| City returned to action at the Hand Stadium outside of Clevedon today for their first league game in six matches. With the league re-organisation still due at the end of the season, our pre-match standing of 18th place would've caused some apprehension among the City faithful. |
| The Hand is one of the least pleasing grounds in our league. Constructed in the early nineties using the proceeds of their mid-town ground sale, 'sparse' would be an adequate word to describe their choice of decor. The only saving grace is the social club, which is one of the best that we visit, although you have to wonder where the trade comes from on non-match days. |
| It was always going to be a big game for City's Lee Jeffries, he played more than 300 games for Clevedon and remains a popular figure despite turning out for the Tigers. As well as Jethro, Steve Lester is still at the Hand, although he didn't score against us this year like he usually does. Andy Mainwaring is also on their books, but wasn't named in the sixteen. For City, Karl Bayliss had a brief spell with the Seasiders and Neil Griffiths turned down their advances two seasons ago. |
Today's team showed a couple of changes from the Rothwell replay. In came Karl Bayliss for the suspended Andy Hoskins (due to him having accrued five yellow cards), Chris Burns declared himself fit and started in midfield in place of Dave Wilkinson, despite the latter having scored the crucial equaliser on Tuesday and at left wing back Adam Hemming replaced Tom Webb.
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| Being in the open country, the surroundings at the Hand offer little protection from the elements and from a spectators point of view made the game quite uncomfortable. It could've been worse for the City fans though had ex-Tiger Lester managed to get his free header on target in the third minute. City had a chance from a corner of their own but it wasn't as clear cut as Lester's as the ball ping-ponged around. |
| Our opponents were then presented with another opportunity to open the scoring as a shot from the edge of the box from Arthur Appleton was spilled by Matt Bath in the City goal, the ball fell to Shane Hobbs who spooned it high over the bar. A good chance fell to Lee Smith when, as the Clevedon players were calling for a foul, City broke with Cox playing in Smith who hammered a shot against the bar from the corner of the box. |
| The next chance fell to Jimmy Cox who shot well wide when he might've been better off passing. Clevedon striker Appleton then dived on the edge of the box looking for a free kick and was rightly booked when the ball went out of play. Karl Bayliss, an unlikely starter, had a great chance to score when Cox lobbed the ball to him just inside the area, although he mishit his shot and it flew wide instead of into the back of the net. |
Opportunities arose at either end as City failed to clear their lines, gave away posession and saw a well worked attack end with a shot just wide of the far post. A Matt Bath goal kick found it's way to Lee Smith via Baylo's flick and he might've shot low but opted to lob instead, it proved the wrong option as it sailed over the bar. Smith then returned the favour as his cross found Baylo in front of goal, but like Lester earlier made a mess of the header.
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| The first half ended goalless, but Clevedon may have sneaked in front just before the break when Chris Burns lost posession in midfield. The Seasiders break was halted by a foul on the edge of the box and the free kick flew wide. On reflection, a draw at half time was fair as neither side really imposed themselves on the game. |
| At half time Burns came off and was replaced by Dave Wilkinson. |
| Clevedon had the first chance of the second period when a needlessly conceded free kick was flicked to the far post before a shot was rifled goalwards. As ever though, the dependable Matty Bath was at hand to guide the shot over the crossbar for a corner. With just seven minutes of the second half elapsed, Keith Knight was withdrawn and replaced by Tom Webb. It was a move that would turn the game in City's favour. |
| Webb's first act was to get on the end of a searching cross from Adam Hemming, sadly his attempt to control the ball with his chest didn't kill the ball and it ended up with the keeper. Hemming looked as though he was back to the player that had showed so much promise earlier in the season and if he continues in this vein will make the left wing back position his own. |
| Clevedon weren't really threatening the City goal too much and City were starting to show that attacking them with pace through the middle and the wings would open them up. Jimmy Cox found room out wide and cut inside and crossed to Wilko, but the defender got in with a smart clearance as the City man shaped to head the ball in. The City sub had more luck on 74 minutes though as he finished off a four man move by bundling the Lee Smiths accurate pass into the net with his chest. |
The home side responded to the goal with a surging run through the middle which caused great concern among the City fans. Hobbs made it look easy as he rounded the City defender but Bath came to the rescue again by blocking his shot with his feet. That was their last real chance.
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| Hemming then crossed to the far post, Clevedon keeper Danny Greaves misjudged the flight and palmed the ball to Lee Smith but the angle was too tight and Smith shot wide. Webb tried his luck next after a confident run took him to the edge of the penalty area. He switched back and forth before shooting straight at the goalkeeper. |
| With time running out for a Clevedon equaliser, despite upping the tempo they couldn't find a way through and were further punished on 86 minutes when Karl Bayliss bravely dived in a the far post to head home Lee Smith's free kick. It was a great goal, richly deserved by a player who many suspect has had his day. Baylo was replaced a minute or so later as Steve Jenkins played the last few minutes as he makes his comeback from injury. |
| It was a very good win for City and one that lifts them to 14th place in the table, 14 points behind the leaders Redditch United with four games in hand. |
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