| Today was a chance to see some league action sandwiched between two weeks of FA Cup participation. Our opponents, Solihull Borough, came to Meadow Park seemingly rocked by the pre-season resignation of manager David Busst (he of broken leg fame) and talk of financial cutbacks. Their 100% record so far and also the performance that they put in today would suggest that they are as far from panicking as ever at Damson Parkway! |
| The Tigers were forced into changes due to the loss of both Will Steadman and Lee Jeffries through suspension. Super Will is unavailable through the whole of september thanks to his thirty five day ban gained from being sent off in the colours of Gloucester United. Jethro on the other hand will only sit out three games after his petulant elbow versus Team Bath, although he could be subject to the same punishment as Steads thanks to his indiscipline at Bishops Cleeve during a pre-season friendly. Bradley Thomas was also he was released without playing a game. |
| To say that the Midlanders went for the throat from the off is somewhat of an understatement. Within the opening five seconds they had surged forward and shot just over Matt Bath's goal and moments later were denied when a forward controlled the ball with his hand with the goal beckoning. |
City barely had a chance in the opening quarter of an hour and what with the amount of pressure that Borough had put us under it wasn't wholly surprising to see them take the lead. It would probably be unfair to describe it as a defensive lapse, but I will! The ball seemed to ping pong around the area before it fell to Nicky Preston in front of the City goal. He made no mistake and going by his reactions, he rather enjoyed the goal.
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| To add to the misery that City had gone behind I discovered that I was one minute out on the golden goal. To make matters worse, I later discovered that COF buffoon Davenport actually had the 16th minute ticket as he waved the winnings under my nose! |
| The Tigers tried to find a way back into the game and Lee Smith volleyed a good effort into the side netting from an acute angle, although to be fair it was never going in and had it been on target then the keeper would've had it covered. The next to try his luck was Neil Mustoe after he'd found a way into the area on the end of Coxy's short pass, but given his record in front of goal it was no surprise that the keeper gathered it with ease. |
| It was a case of third time lucky though as on 25 minutes man of the moment Andy Hoskins found himself unmarked on the penalty spot to head in the equaliser for City. An attack down the City right wing found Muzzie in space and his pinpoint centre picked out the City striker who headed into the far corner virtually unchallenged. |
| With their tails up, City looked far from second best as they did in the opening throes of the game. Lee Smith, despite not looking his best in the wing back position was still getting forward and finding space. He got himself on the end of a Jimmy Cox pass and fired in a low shot which the keeper did well to get down to. Dave Wilkinson created another chance when he had the keeper at full stetch to push his header over the bar. |
With the Solihull keeper being called upon at regular intervals and keeping City at bay, Matt Bath at the other end was having quite a torrid time. Unlike him, he came second best when their striker surged into the box and the loose ball could've easily been swept home but for some last ditch defending by the Tigers. It didn't look good for City.
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| The first booking came after a set to between both goalscorers. Hosky won a defensive header although he looked as though his effort was somewhat uncompromising and both players rose from the floor pushing and arguing. Both were booked. Not good for Hosky as he's in such rich goalscoring form he needs to be in the team and not sat out suspended. |
| As City looked to be getting on top the Brummies went and spoiled it by getting themselves back in the lead. Another good passing move ended up with their left back Martin Hier getting between our last two defenders and hammering the ball beyond Bath's reach. If you thought the celebrations for their first goal was OTT, then this one surpassed it! Off came his shirt and he ran (along with the rest of the team) to the away dugout where they lapped up the goal in a mass huddle. Fair play to them, they deserved the lead. |
| The yellows looked to answer straight away and a good move set up by a tricky run from Lee Smith was wasted when Tom Webb's cross flew into the car park. Webby's contribution has been questionable so far this season and he's far from the attacking force that he was last year. If it weren't for his workrate, I'd be calling for him to be dropped. |
| To finish the first Half Hosk had a shot that just cleared the bar but it was Solihull who led and the Tigers couldn't complain. |
| In the second half City attacked the T-End and started off brightly with a shot by Tom Webb. Sadly his touch seems to have deserted him of late and today was no exception. The shot went high and wide. We didn't have too much to cheer other than the odd shot so it was nice of Borough's Ian Cooper to kick the ball away and prevent a throw. His booking delighted the home fans! |
Chances came at either end. Matt Bath had to be on his toes as Borough tested him from distance and then City came back with a good attack which culminated in Hosk heading against the bar from a stationary position.
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| The game went into something of a lull as both teams made substitutions. Adam Hemming replaced the subdued Adie Harris and Keith Knight came on for Lee Smith. Lee, whilst providing a useful outlet has faltered lately as he seems to show too much of the ball to his opponents. Sometimes he can lose posession on the wrong side of the halfway line and leave City in danger, this was all too apparent today. |
| First we had a double substitution, then we had a double booking! Neil Griffiths was yellow carded for a desperate looking challenge which saw the Solihull forward needing treatment and then the gaffer was cautioned for what appeared to be dissent. Is the ghost of last season back to haunt us again? |
| City were searching for a way back into the game when an opportunity arose through a penalty kick. Wilko strode into the area with Coxy's pass and as he sidestepped a defender he was nudged over. The referee didn't hesitate to point to the spot when often those are the kind of fouls that go unpunished. Andy Hoskins, seemingly unable to miss stepped up and buried the ball to make it 2-2. If the Atherstone result is declared null and void then that will mean that Hosk has scored nine goals in his last four games. |
It could've been three for City a few minutes later as Hosky unwittingly missed a sitter. Burnsy flicked on a free kick and a deflection saw the ball fly past Andy H but he couldn't react quickly enough to get a touch to it.
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| As Lois Lane commented as she hurtled towards terra firma underneath the Eiffel Tower's elevator in Superman 2, we reporters put ourselves in peril to bring you the facts. Both myself and Davenport almost had our heads taken off by a clearance near to the touchline and only a cowardly dive on both of our parts saved face (literally!) |
| The game ran down as both teams seemed content with a point but the Tigers could've had all three. Hitman Hosk headed the ball down for Tom Webb to shoot, sadly he dragged it wide but Wilko was almost well placed to get a touch and a strecth reminiscent of Gazza's against Germany during sudden death at Euro '96 was as close as we got to winning. |
| It was a fair result against a very good Solihull Borough side and all that remains is the away game at the tail end of November where we can try to make a better impression of ourselves and also feast ourselves on the fat filled goodness of the least healthy 'tea bar' in the league! |
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