| After a recent rocky run that has seen City gain just four points from the previous five games, tonight's win at home to Bromsgrove wasn't pretty but it was much appreciated by all at Meadow Park. |
| Last season saw us do a remarkable double over Bromsgrove. At the Victoria Ground we came from two goals down to to record an impressive 4-2 victory and a few months later we just edged it in a single goal win at home. This season fate has been against both teams in their pursuit to actually compete having already visited Worcestershire only for the lights to go out and an unfit pitch putting paid to attempts to play this game ten days ago. |
| The City line up had a familiar feel to the one that took on Yate at Lodge Road and included just two changes, both being at the back. Both the Thompson's, Chris and Marvin were left on the bench and replaced by Lee Jeffries and the Gaffer. As suspensions start to bite, Lee Smith was serving the second of his three match ban, Dave Wilkinson missed the game for totting up five yellow cards and new signing Adam Howarth was missing thanks to cautions picked up whilst at Bath City. |
| Bromsgrove didn't feature anyone with City links, although some familiar names included expererienced manager George Rooney, ex-Worcester goalkeeper Paul Wyatt and not really anyone else! |
| The away team won the toss and kicked off on a horrible rainswept night at Meadow Park, although it has to be said that the pitch looked in remarkable condition thanks to the effort of a band of supporters. |
| The last time we played in foul weather like tonight was away at Taunton, where a number of players just didn't seem interested. Even though the first half was a dire affair at least we can console ourselves with the comfort that most of them were happy to be there, unlike that night at Wordsworth Drive. |
| Chances were few and far between with a Keith Knight cross for City and Bromsgrove's Benbow coming even closer when his shot smacked against the post. The packed midfield of the opposition easily saw them boss that area but with just a lone striker their possesion didn't count for much. |
| City's recent change of shape, with three up front to accomodate loan signing Adie Mings has yet to gel in most fans opinion and it was part of the reason why City's attacks through the game were few and far between. |
| The only other chances of a forgettable first half came when Mings headed wide from a Cox cross and the lone Bromsgrove striker went to ground under a Matt Bath challenge, although if the forward was looking for a penalty he was out of luck. Although, Rover's number seven, Marcus Jackson was looking more and more dangerous as the game progressed. |
| City could've taken the lead on the stroke of half time as Neil Griffiths charged down a defenders clearance on the edge of the box, but Wyatt was in the right place to stop the heavily deflected ball going in. It remained goalless and remained dour. At least we had a fifteen minute break! |
| Within a few minutes of the restart City had been awarded a penalty. A cross from Tom Webb was well flicked out of the way of the advancing Griffiths and as the ball fell to Keith Knight on the edge of the area, he turned and crossed it back in in one movement and the ball struck the Bromsgrove man's hand. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Hosky slotted the ball home high to the keeper's left. |
| Within a minute Hosk's name was in the referee's notebook again, this time for a booking and not a goal. In an overzealous attempt to win the ball he clattered the defender and was rightly cautioned. |
| Bromsgrove should've got an equaliser when Steve Frost made a good run into the box with just the one defender for company but managed to mishit his shot wide of the far post. As the Midlanders came more into the game another impressive run from Jackson was halted by a late tackle by Neil Mustoe, who was booked. It was third time lucky really as the Green's winger had already skipped around two challenges! |
| City came close to doubling their lead when a Knight cross was deflected to goalscorer Hoskins and the big man's header bounced off the top of the crossbar to safety as the keeper backpeddled to try to reach it. |
| Adie Harris was replaced by Adam Hemming as City made their first change of the game and the first action from the young sub was a cross to the far post which caught the keeper out of position, although there was no-one there to knock the ball in. Another substitution followed as the other veteran winger, Keith Knight, was replaced by Cheltenham youngster Lee Davis. |
| Griff became the third City player into the book when he seemed to pull the Bromsgrove attacker back, although it looked a little harsh from the T-End. With the referee in generous mood the Rover's attacker tried his luck again as he went to ground, but again the man in black was having none of it. |
| With a few minutes remaining Tom Webb became the fourth City player to be sent off this season after he clattered a Bromsgrove player from behind. It seemed to be in retaliation for an earlier foul against the City man but the referee didn't hesitate in showing the red. What really annoyed me though was that his opponent got up and smacked Webb in the face in front of the official but went unpunished. |
| As the game ended Jimmy Cox wasted a couple of chances and Matt Bath pulled off a superb save at the far post to guarantee the points. Not a great game but I don't care if it isn't pretty as long as we get three points. |
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