| City are through to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup thanks to a fightback to compare with the greatest fightbacks at Meadow Park today. Chippenham had taken a 3-1 lead at the start of the second half and for City to come back and score three more goals was a fantastic achievement. |
| Having already knocked his elder brothers team out two weeks ago, Wayne Thorne tasted defeat as the Bluebirds were humbled by lower league City. It was cruelly suggested that the former Tiger had had a great game for City, but in all honesty he was given a torrid time all afternoon by Lee Smith, the man many regarded as the best player on the pitch. |
| After fielding a pretty much weakened team for the last two games, Chris Burns fielded what I believe is his best eleven players today. Matt Bath came back in for Eric Barratt, Keith Knight for Craig Jones, Lee Jeffries for Karl Bayliss and Burns himself replaced Kenny Howard in midfield. The Chippenham team looked as though it was brim full of quality. |
It certainly showed as our opponents from the league above took the game to City and could've scored right at the start. Attacking the T-End, albeit with none of their fans in it due to segregation, Matt Bath had to get down low to gather a fierce shot from Charlie Griffin. Moments later he was called into action again, blocking a shot with his feet on his six yard line.
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| Tempers frayed as Andy Hoskins clashed with his marker, then Lee Jeffries challenged a Chippenham player from behind and was booked for it. The Wiltshire side continued their dominance and shot wide when well placed, City could only reply with a corner that was easily cleared. |
| Neil Griffiths became the second City player to see yellow when he was cautioned for a late tackle on a Chippenham striker. Looking distinctly second best, the Tigers were grateful that Matt Bath was in the right place at the right time to catch a goalbound header and prevent the opposition scoring. |
| Even though the bulk of the attacking came from the Chips, City did actually take the lead. On eighteen minutes Jimmy Cox seized upon a blunder by former City goalkeeper Mark Hervin under pressure from Andy Hoskins to slam the ball high into the net. There were universal protests from the away team and fans but the goal stood and City were in front. |
| One way or another it seemed that Jethro wasn't going to complete the full ninety minutes so he was withdrawn after just twenty due to the knee injury that he picked up when he'd been booked, Dave Wilkinson replaced him at the back. Andy Hoskins became the third City player to be booked when the referee took umbrage to his aerial challenge on the defender, then a minute later Wilko followed him into the book when he was adjudged to have tripped the Chip attacker, although many said that he actually got the ball. |
From the ensuing free kick, despite being a good thirty yards from goal, Chippenham equalised. Bath was rooted to the spot as Scott Walkers piledriver smashed in off the post. City could feel hard done by as the free kick should never have been given...
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| In reply City surged forward and a nice flick over the defenders head by Hosk was nullified when his shirt was pulled, despite being in full view of the linesman nothing was given. To add insult to injury Chippenham counter attacked and went 2-1 up, again through Walker. With three bookings, all for first fouls (one wrong) and a blatant penalty denied the City camp had good reason to be upset at the officials. |
| Mark Hervin then made up for his earlier rick by spectacularly pushing Chris Burns' header around the post, he must've known that the TV cameras were there! City followed up with another header over the bar before Bath was called into action again making a double save, although it only came about because he failed to hold the first shot. |
| Burnsy became the fourth City player in the book after he was cautioned for dissent. Whilst not condoning dissent, sometimes you can see why players get frustrated with referees and in another game we wouldn't have had one booking let alone four. To make matters worse, thirty seconds after the booking a Chippenham player reacted to the ref in the same manner and wasn't even spoken to. The Gaffer, clearly trying his luck, went down claiming a push at a City corner. I suspect that if he was fouled that it was only the slightest of touches, but he was testing the water with the referee. Going by his previous anti-City bias, it was no surprise that he was awarded nothing. |
| Keith Knight was then presented with a great opportunity after a flowing football move that save Jimmy Cox keep posession on the edge of the box for a while. Knight thought the chance had gone, but Cox found him and when Knight realised a shot was on the defender reacted quickly and blocked his effort from the edge of the six yard box. |
The half ended with another Chippenham attack that was narrowly headed over. It would've proved to be controversial though because the winger had clearly controlled the ball with his arm before crossing it. It was a good half of football and it finished with the better team on top.
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| It seemed that Chippenham had a rocket up the ass at half time from manager Tommy Saunders and they came out looking to extend their lead. First they forced a good save from Bath and then were thwarted when Jenks blocked a goalbound shot. But from the ensuing corner Ellis Wilmot stooped to head at the near post and put the Chips 3-1 up. That was a real bodyblow for the City fans but the players showed that they could come back! |
| After Neil Griffiths had come close for City, Lee Smith pulled a goal back. Jenks, now taken up a more advanced position, found Smith out wide and Lee eased past Wayne Thorne before cutting back and shooting. Luckily the shot found it's way inside the far post despite Jimmy Cox taking a swipe at it. As City took the game by the scruff of the neck, ex-Tiger Simon Charity was booked for a nothing foul on Chris Thompson. |
| There began a flurry of substitutions then for both sides, Harrington went off for Chippenham and Keith Knight was replaced by Tom Webb. It was all City now and Lee Smith again tried his luck with a low, hard shot but this time it was blocked. Smith was a real menace down the wing and on 75 minutes whipped in a perfect cross and Hosky rose to head a delightful header beyond Hervin. To say that it sent the T-End wild was an understatement! |
After we'd equalised Chris Burns retired for the afternoon, replacing himself with Adie Harris. With a little under ten minutes remaining, Tom Webb found Lee Smith in the area and as Smith looked to shoot lost control of the ball. Happily it fell to Coxy, in front of goal and he smashed it home to send the T-End into raptures. From looking dead and buried at 1-3 down, City were now on their way to a famous victory.
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| The referee wasn't content with making his mark on City with just five bookings so he added a sixth. Tom Webb won the ball in a meaty challenge (right in front of me) and followed through and caught the player. But the fact remains that he took the ball cleanly. It was understandable that the ref gave the free kick to Chippenham but to book Webby as well was a disgrace. |
| Chippenham now piled on the pressure looking for a way back into the game in the last five minutes. Wayne Thorne was replaced with an attacker and they came close when they headed over from a corner. Charlie Griffin then controlled the ball, turned and scored, but the linesman flagged that he'd used him arm. Where the referee had failed us, his assistant made amends. Well done that man! |
| With the game now deep into injury time, goalkeeper Mark Hervin came over to retrieve the ball from near to where I was stood and I couldn't resist the opportunity to gloat! I told him that we'd beaten him 3-0 last season (with Cirencester) and 4-3 this year. God that felt good. I wasn't even bothered that he'd feigned throwing the ball at me. Twat! |
| The final whistle went and everyone in yellow and black celebrated a fabulous comeback and showed just how much the victory meant. A great win on a great day that made us all proud to be Gloucester City supporters. |
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