Durham City 4-1 Marske United

On a run of five games in all competitions without a win, Durham City welcomed Marske United to New Ferens Park on Tuesday, with the visitors also looking to pick themselves up after a 5-0 reverse at Whitley Bay last time out.

With a number players out missing, City named a similarly threadbare squad to the one that battled hard for a point at Sunderland RCA on Saturday. Marske made five changes to the side that shipped five at Hillheads Park, with Dean, Butterworth, Matthewman, Alexander and Stewart all returning to the starting eleven.

Marske's last visit to New Ferens Park resulted in a one-nil win for the Seasiders who stole the points late on against the run of play. This time out they adopted a completely different game-plan, taking full control of the game in the opening period against a City side that couldn't get going. However, late on Monday night the home side secured the services of Carlisle United youngster Chris Brass on a temporary work experience placement and it was Brass, on his debut, that kept Durham in it early on, making two fine saves to deny the visitors an opening goal. The first of these was the best; beating away a header from a long throw that was causing City some real problems.

It took twenty five minutes for Durham to stamp any authority on the game, with Ellison in particular slowly becoming more influential spearheading a central midfield three also including Hotchkiss and Hindmarch. However, it was to be the transfer-listed Scott Fenwick that produced the home side's much needed opening goal. The somewhat controversial striker picked the ball up on the left wing and drove for goal, before making space for himself and firing into the near bottom corner. A goal worthy of higher league football perhaps, but the services of the front-man are something that City cannot lose.

It was to trigger a bizarre twelve minutes in which City scored another three, effectively killing the match as a contest. Denver Morris was next to find the back of the net, finishing into an open goal after a poor headed clearance from Dean in the Marske goal. The winger added his second just minutes later as a cross-cum-shot sailed into the far corner, leaving the vocal Dean speechless, for once. Man of the match Craig Ellison added the fourth sixty seconds later; Hotchkiss' deep free kick was headed back across goal by Turnbull, leaving Ellison to apply a simple finish.

Marske were somewhat unlucky to be 4-0 down at half time and did pull a goal back five minutes into the second half. A combination of Brass and Jack Walker denied a first shot on goal, but MacDonald was first to react and thumped the rebound beyond the debutant. It was no less than they deserved.

However, had it not been for Dean, it could have been worse for Marske as the stopper made a number of good saves following their consolation goal to keep the score-line down. The first was a routine block at his near post, but the second belonged at St James' Park as only a spectacular finger tip reaction save denied a comical own goal.

The game faded away into a dull second half of "nearly moments" that summed up Marske's day in front of goal. A poor touch by O'Sullivan allowed Brass to smother well before the visitors had a huge penalty shout turned down for handball. Two long-distance efforts flew harmlessly over the City cross-bar before the goal was breached again. Unfortunately for the Seasiders, hopes of a comeback were quelled by the linesman's flag.

Durham ended the stronger as a great chance was wasted by the fantastic Ellison who pulled his shot wide, before our very own Max Stoker flicked a header beyond the far post. It was to be the last action of a game that was effectively over after thirty five minutes, with the visitors left ruing what might have been. As for the Citizens, it was a much needed win that will hopefully ensure the lads go into Saturday's game full of confidence. Top of the league Shildon are the visitors; let's have 'em City!