| After a rare midweek break City returned to action at Coles Lane, the home of Sutton Coldfield Town. For the past two seasons we've gone to Sutton and come away with a 1-0 victory, so today, thankfully we matched the feat. |
| Still in a lowly position in the league table, it's more essential now than ever that we put together some kind of run so that we won't need to win all of our games in hand come the later months of the season. Although, that said, the legal action started this week by the Ryman League may mean that the target of a top seven finish won't be necessary after all. |
| Coles Lane is a tidy little ground, much like Moor Green (I'm sure I've used this simile before!) with a small stand along the side, roofed terracing halfway along one side and behind one goal and open at the clubhouse end. It's also one of those grounds where you can park inside, I like that! |
| Most places have their characters, but Sutton have a right mong (dressed as a steward) wandering around with a fishing net. As I was eating my burger and chips a couple of kids tried to get in through a gate behind the terracing, so I mentioned it to him as he looked offical in his flourescent coat. |
| I said "hey mate, there's some kids trying to get in through there", he ignored me. Thinking that he didn't hear me I asked him "is there a canal or something on the other side of the fence?" He replied, "just leave me alone and watch the game". Bearing in mind that it was ten to three, thats wasn't easy. I said to him that I was just trying to be friendly and he said "leave me alone and let me do my job" so I said, "bollocks to you then". He replied, "don't say bollocks to me or I'll call the police". Charming! I bet they have really clean windows at Sutton! |
That wasn't the end of the weirdness. As clubs do, a minutes silence was held for a club official that had passed away recently. It was respectfully observed, except, that is, in the tea bar. The silence was constantly interupted with "Thanks love", "Thats £2.40 then" and "do you want onions with that". I have to add that that was the first tea bar I've ever seen that stocked alcohol!
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| Anyhow, on to the football, that is after all why we were there. City had a couple of changes. Andy Hoskins came back in for Baylo, who returned to the bench. Neil Mustoe was suspended so he was replaced by Dave Wilkinson and Keith Knight was dropped in favour of Tom Webb. The Sutton team featured former Evesham tourettes sufferer Mark Wolsey and possibly the best named player to ever grace a football pitch, Exodus Geohaghan! |
| From the start City took the game to their higher placed opponents. Lee Smith was played in at an angle and had a superb chance to give the Tigers an early lead but could only drag his shot across the goal, despite two players coming in late neither could get a touch. A minute later Smith was in action again, providing a telling cross that Andy Hoskins headed just over the bar. |
| Adam Hemming had his defensive game tested when Wolsey beat him to cross to the far post, and despite being left unmarked, Dean Perrow could only volley straight at Bath. That said, it still needed a good save from the City stopper and he showed why he's rated among the best in the league. |
| Smith had another chance to prize an extra pound out of me for the sponsor-a-goal when his shot ended a move involving himself, Jimmy Cox and Tom Webb. Justin Bray in the Sutton goal, a keeper that I rate highly did well to block his shot, the rebound fell to Lee but he could only snatch at his shot. |
| Dave Wilkinson, a goalscorer at Clevedon last week had a good chance to add to his growing tally when the ball found it's way to him following a Burns free kick, however, Bray was in fine form again and stopped his effort. It was pretty much all City now and Lee Jeffries came close as he headed just wide of the far post following City's first corner of the game. |
As well as the actual match and the nutbar with the fishing net, there was also a contest, or running battle going on between Neil Griffiths and Perrow. I'm not quite sure what started it but it kept him close enough to the Sutton dangerman when a deep cross was aimed towards the pair, and under pressure from Griff, Perrow was unable to connect.
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| The goalmouth action made way for boxing as Andy Hoskins was punched in the face by Sutton's Nick Carter after Hosk had been penalised for a foul. Despite the act of violence from his opponent in front of the referee, Carter was only booked and to add insult to injury Hosky was cautioned too. |
| It remained goalless going into the interval but City could feel hard done by having had the better of the chances. |
| The second half provided more incident in the first ten minutes than in the whole of the game. Griff's sparring partner Perrow limped off with a knee injury, then following meaty challenge from Wilko, Mark Wolsey deliberately kicked out at our Dave as he ran away. The referee didn't act so Burnsy shoved the culprit Wolsey to the ground! |
| Adam Hemming used his pace to beat the usually well worked offside trap and from a wide angle curled a shot just wide of the far post with Bray beaten. With City now putting the Royals under pressure, it told as confusion from a backpass between Exodus and the goalkeeper led to Jimmy Cox slotting the ball into an empty net to the delight of the City fans. |
Sutton made their second substitution after a facial injury to their midfielder Neil Watkins and it seemed to spur them on as they fought for a way back into the game. A shot from a good position wide of the penalty spot missed badly and then Matt Bath headed a Wilko backpass off his line when surely he could've caught it. With fifteen minutes of the game remaining the Royals made their third and final change.
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| City had their first chance since the goal when a corner was cleared to Lee Smith, his shot however was destined for the stars and almost got there! With the home subs dried up, City started theirs when Chris Burns was replaced by Steve Jenkins. Sutton continued to press and came close when a shot through a crowded penalty area tested Bath. |
| Whether he was carrying an injury or maybe being kept for Tuesday's game against Yate, Jimmy Cox was surprisingly withdrawn and replaced by Adie Harris. The plan may have been to keep the ball as City didn't have another worthwhile attack and instead had to face more Sutton pressure. |
| If Matt Bath had had a quietish game up until now, in the last five minutes he earned his corn and ensured that City left Coles Lane with all three points. His first save came after Griff had given away an unnecessary throw, the full back weaved through and shot to the near post where Matt beat away the shot for a corner. From the set piece he blocked a header and a resulting shot from Wolsey sailed over. |
| The three points gained today might've only moved City up a place but with home games against Yate, Bedworth and Gresley before the Trophy tie at Bath, City can expect seven to nine points and a more solid footing for the assault on the higher echelons of the table. |
| Oh yeah, and if you go to Sutton, be wary of the freak with the fishing net! |
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