Durham FA Under 18s travelled to Staffordshire on Sunday 21st December 2019 in the FA County Youth Cup and returned victorious with a 5 – 0 victory.

On the Rushall Olympic FC 3G pitch Durham were in control from the start. It took 20 minutes for Durham to open the scoring when Taylor Richardson followed in when the Staffs goalkeeper could only parry a free kick from the edge of the box.
Durham added their second when Joshua Croft latched onto a long ball from Oscar Aldsworth to set Richardson away who made no mistake with a great strike.
Durham were buoyant and went in at half time 3 – 0 up when Richardson netted his hat trick converting a cross from Aldsworth.
Five minutes after the interval the victory was assured when Richardson completed a perfect afternoon by running on to a pass from Ben Milburn to give the home goalkeeper no chance from 20 yards.

Jimmy Thompson’s team completed the scoring when Stevie Johnson received the ball from a throw in rounded the full back and flicked the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.

Staffordshire pushed to try and get something from the game but when they breached the resilient Durham midfield and defence goalkeeper Jack Nicholson was on hand and made three first class saves.

Durham now have the long travel to Sussex for their quarter final tie on Sunday 19th January 2020.

SQUAD:  Jack Nicholson, David Webb, (Spennymoor Town), Oscar Aldsworth, Stevie Johnson (Darlington FC), Lewis Green, Taylor Richardson, Joshua Croft (Seaham Red Star), Stephen Black, Ben Errington (South Shields), Ben Milburn (Park View Academy), Ben Reay (Shildon AFC). Subs: Charlie Lamb, Mason Hurworth (Darlington FC), Bailey Mitchell (Park View Academy), Charlie Hindson (Spennymoor Town, Gideon Kanyando (Bishop Auckland FC).

MANAGEMENT TEAM: Jim Thompson (Manager), Ken Riley, Ian Raine (Coaches), Iain Longstaff (Goalkeeper Coach) and Martin Richards (Physio).