| With City playing more cup games than league games at present (seven cup, four league to be exact) some of the performances are showing signs of fatigue. Today was a perfect example as City didn't really find their rhythm until an hour had elapsed and as with every league game at home it is vital that we get three points because we started the day at third from bottom! |
| It's difficult to tell whether Burnsy is a wannabe Claudio Ranieri with his squad rotation system, or whether injuries are forcing his hand but so far this term we've yet to see an unchanged side for two games in a row. Today, Jethro was rested with Dave wilkinson slotting in at centre back, alongside him was the gaffer himself, starting in place of the injured Steve Jenkins. It had been pointed out that we only started with one true defender in Neil Griffiths. |
| Evesham were the visitors to Meadow Park just two weeks ago and bowed out of the FA Trophy having suffered a 2-0 defeat, although must've wondered how they got nothing from the game. Today they came in search of not only three points, but a little revenge. They got neither. |
Jimmy Cox had City's first opportunity when he tried an overhead kick after the ball was headed back across goal, sadly his finish didn't match his effort as it flew wide of the far post. Either Tom Webb or Andy Hoskins really should've put City in front from the next meaningful attack. Webb got behind the defender but he could only shoot straight at the keeper from a good angle, the rebound fell invitingly for Hosk but his first time shot flew wide when his current form would suggest that he should've done better.
|
|
|
| The Worcestershire team started to come into the game midway through the first half and after one or two brushes with the goal, they went and took the lead. Chris Burns lost the ball in midfield and an incisive pass found pacy winger Paul Oakey in space and one on one with Matt Bath. He shot underneath the advancing City keeper and the ball nestled in the back of the net with a jump of joy from manager Phil Mullen and the Evesham fans. |
| Lee Smith made an impressive dash up the wing but was pulled back by the defender as he got towards the penalty area, play was stopped and the player was cautioned but it was frustrating because Smith had got free with a clear run on goal and was ready to shoot. From the free kick the ball played host to a game of head tennis with both Jimmy Cox and Wilko not making the most of good opportunities. |
| Neil Mustoe took up a more advanced position as the Tigers tried to claw their way back into the match and it was from his low cross that Hosky just touched the ball wide. He'd done well to get there ahead of the goalkeeper and even though it was a good chance you couldn't blame him for putting self preservation first. The Evesham keeper, a different one to the big baldie that played two weeks earlier was causing much mirth from the T-End as he took an age over every kick, something which would change as the game wore on! |
| The best chance of the half fell to Coxy, literally, as he chased a massive drop kick from Matt Bath and struck a sweet volley from the corner of the box. It flew agonisingly over the bar but if it had've been on target it would've either produced a great goal or a save for the keeper's scrapbook. |
With Evesham looking very much second best and permanently on the back foot City finished the half still trying to find an equaliser. Neil Griffiths headed a free kick against the top of the bar, although there may have been a touch off a defender as the ref gave a corner. From the set piece Lee Smith dived for a header but was stopped by a heavy challenge from Sean Flynn, the T-End called for a penalty but a goal kick was given instead.
|
|
|
| Not the greatest half of football for City, but as in the FA Trophy match, Evesham showed that they can match the Tigers on their day. Although, it was suggested that if we scored once then we could easily score five. |
| Evesham started brightly in the second half and looked to take advantage of City's willingness to push forward. They had a couple of decent attempts at goal with one header bringing the best out of Bath. Another attack saw him well off his line and a shot from forty yards at an open goal rolled just wide. |
| City made two substitutions within the first fifteen minutes of the second half. First Adam Hemming came on at left wing back (replacing Chris Thompson) and a few minutes later Lee Smith, despite looking sprightly wasn't having the best of luck so he was replaced by Adie Harris. It has been said that we started with two right sided players at wing back and finished with two left sided players there, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out the solution! |
| Then City gave us one of those magic five minute spells where they turned the game on it's head. After not having too much luck with the linesmans flag on one or two occasions Jimmy Cox timed his run just right to get on the end of Keith Knight's lobbed pass, he followed with another lob to continue the ball's 'M' like trajectory into the back of the net. Despite protests from the Evesham players, including a foul mouthed tirade at the linesman from the keeper, the goal stood and the City fans celebrated. |
Little more than a minute later City did what they'd been threatening to do all game and took the lead. Cox, now based more on the right hand side advanced with menace and drove a low cross towards the near post where it was met by a glancing touch from Hosky's right boot. The pace on the ball was too much for the keeper and he was easily beaten. Isn't it incredible how two quick goals can lift a crowd!
|
|
|
| To put the icing on the cake, within three minutes City had made it 3-1. Cox, again in space on the right hand side got as far as the touchline before rifling a shoulder high cross towards the far post where Knighter stooped to head home his first goal for City for at least six years. You could tell from his scream that he enjoyed it. Well, either that or it hurt! |
| After the game Adie Harris commented to Phil Warren that it was 0-1 when he came off the bench, then he touched the ball once and within five minutes City were 3-1 up. Talk about an inspired substitution! |
| The best of the action from the remainder of the game involved the officials. Hosky was booked for, well, he didn't know why, but the linesman told the ref that he'd struck their number five. Hosk was bemused, but you have to ask that if he had hit him, why wasn't he sent off? The ref did get to use his red card though, as Evesham sub Wesley Joyce was dismissed after he'd clashed with Wilko in an off the ball incident. Joyce had struggled to find the pace of the game and had already clashed with the lively Tom Webb. |
| The game finished with a comfortable 3-1 victory and a useful three points for City that now sees the Tigers in fourteenth place, albeit having played five games less than some of their peers. |
|
