Durham City 2 Bamber Bridge 1
Jan 4 2011 by Malcolm Pratt
Evo-Stik First Division North
JOINT managers Lee Collings and former Sunderland defender Dickie Ord will be pleased with their side’s points haul from the two New Year holiday fixtures.
A creditable draw at Garforth Town on Saturday was followed by victory over Bamber Bridge, who started the day five points and as many places ahead of the Citizens in the Evo-Stik Division One North.
In the early stages both sides were restricted to efforts from distance and it was one such attempt which eventually gave City the lead.
It was the result of superb opportunism by Stephen Thompson, who saw visiting goalkeeper Lee Dovey off his line and, from just inside the Bamber Bridge half, beat the keeper with a ball which bounced once before finding the net.
Five minutes later another excellent effort saw Durham double their advantage. David Dowson split the Bridge defence with a superb ball which was crashed into the net by Josh Home-Jackson.
The visitors reduced the deficit almost immediately as Chris Marlon fired past goalkeeper Lewis Graham, who then denied Richard Allen an equaliser.
Alistair Waddecar missed a golden opportunity for the visitors and Allen then failed to find the target on three occasions as City were pushed on the back foot.
A counter-attack relieved the pressure when Jackson shot just wide.
He then failed to make the best use of a chance created by Thompson but City comfortably held on and were well worth the points.
DURHAM CITY: L Graham, Ayre, Ayers, Stephenson, Wilkinson, Arjun Purewal, Jackson (C Winter), E Graham, Dowson, Thompson (Pounder), Amar Purewal.
BAMBER BRIDGE: Dovey, Boyer, Crowder, Atherton, White, Beattie, Waddecar (Mullen), Galliers, Taylor (Mayers), Allen, Marlon.
Ref: Mr G Liddle. Att: 133.
