Match Preview - Durham City AFC v Silksworth CW

Match Preview vs. Silksworth Colliery Welfare

by Justin Smart

As we look ahead to Saturday’s match at home to Silksworth Colliery Welfare, Durham City AFC’s very own Justin Smart caught up with manager Wayne Gredziak to give his thoughts on the match. The Citizens fought very hard against a strong Farringdon Detached last week. However,Farringdon’s firepower up front proved too much for the new-look Durham City AFC team, with the visitors ending triumphant in a 5-1 victory.

Can the Lads overturn our bad run of results against “Silky”? Here are our manager’s thoughts regarding the task at hand against a second side from Sunderland at The Grovein as many weeks:

Justin Smart: How are the lads feeling after the first home game since DCAFC were reintroduced into the League?

Wayne Gredziak: There is currently a buzz about the changing rooms and the players we have in the current squad can see what myself, Brian, John, and Kyle are trying to achieve. Like I’ve always said, Rome wasn’t built in a day but the progress after two games is there for all to see.

JS: Goalkeepers Dean Hudson and Liam Peverley were both forced out of last week's game due to injury and illness, are we likely to see either between the sticks this time around?

WG: Dean Hudson has damaged his hamstring in training so will be missing again this Saturday. He is close to being fully fit but we aren’t going to risk him this Saturday.Liam Peverley had this flu that has been going round and was bed-ridden for 4 days last week, but he has fully recovered and back in the squad this Saturday.

JS: Are there any fresh injury concerns?

WG: Young 16-year-old defender Preston Gredziak, who has made an excellent start to his transition into men’s football he has been outstanding his first two league games, rolled his ankle on Wednesday. It seems to be finebut we will make sure with a fitness test. Also, we will be conducting a fitness test with Towson Ballan, who returns from a knee injury that kept out of last week’s game.

JS: After Farringdon's visit last week, more opposition from Sunderland arrive at The Grove in the shape of SilksworthColliery Welfare, what are your expectations going into the match?

WG: Silksworth Colliery Welfare FC sit 9th in the League and have always been a good footballing side. They have been in a bit of mixed form as of late but I am hoping that if we compete like we have been doing lately, I believe that the team that works the hardest can grind out unexpected results in football, which I am hoping this is the case.

JS: We had a friendly against Durham County U18s postponed earlier this week, is that game rescheduled? If so, what timeframe are we looking at to be playing that game?

WG: Yes, I have a good relationship with the manager of the Durham FA U18s and was asked if we would like to participate in a friendly on Thursday. We decided we didn’t want to wreck the Leyburn Grove pitch, so the decision was taken to postpone it with the terrible weather we have had recently. This will give our game on Saturday every chance of being on, even though more bad weather is expected on the day. However, we are looking to replay that this Thursday on a 4G pitch and it will give us chance to look at fringe players and trialists that we haven’t had chance to look at yet, who are keen to join the club.

JS: Can we expect another cracker from Curtis Layfield?

WG: It was brilliant to finally get Curtis signed on for Durham City AFC and in the squad Saturday against Farringdon and when he came on I thought like you he did extremely well. His work rate was brilliant but I don’t want to single out players because I thought that the whole 16-man squad were exceptional. I think we just ran out of steam and Farringdon’s fitness showed but we have been working extremely hard this week on that part of the game with the players and this is going to continue.

JS: What news is there on the signings front? Any exciting developments going on behind the scenes?

WG: We are always looking to strengthen the squad with players for key areas, having competition for places and we are looking to make the squad stronger. This week alone we have added 3 new faces. Jordon Southern who was Farringdon’s leading goalscorer and was at Easington Colliery in the Northern League. Another one from Farringdon we have signed is Alex Gudgeon, a full-back who has played for them many times this season but found himself not in their squad of late. Also, we have signed another ‘keeper in Lewis Rigg to add competition in that area with that recent hamstring injury to Dean, it will be good for all 3 of them to push each other to start.

JS: Do you have a message for our amazing, loyal fans who support us through thick and thin?

WG: Finally, I want to say thank you to all the supporters who turned up Saturday to watch the game. While I appreciate the result on paper looked similar to previous ones, I hope the supporters who were there saw some fine tuning. The results will start to come and hopefully our fantastic fans continue to come back this Saturday and throughout the season, as we are now self-funding and all the supporters who are turning up and watching are helping Durham City AFC continue playing. Thank you, Citizens!

Weather permitting, we'll see you there at Leyburn Grove in Houghton-le-Spring, kick-off is at 2pm. Inside the Citizen Café, you will find a selection of food and refreshments. Come on The Citizens!