When this game was rearranged for tonight, it was always going to be my choice of game. Following Halifax on Saturday, I was back up here earlier than I thought on Sunday. It was still too late for Sunderland Ladies vs Durham Women, but I could have done a 2pm kick-off if I wanted. I looked at it and thought about it, but I had to do the admin stuff to send to the league etc from Easington’s game on Friday, do the report from the Easington game for both my blog and Easington’s website, do the write up on here from the Halifax game, and finish off the programme for this game. Going to a game would have given me more work and less time, so I didn’t bother. It’s great to see the lights up at Horden Welfare Park. They can now host midweek games, and they’re going to come relatively quickly with another next Tuesday and a third in a few weeks against Chester-le-Street. Shotton are another local club whose floodlights are now sorted, and they’ll be used for the first time when they host West Auckland Tunns on Friday night. Not only is football thriving on the field in East Durham, but big things are happening off the pitch too. Tonight’s game was my 60th of the season and I’m yet to see a goalless draw. It’s 91 games now since I was last at a 0-0 (Newcastle Blue Star vs Burradon & New Fordley between Christmas and New Year).

Match report:

Marras hit Durham for eight

Horden Community Welfare emphatically got back to winning ways with an 8-1 win at home to Durham City on Tuesday night.

In the first game played under the new floodlights at the Welfare Park, Jack Maskell scored a hat-trick for Horden, while Martin Fowler, Neil Fannan, Barney Dobinson, John Bowes and David Doughty where also on the scoresheet.

James Hudspeth scored Durham’s goal, and it was actually their first goal away from home this season.

Upon kick-off, it was Durham creating the early chances. Alfie Snow went close when his good effort darted narrowly wide in the third minute, and Snow had another chance when played through on goal in the fifth minute, but again, his shot went wide.

Horden’s first chance came when Ewan Simpson’s long range effort was saved in the seventh minute.

Bowes then went close for Horden, before Hudspeth fired wide for Durham.

At this point, it was competitive.

However, in the 12th minute, Horden broke the deadlock, and from that point, the result was never in doubt. The referee played an advantage after a late challenge in the middle, and Horden worked it forward. It was eventually played to Fowler on the edge of the penalty area, and his driven effort wriggled through the ‘keeper and into the net.

Four minutes later, it was 2-0. A sustained spell of pressure eventually led to a cross picking out Maskell eight yards out, and he did well to take the ball under his control before finishing well.

A decent save from Niall Frampton denied Horden of a third in the 22nd minute, but a third was soon to follow. In the 25th minute, a deep cross found the stretching Bowes at the back post, and he headed it up in the air to keep the attack alive. Numerous chances to clear weren’t taken, and it eventually dropped to Maskell whose clinical finish made it 3-0.

Dobinson then went close for Horden after Kieran Campbell’s good work, before Maskell had an effort crucially blocked as he searched for his hat-trick.

Good individual work by Fannan created a chance for himself shortly before the break, but his shot was cleared off the line.

Reed Molloy and Snow both tried their luck for Durham not too long before the break, but they were half chances at best. Snow’s effort was well over, and Molloy’s shot forced an easy save from Paul Griffith.

In the first minute of added time, Horden scored their fourth. Olly Hotchkiss whipped a cross into the penalty area, and Maskell rose highest to head home for his hat-trick.

Following the break, Marc Ellison had an early opportunity for Horden, and following a slight quiet spell, Horden scored their fifth in the 59th minute. Fowler’s lovely ball into the area picked out Fannan, and he allowed the ball to bounce before his first touch smashed it into the bottom corner with a well taken finish.

Three minutes later, it was six as Dobinson got in on the act. A ball through the middle spilt Durham open, and it played Dobinson in on goal. Barney isn’t known for scoring all too many, but he slotted this one away nicely to make it six.

In the 65th minute, Durham should have scored. An array of errors from Horden allowed Molloy to pick up the ball out wide for Durham, and his cross picked out substitute Jovan Baganja at the back post. Baganja had only been on the pitch 90 seconds when given the opportunity, and it looked easier to score than miss, but he somehow managed to put it over the crossbar.

Doughty and Jak Colledge were introduced to the game for Horden in the 65th minute, but Colledge’s appearance didn’t last long as he was forced off injured just three minutes later. With no subs left, Horden were forced to play with 10 men.

Dobinson – looking for his brace – headed wide in the 76th minute, before in the 79th minute, Durham pulled a goal back. Molloy beat the offside trap to burst forward, and his cut back picked out Hudspeth who fired home Durham’s first away goal (and fourth goal overall) of the season.

Five minutes later, Horden regained their six goal cushion. Good work from Campbell on the byline allowed him to knock the ball across the face of goal, and skipper Bowes was there to bundle the ball into the net.

There was still time for Doughty to get on the scoresheet. In the 90th minute, five minutes after he had forced a save from Frampton, Doughty’s great feet allowed him to trickle through three defenders in the penalty area, and his finish matched his build up as he picked out the bottom corner.

That proved to be that, and Horden’s first game under the new floodlights proved to be a successful one.

Full-time: Horden Community Welfare 8-1 Durham City

Next up for me is Durham Women vs Manchester United Women on Thursday night.

Horden Community Welfare: Griffith, Bowes (c), Campbell, Hodgson, Simpson, Ellison, Fannan, Fowler (Colledge, 65′), Maskell (Doughty, 65′), Hotchkiss (Broom, 46′), Dobinson

Unused subs: Pickering, Hubbard

Durham City: Frampton, Luke Walton (c), Hudspeth, Potts, Sherwood, Bartle, Snow, Heap (Megson, 78′), Molloy, Bennett (Forster, 25′), McGough (Baganja, 63′)

Unused subs: Riley Walton, Ridsdale

Admission: £5 adults, £2 concessions

Programme: £1.50

Attendance: 158

Referee: Thomas James

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