Durham Coast FC U13’s

The lads entered their first mid-level tournament today and were up against some top teams from across the northeast.

With 2 groups of 6, the tournament was formatted where the top 4 of each group went through to quarter finals.

In a tough group, the lads battled their way to 1 win, 3 draws and 1 defeat, which was enough to see us finish 4th in our group.

This meant we had to face the winner of the other group in the 1/4 final, a Brandon team that had walked their group, winning one 15 minute game 6-0!

We switched to 4 at the back to stifle them, and the gameplan worked to a tee as a great finish from Emmett from the edge of the box saw us win the game 1-0. Though it wasn’t without controversy as with the last kick Brandon had thought they’d scored, but Theo managed to hold the ball on the line, much to the protests of the Brandon coach that it was miles over.

Onto the semi final against a high level Foundation of light team playing a year up. We had faced these in the group stages and drew 1-1 so knew what to expect.

The lads were a lot more switched on in this game and completely nullified their attempts to play out with a good high press. It was this that won us the game as we have won the ball back high and it’s broken to Ollie. Just as he was bearing down on goal, their centre half nearly ripped his shirt off his back winning us a penalty. Ollie picked himself and stuck the pen into the roof of the net to win the game 1-0.

Onto the final against a Jarrow team that hadn’t lost a game all day, and had a centre half that I’m sure I saw drive himself home after the game!

The final was a tight affair with Jarrow going long and trying to utilise their height advantage at every opportunity. Midway through the second half, a toe punt from distance has caught us out given them a 1-0 lead. We decided to go for it in the last 5 and almost nicked a dramatic last minute equaliser when Alfie fired a half volley from distance that the keeper has tipped round the post in what was the last action of the game!

Gutted for the lads not to come away with a trophy for their efforts today, but so proud of how well they played against some top teams!

We are looking to add 1 more defensive minded player to our squad, please message the page if interested

Massive thank you to Believe Housing Limited for awarding us a grant of £1,000 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Sunderland RCA V Durham Coast match report.

After a few weeks without a game, tonight we made the journey over to Sunderland to face an RCA side who were promoted themselves last season from 2 divisions above us so we knew this would be a good test for the lads to see where they are at.

Straight from kick off RCA set about playing football from the back and almost cut us open in the first few minutes with a great through ball inside the left channel, luckily Bobby was switched on to see it out of play. After a cagey opening 10 minutes, we began to settle into the game and created the first real chance. Some lovely build up between Isaac and Alfie saw the latter set Emmett away down the right hand channel. His first touch took him a little wide but recovered well to fire an excellent strike across goal that the keeper has managed to push away for a corner.
We continued to push forward and went close on a couple of occasions with Emmett and Alfie striking efforts just over the bar.
Then we went not so close as Kellan decided to try a shot from the half way line!
With 5 minutes left of the half the lads took a deserved lead, a great through ball by Isaac set Emmett away, he has driven his shot off the outside of the post, luckily the rebound has dropped to Ollie, who’s first touch took him back towards the penalty spot and then he’s fired across goal into the top corner to make it 0-1!

Half time 0-1!

Second half we shuffled a couple of the lads around and immediately found ourselves on the back foot with RCA coming out of the traps quickly, drawing 2 excellent saves from Theo.
The opening 10 minutes of the half continued in the same vain, with RCA pushing forward only to be thwarted by our back 3, and if they broke through them then Theo was on hand to sweep everything up.
After struggling to get the ball down, we decided to utilise Theo’s kicking and Emmetts pace, and midway through the half we went close to adding a second. Emmett set away down the right channel has squared it to Ollie whose effort was blocked with Joseph firing the rebound wide.
Next it was Bobbys turn to break down the same side, this time firing an effort just over from a tight angle.
After going close twice in a few minutes, we finally added a second on our next attack. Some great build up starting from the back, saw Josh play the ball into Ruben, who has cut inside and squared it to Alfie, Alfie has played a great through ball to Ollie who from an almost impossible angle has squeezed the ball into the far corner to make it 0-2!
The final 10 minutes saw RCA go all out attack and an absolute thunderbolt from 20 yards saw them pull one back.
They continued to push, but another excellent save from Theo, tipping the ball over the bar from a close range effort helped us see out the game.

Full time 1-2!

⚽️⚽️Ollie

MOTM - Theo - shot stopping and decision making were top drawer. Add into the mix his distribution and ability to play out from the back as a sweeper was crucial to us getting a result. 👏🏻👏🏻

Durham Coast V Rutherford Match report,

After a few weeks without a game, we were back in action this morning against a Rutherford team that are 3 divisions higher than us currently.

With an injury hit, depleted squad, we were happy to get a team together to be able to get the game on, welcoming Isaac back for his first game after 3 months out with a fractured knee.

From the first whistle, you could see the lads were struggling to adapt to different positions and the opening exchanges saw Rutherford test Theo twice in quick succession from distance. In the opening 10 minutes we were under a lot of pressure and for it not for some great last ditch defending we could have found ourselves behind.
Midway through the half we had our first chance, with Josh L going close from a freekick just inside Rutherfords half that the keeper had saved well.
With a couple of the lads taking knocks , we had to make another change of system that took us some time to adjust to, and Rutherford capitalised on this by pinning us back.
Theo has made 3 top saves following a scramble in the box, and we thought we were going to get to half time on level terms.
Unfortunately we were caught with a ball over the top and Jen has chased the attacker back, but when he’s stepped in to make the tackle he has caught the strikers foot and Rutherford were awarded a penalty. Their striker stepped up and finished well into the corner to make it, 0-1!

Half time 0-1

Second half, we set up with a back 4 to get 2 up front, so we could hopefully offer more in attack and it nearly paid off in the opening minutes as Ollie has whipped a cross along the 6 yard box, unfortunately nobody was there to tap home.
We looked a lot more solid defensively and were offering a threat up front, going close again 10 minutes into the second half with an Alfie half volley special grazing the top of the crossbar.
The lads continued to push forward and went close again as Emmett has flashed the ball narrowly over the bar from distance.
As we started to push numbers forward in search of an equaliser, we were caught on the break and the Rutherford striker has finished well again past the onrushing Theo, 0-2!
The lads didn’t let their heads drop and another Emmett strike from the edge of the box has struck the outside of the post.

Full time 0-2!

MOTM - Theo - Busy morning for Theo, who’s shot stopping and distribution were top drawer. He was brave coming out and threw himself in front of everything.

Last night we held our first presentation evening as Durham Coast Fc at Acre Rigg Social Club

Think it’s fair to say that everyone had a great night, with loads of laughs and we were all kept entertained, especially by Isaac’s dancing.

On the night the main awards were;

Players player - Bobby Watkins
Parents player - Jensen Pearson
Most improved - Alfie Harrison
Coaches player - Emmett McKie

Well done lads, each of you fully deserved your awards. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Huge thanks needs to go to our sponsors for backing the team this last 12 months .@👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

LMP gardening services / rubbish removals
K Keep on Gifting
AJS Training & Assessment
Turnbull’s FC Clothing
CN Decorators
The Suzann Fisheries

Finally, a special thank you to Elsie from Acre Rigg Social Club for not only letting us host the night at the club, Elsie has also kindly donated a signed, framed Sunderland shirt to raffle, with all proceeds going to Durham Coast’s new kits.

So If anyone would like to buy a raffle ticket, we’ve got some available — or you call into Acre rigg social club, grab a pint, and get one from Elsie.

£1 a ticket, every penny goes to the club.

(This will be drawn as soon as all the tickets are sold)