Hockey: Durham’s on track for big league

Apr 29 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

DURHAM University’s hopes of playing in next season’s men’s England Hockey League remain on course after James Warburton inspired an eight-minute purple patch in a 5-3 play-off win over Midlands champions Harbourne.

In that time the forward scored twice to complete a hat-trick, created a goal for Andrew Baggs and hit the post.

Having lost their first game in Cardiff, Sunday’s Maiden Castle clash was a must-win match for the Northern League winners.

Harbourne matched Durham goal for goal before the interval, cancelling out strikes from Warburton and Scott Mattingly. Goalkeeper Jamie Cachia had no chance with either Harbourne goal, Michael Griffiths’ shot deflecting over his diving body, Sam Gooding’s looping over his head.

Durham missed a couple of short corner chances late in the opening period but the students’ pressure began to tell, with two visiting players in the sin-bin by half-time. Danny Barstow, an international umpire when not playing, joined them after the restart for complaining to the officials.

Harbourne were back to full strength when Durham restored their lead, Warburton slotting through the keeper’s legs on 44 minutes from Baggs’ pass. Warburton saw a shot turned on to the post before pulling the ball back for Baggs to tap in, then scoring from close-range himself.

Richie Jenkins won and took a penalty stroke but saw it saved, and Simon McCollum’s goal from a short corner two minutes from time left the sides joint third in the six-team round-robin tournament with identical records after two games.

The teams finish off with three games in Cannock on consecutive days of the Bank Holiday weekend.

After facing Harleston Magpies on Saturday, Durham finish with matches against Fareham and current EHL side Hull – both yet to win in the play-offs.