| FA Cup replay, take two. |
| So we returned to the top of the hill at Bath, and what a hill! On the coldest night that we've experienced for a while we all decided to go and watch City play in the least adequate 'stadium' that there is at this level of football. Thank Jebus for Jimmy Cox's devastating salvo midway through the second half otherwise there was a real danger of frostbite setting in. |
| There were a number of changes to the City starting eleven, namely Tom Webb, Adie Harris and Dave Wilkinson who had been dropped to the bench in favour of Jimmy Cox, Lee Jeffries and Steve Jenkins. Jethro and Jenks went into the back three with Griff and Jimmy went up front leaving Thommo at left wing back and Burnsy in midfield. Lee Smith reverted to right wing back. |
| Lee was the first to make any incident of note when he chopped down Luke Prince, the tackle was actually later than, well, you know what I mean. Poor old Luke seems to have come in for some close attention so far in the three games that we've played against Team Bath this season! |
| Playing into the wind City didn't really have too many chances and the majority of the attacking was done by the home team. If they'd had a striker capable of putting the ball in the net they might've fared much better, if we aren't careful they'll probably offer Jimmy Cox the chance to study for some bullshit diploma just to get him in their side... |
| It was Cox who had City's first real chance when he chased a bouncing goal kick and got his head to the ball before Darren Chitty in the students goal could reach it. Unfortunately Jimmy's attempt didn't cause too much panic as it bounced wide. For the first half at least, Jimmy looked out of sorts and when presented with a great chance by Neil Mustoe he could only blaze over. |
| The nearest that the home side came to scoring was when Steve Jenkins inadvertently blocked a shot on the line with his face. They also had a near post header fly across the face of the goal but it didn't trouble Matt Bath. To even up the caution count their left back was booked when he caught Keith Knight's ankles in a 50/50 tackle. One odd thing that came from that incident was that Knight had to leave the field after treatment, yet I thought that wasn't applicable if the offender had been shown a yellow card. |
| Both teams had half chances, but nothing really on target. For City, Chris Thompson cut in from the wing and shot over, Keith Knight hit a shot wide on the half volley and Lee Smith miskicked from a good position. Tom Stocco got on the end of a cross for Bath but was under the ball and couldn't head on target. Despite being goalless at half time, it was certainly much more entertaining the the original tie. If only it wasn't so bloody cold! |
| The second half was much better, especially for the City fans. With the wind now at our backs, we took the opportunity to get the ball down and pass it out wide. Both teams seemed to step up a gear in search of a goal to break the deadlock, but it was City's endeavours that finally paid dividends. |
| Despite clearly suffering from a lack of good fortune in front of goal, Coxy still tried his luck at every opportunity. He was denied a clear penalty when he was hauled down from behind, yet within fifteen seconds the ref did blow up for a similar foul outside the area! |
| Neil Mustoe was fouled in midfield and from the ensuing free kick Bath regained posession, only to give it away to Keith Knight who played a searching pass for Cox to run onto. It was touch and go whether he was offside, but the flag stayed down and Jimmy slotted the ball under the advancing keeper. Our position mean't that it took an age for the ball to nestle in the back of the net and send the travelling Tigers wild! |
| If that goal gave us something to cheer about then a minute later Coxy repeated the feat with a carbon copy strike. Again there was a hint of offside, this time from Hosky's pass, but it wasn't given and he slotted home his second (and his fourth against the students so far this season). |
| It became apparent that both games really needed a goal to get either team out of their shells, the 4-3 win at the end of August had proved that and now we had a much better game on our hands. Of course, it's easy to say that with the luxury of a two goal cushion! |
| Bath showed what a good footballing side they really are as City did their best to soak up the pressure and hit them on the break. To help combat the extra push City replaced older legs with younger ones as Wilko and Webby came on for Knighter and Burnsy respectively. |
| No more goals came at either end but it could've been so much different had a Team Bath shot bounced over the line after it smacked against the cross bar, then moments later Matt Bath had to be at his best to block a shot from point blank range. |
| Adam Hemming replaced Thommo for the last five minutes and even had a chance to score but could only send his shot across the face of the goal. As the final whistle went the City players were clearly euphoric in victory and the noises coming out of their dressing room only confirmned as much. |
| So last seasons darlings Team Bath are out of this years competition at a very early stage. Having played them three times now, it's fair to say that they aren't mugs but I think they're suffering from last years exposure as they had better players at a lower level. |
