Nightmare continues for sorry Durham; UNIBOND PREMIER.

BELEAGUERED Durham City are heading for a nightmare season after they conceded eight goals in their UniBond League Premier Division basement battle at Burscough.

City's youngsters, thrown in at the deep end after the loss of virtually the entire squad, are clearly out of their depth in a highly competitive league.

Durham have conceded a massive 30 goals from their opening six games and have not got close to claiming their first point.

It is an embarrassing situation for a proud club and also for the UniBond League, who will have to carry a lame duck for a full season.

Manager Lee Collings was absent from the 8-0 rout in Lancashire, with former Sunderland star Dickie Ord in charge of a side that were lambs to the slaughter. Goalkeeper Craig Turns, Dan Newby and Ian Davison were also notable absentees, leaving Chris Copeland as the only experienced player in a Durham City shirt.

The goal avalanche began as early as the sixth minute when David Roberts headed home at the back post, and then Darren Byfield made it two on the halfhour. City's young guns then conceded two goals in the last two minutes of the half, a closerange shot from Darren Byers and another from Matt Kay on the line.

There was more punishment after the break, with teenage keeper Reece Jobling allowing Dominic Merella's 25-yard shot to find the net and then Carl O'Donnell scored from 12 yards.

Burscough added two more in the last five minutes through Johnny Taylor and O'Donnell to leave Durham facing a long and hard winter.

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