| Before we earned the right to beat Conference teams Woking and Southport in last seasons FA Trophy, we had to beat Atherstone in the preliminary round. Despite our impressive run to the quarter finals, we were pitched in at the same stage again this season. Evesham would be no walk in the park. |
| Evidently Chris Burns didn't agree with my last statement as he chopped and changed the team that did so well against Merthyr Tydfil last week. Lee Smith and Chris Thompson were dropped to the bench along with Burns himself. Eric Barratt replaced the suspended Matt Bath between the sticks and Dave Wilkinson and Tom Webb were recalled to play from the start. Evesham were without their new signing Sean Flynn, the ex-Derby and Coventry player and another notable absentee was Mark Wolsey, the foul mouthed left back (now with Sutton Coldfield Town). |
The first half was a non-event as far as City were concerned. Evesham pretty much bossed it and must've been left scratching their heads at half time wondering how they'd ended up behind. They could've taken the lead right at the start but their goal was disallowed thanks to an offside flag. They made the City defence look poor at times and some of us wondered whether the changes in personell were a good thing.
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| With both Will Steadman and Lyndon Tompkins on loan at Cinderford, many held their breath as Lee Jeffries overstretched and stood on the ball causing him to fall awkwardly. Play was stopped immiediately as Adie Tandy administered the magic sponge and we all breathed a sigh of relief as Jethro returned to the fray. |
| It wasn't just the City players needing treatment. Eric Barratt jumped to catch a high ball under pressure and as he rose he instinctively raised his knee. Unfortunately it went straight into the back of the Evesham player who went down in a heap. He didn't recover from the knock and only lasted a few more minutes before he was substituted. During the break in play Neil Mustoe was heard to comment "This is dire" to his teammates, Neil, mate, look on the bright side, you didn't pay to get in! |
| And then it happened! Unbelievably City scored with what was their first shot on goal. After half an hour Adie Harris exchanged passes with Keith Knight on the halfway line and Harris proceeded to go on one of his runs before picking out Andy Hoskins' sly dash around the back of the defence. With his marker in hot pursuit he got onto his favoured left foot and buried the ball past ex-Halesowen keeper Tim Clarke. It was a lead which we'd hardly deserved. |
Then came a moment of history as the linesman on the side opposite the stand halted play and got the referee to send Burns off from the dugout. For once it wasn't Chris who saw red, but his young son Alfie who'd snuck in for a behind the scenes view of the game. Members of the OBS in the main stand heard Burns comment "Thats my boy" as he was sent off!
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| Muzzie became the first player to get a caution when he slid in (and came second best) in a 50/50 challenge with the Evesham player. He didn't really touch his opponent and even the 'injured' party pleaded his innocence, but to no avail. As the half drew to a close the Robins really should have equalised when Mark Shepherd had a free header at the far post with Barratt rooted to the spot, incredibly he put it wide. |
| The second half was an altogether different affair. The Worcestershire side came out in the search of an equaliser and left themselves vulnerable to counter attacks, something in which City excell. |
Try as they might, they didn't really give Eric Barratt too much to do and found themselves on the back foot more often than not. They gave away a succession of corners and City got nearer to scoring on each occasion, with both Lee Jeffries and Neil Griffiths showing their worth at set pieces. Evesham did have one good chance as they got around Barratt but the reserve keeper recovered to pounce on the ball.
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| We had a great chance to double our lead from another corner. Griff got up highest and headed goalwards, but his effort was blocked on the line and Wilko made a hash of the rebound. At the other end the Robins had a goal disallowed again when Barratt spilled a firm shot straight to their marauding attacker, who, sadly for them was in an offside position for the original shot. |
| City looked as though they could score again at any minute with Jimmy Cox's pace causing the opposition all sorts of problems. Luckily for them no-one seemed to read his intentions and moves broke down all too easily. Cox wasn't in his best form in front of goal either as he couldn't grasp a shot and missed from inside the six yard box when it seemed easier to score. |
To liven things up a little there were a flurry of substitutions in a short period. Lee Smith came on for Hosky, Thommo replaced Keith Knight (will he ever finish a game?) and new boy Craig Jones made his debut in place of Harris.
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| To remind us that the game wasn't finished Evesham had a man over in the penalty area and as he approached goal selfishly shot across the face instead of teeing up a team mate. Then Griff had a poor touch and let in their striker, he too shot wide but it didn't help how Barratt just stood and watched it! They had a decent shout for a penalty as the ball seemed to strike Wilko on the shoulder, but the referee waved play on. |
| As the game went into injury time Lee Smith finally settled the game when he rifled home Cox's pass as City had a man over on the break. It wasn't a great game, but we got through and now we travel to Northants to take on Rothwell Town in the 1st round. |
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