Salford City 3, Durham City 0

Oct 19 2009 by Steve Brown, The Journal

IT seems like everything is going against Durham City this season. Still though, they emerge against all odds, with credit.

Bottom and pointless of a UniBond Premier League they had hoped to compete strongly in following back-to-back promotions, they are now out of the FA Trophy after losing 3-0 at Salford City.

Without cash to splash, Durham are made up of youngsters from a local college with the odd experienced campaigner thrown in.

Without six of their squad, they were reduced to 12 (a bare 11 plus substitute goalkeeper), forcing not so much a tactical rethink as a needs-must overhaul.

A midfielder played right-back, the right-back in the centre of defence, while a striker was fielded wide right. When Rufus Ayres suffered a dead leg, the stand-in goalkeeper had to play up front.

So forgive Durham defeat. They held out well at the outset, but fell behind to Phil Howard’s header before half-time.

Thereafter, they were resolute again, and succumbed only in the final 20 minutes when Craig Mahon made it 2-0 before Howard added a third.

Durham did, however, as manager Lee Collings testified, do themselves proud.

He said: “Given what we had available and what we were up against the lads did well. They are a credit to themselves and I am really proud of them.”