, as well as composure, to slow the game down and string passes through to the midfield and attack.


Opportunities kept coming for us. With all the momentum on our side, it wasn’t long until our chance came. A wonderfully whipped ball at the back post, which was cleverly cut back by Loosemore’s head, falling to me, eagerly waiting in the box for a header on goal. 1-0 Durham.


The lads saw out the half with a strong grasp on the game giving the likes of Checketts, Raisborough and Webb-wood freedom to dominate the middle of the park.


Half-Time: Durham (3s) 1 - 0 Northumbria





After a few pointers in the changing room, the lads began the half with largely the same tactics except a few changes on pressing which I believe ultimately made us so strong that day.


Will Kitching and Sacha Lee, proving to never tire, continued to toy with the frustrated Northumbria defence, attacking with pace and precision.


They notably orchestrated the best-looking play of the game involving a link up with the midfield with three perfectly executed flicks. The last of which fell into Kitchings path and he was fouled on the edge of the box.


However, it wasn’t long until Durham Struck again. A brilliant bit of play on the left by Sacha standing his man up and slotting it to Maxwell across the byline who expertly timed a dangerous ball into the six-yard box for Checketts to finish. 2-0 Durham.


Fresh legs were provided from the bench with the likes of Tioulu, Jowett, Katsande and, the debutant, Harry Smith all coming on and having a clear impact in controlling the game as well as injecting some energy into the squad as the game drew near to a close.


To seal the game off, a beautiful corner was whipped in by Loosemore straight onto the dome of Rory who absolutely rifled it into the corner. What a way to mark your debut.


The game ended 3-0. All the lads chuffed to start the new term with a well-deserved win, now set their eyes on watching the 2’s and hopefully completing all 9 points that day which, was indeed, completed.


Full-Time: Durham (3s) 3 - 0 Northumbria


***


Player of the Match: Rory O’Hare – What a debut. Showed maturity and strength at the back as well as bagging a cheeky goal.


Line-Up: Jasper Gourley; Maxwell Sanni; Rory O’Hare; Jamie Wood; James Webb-Wood; Harry Loosemore; Callum Raisborough; Sam Checketts; Sacha Lee; Alex Wilkinson; Will Kitching.


Substitutes: Tioulu Asagba; Harry Smith; Isaac Jowett; Dan Katsande; Jamie Green.


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