| Bromsgrove away, take two. |
| The original game, which had taken place in October but only lasted the length of the first half before the lights went out was finally replayed after one or two cancellations. Ironically, the game that was cut short against Yate while City was leading saw us lose the rematch and fortune smiled on us as it allowed us to turn a defict from the Bromsgrove game into a victory! |
| It wasn't such a cold night for the City faithful that made the short drive up the M5 to the Victoria Ground to get behind the team. It's a big old ground with a fair amount of shelter to keep the average fan and elements apart whether you choose the big shed at the top of the hill or the big but small main stand. |
| City were down to the bare bones as Keith Knight was away on buisness and Adam Howarth, now recovered from his flu bug, was playing in a representative match. The only change from Saturday's stroll at Shepshed was Adie Harris in at left wing back for the aforementioned Knight. The bench consisted of Adam Hemming, Karl Bayliss and Dan Avery. |
| The Greens, seemingly with knives aimed at manager George Rooney are suffereing something of a stuttering conclusion to their League campaign. The defeat sees them sitting in seventh place, the last promotion spot after the last few games have ended the good run that saw Rooney net the February Manager of the Month award. |
| Obviously bouyed by their good result on Saturday City took the early intiative and should've been in front in the third minute when Lee Smith was brought down in the area. Andy Hoskins placed the ball on the spot and went for pace but must've leaned back a little as his kick cleared the crossbar and almost brought the roof of the ancient stand down. |
| We were then treated to the sickening sound of the home fans cheering the missed penalty when we should've been celebrating a goal. It could've been worse as a good break saw them attack with City stretched across the back but they wasted their chance to shoot. |
| Neil Mustoe exposed the goalkeeper's frailties when after his original shot rebounded to him, he sent in a wicked drive which the keeper couldn't hold and almost went under him and in. Muzzie has come in for a fair amount of criticism lately but it has to be said that he was superb at Shepshed and even better at Bromsgrove. |
| Another half chance came at the bottom of the hill when a Bromsgrove corner wasn't properly cleared and an angled half volley flew wide of Matt Bath's near post. In reply a deep free kick found Neil Griffiths at the far post and his header across the face of goal just evaded Jimmy Cox's swinging leg. |
| Chances were getting few and far between now and it was left for Tom Webb to toe a shot wide after good work down the left from Jimmy and Hosk. Mustoe did more for his star man performance when he blocked a goalbound header after a defensive lapse saw the ball crossed back in when it should've been cleared. |
| The game was taking on a similar feel to the aborted one earlier in the season. At that time City had looked assured, had lots of possession and done everything bar score. Then Bromsgrove did and we were left with a sick feeling in our stomachs. Just as it seemed the game was following the same pattern, Hosky bucked the trend by giving City the lead when he popped up unmarked at the far post to convert Lee Smith's fine cross. |
| It's the third time this season that Andy Hoskins has scored in four consecutive games. Both this time and the purple patch at the end of January and start of February saw him net at a rate of a goal a game, but the purple patch mainly in August yielded nine goals in four games for the City striker. |
| The Greens response was a shot from well outside the area that flew comfortably wide, something that Burnsy would be happy to let them do all night. We got closer with the last kick of the half when Jimmy was given plenty of room on the edge of the box, but with a clear sight of goal scuffed a shot straight at the keeper. |
| It could've been three, it should've been two but we were all happy that City had at least taken a single goal lead into the break. And the floodlights stayed on! |
| George Rooney's half time team talk seemed to do the trick as the home team attacked with verve uphill and with the wind behind them as they began the second period. Matt Bath had to be on his toes as he dived low to his right to touch a shot wide but it was City who should've added to their tally when a corner fell to the unmarked Jimmy Cox and he miskicked the ball wide. |
| Paul Wyatt in the Bromsgrove goal almost dropped a low shot from Tom Webb as Dave Wilkinson closed in and minutes later when a deflected clearance fell to Cox, the keeper seemed to hurt his hand as he held onto the City striker's drive. |
| A City cross fell dangerously in the box and had to be put out for a corner. Neil Mustoe sent in an inviting set piece which the other Neil, City Captain Griffiths met with a nice header which the keeper touched over the bar, however the referee saw fit to award a goal kick when it should've been another corner. |
| Jimmy Cox was fed a ball that he loves and he ran on, round the defender and drilled a shot at the keeper. The ball spun away around the area and seemed to avoid at least two City players who'd made up the ground and was cleared to safety. |
| City were happy to sit back and soak up the pressure now and hit Rovers on the break. Adie Harris was put clear and with Lee Smith and Tom Webb unmarked in the middle, the diminutive winger picked out the latter who delayed his shot long enough for the defender to get in a good block. It was to be the forty year old's last action as he was replaced by Adam Hemming for the final fifteen minutes. |
| More action on the break followed as another Cox run found Lee Smith who sent in an angled drive which the keeper would've felt, bad hand or no bad hand. It became desperate for Bromsgrove now as they made a substitution and started to shoot from anywhere. |
| Jimmy Cox could've sealed it at the death when Lee Smith found him on the left edge of the box. The City striker waited and sent in a curling shot which just passed the far post. The final few minutes should've been more fraught than they were but Bromsgrove offered little and City earned their points. |
| City have now beaten their Worcestershire rivals on each of the last four occasions that they have met. It started with the memorable 4-2 win in January 2003 that saw us come from two goals down and also began a run of form that helped us beat Woking and Southport en route to the Trophy Quarter-Finals, whilst the other three games have ended 1-0 to City. |
| Results elsewhere saw both Halesowen and Cirencester bag maximum points to stretch the elite group among second the seventh place out somewhat. Victory for City at Evesham on Saturday is a must as Ciren at home and Team Bath away are the next two games and points from those games will be extremely well earned. |
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