It was a return to cup action for Ferryhill this week as they faced Durham United Youth in the Durham Trophy at the Bobby Robson Centre in Ushaw Moor, writes Chris Orton. Athletic were unlucky not to win in the league in midweek, coming away from the Ford Quarry Complex with a 2-2 draw against Sunderland West End, and hoped to take their impressive early season form into another cup competition.
Despite running out 6-2 winners and progressing to the next round of the cup, Ferryhill laboured their way to victory over Durham United Youth, creating nine clear chances in the first half that could have led to goals but didn’t.
Against a very young opposition, Athletic had much of the play throughout but found Durham difficult to break down at times with the first chance going to the home team, who fired over the bar after eight minutes. Two minutes later, however, Michael Hogg put Ferryhill ahead when he scored with an easy tap-in which the keeper couldn’t stop.
Shortly after this he went on to chip the keeper, his effort hitting the bar. Durham got an equaliser after a defensive lapse from the away side, before Michael Hull fired wide after good running from Alex Quinn down the wing. Ferryhill had all of the ball but just couldn’t make the most of their chances: Kieron Richardson fired at the keeper, Matthew Agar then lobbed him before Athletic finally came up trumps when Kyle Quinn turned the ball into the net from a corner. Hogg fired wide with five minutes of the half to go before Ellis Hare went on to make it 3-1 with an easy tap-in.
Athletic came out more determined for the second half, with Hare getting his second after being played in by Alex Quinn. Hull had another shot saved before Durham notched up a second goal. Will Houlahan injected some pace when he made his return to Athletic from the bench and drove forward regularly. Joel Gibson also came on and gave an impressive performance, winning header after header. An own goal gave Ferryhill their fifth after a shot from Richardson, with the game entering the final stages. Harley Cairns made some good runs during this period and Richardson shot wide before scoring an excellent headed goal from an Ellis Hare cross. Hare had the final chance of the game when his effort was saved by the keeper.
This was far from a classic performance, but at the end of the day the team did the job and got a positive result. Next week sees another cup game, with Athletic taking on Hartlepool Pools Youth in the first round of the Shipowner’s Charity Cup at High Tunstall College of Science in Hartlepool. Be there for a 2pm kick-off.
Chris Orton
Writing regular Ferryhill Athletic match reports.
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
