King’s Lynn 11, Durham City 0

Nov 9 2009 by Steve Brown, The Journal

NOT even the coupons came in for Durham City on Saturday.

The Esh Group Stadium outfit have suffered blow after blow this season, yet remain unbowed. Losing 11-0 at Kings Lynn, however, was one step beyond.

Owen Storey, Kiwesi Appiah (three), Carl Palmer, Ben Muirhead, Anthony Robinson (three) and Justin Rowe (two) got the goals and for the first time, manager Lee Collings and his young side were left deflated. And not just because their accumulators failed.

“The lads were a bit subdued afterwards, they were really disappointed,” Collings said. “To put things in perspective, three of Kings Lynn’s front four were professionals, on loan from West Ham and Peterborough. We had three 16-year-olds on the bench. It was literally men against boys.

“We were out-battled. We’ve been beaten before but this was the first time we haven’t matched the opposition in some way. We’d prepared so well, the hotel stay was superb and the lads were buzzing. We had breakfast together, went for a walk in the town centre and put a few bets on. Nothing came in mind, everyone’s coupon went down!

“It was hard going and the lads were outclassed but a thousand people clapped them off at the end.”

Such moments maintain Collings’ resolve, and while he has never considered quitting, he needs help.

“We’re running out of sticky plasters,” he said. “The lads shrug things off but this was the most subdued I’ve ever seen them. They were gutted, distraught.

“We need reinforcements, loans, whatever. We can’t keep going away from home with the bare minimum and 16-year-olds on the bench.

“We need to approach things from a different angle and get people in who want a game for a UniBond Premier League club.”

DURHAM CITY: O’Brien, Mounter, Wren, Stephenson, Stoker, Ayers (Winter), Watson (Potts), Graham, Ayre (James), Cutts, Shaw.