| Forty one down, one to go. |
| A few weeks earlier what looked as though it might be a tense relegation dogfight was actually a dour goalless draw as City made the short journey across the Cotswolds to face Oxfordshire side Banbury United. |
| The Puritans took their place in this season's Premier thanks to a remarkable play off victory over Sutton Coldfield Town at the conclusion of last years campaign and even the most optimistic of their fans won't have too many good memories from the past nine months. |
| City came to town bedecked in their theme clothing of Hawaiian shirts, shorts and sandals on a glorious late spring afternoon. |
|
 |
| The team line up before the game (pic courtesy of Banbury Mike) |
|
| Rumours abound about several of the players suggested that Jimmy Cox, Adie Harris and Lee Smith had played their last games for the club. People have been saying that both Jimmy and Adie are hanging up their boots with Coxy either going for a trip around the world or joining the RAF and who could blame Adie for calling it a day after all of the fantastic service he's given clubs during his distinguished career. |
| Of course, that might be a load of crap! |
| Smithy on the other hand seems to be tied to Meadow Park with a bungee rope at the moment. It was just a month ago that he pulled out of a move to Chippenham at the eleventh hour and has also been linked with a move to Cirencester. To be fair to him he has said that he wouldn't move to a club at the same level as City although if the chance to impress in a higher league arose he would take it. |
| I for one would be sorry to see him leave and as the Tiger Roar sponsored player for the last two seasons, if he is reading this, am asking him to stay! |
| Lee's indecision had seen him dropped to the bench as Chris Burns gave youth a chance in this unimportant clash. Jamie Reid slotted into the heart of midfield and Andy Varnham went up front whilst Daryl Addis made way for the young striker. Defender Dan Avery kept his place at left back. |
For Banbury two names stood out. Portly goalkeeper Simon Tricker always stands out as one of the best in the league, although playing in a struggling team means he gets lots of practice. It was down to him that we only scored four times against the Puritans in December even though we made loads of chances. Whilst the scorer of their goal that day, Howard Forinton has graced the reserve teams of many a league club. It remains to be seen whether he'll be a Banbury player next year.
|
|
|
| In this day and age it's quite rare for a footballer to remain with a club long enough to become their record appearance holder but that's exactly what we were treated to today when Banbury's Jody McKay was presented with a memento before the kick off as he reached a whopping 572 games. |
| Backed by a healthy throng of City fans the game kicked off on a gloriously sunny day but that was as good as it got as this end of season affair turned into exactly that. You could say that it was a post-season friendly. |
| It took a while for the first chance to disturb the knock about and that came as a result of a slip by Banbury's Kieran Sullivan. A punt up the middle from City's defence, more of a clearance than a pass was intercepted by the Puritan defender but his touch was too heavy and Dave Wilkinson nipped in to seize the loose ball. Wilko ran forward, played a one-two with Jimmy Cox but the two didn't come and Cox shot high over the bar instead. |
| City enjoyed a spell of good pressure and forced several corners although they resembled efforts to chip a golf ball into a bucket like they do on Soccer AM as each one was more wayward than the last. We had that many that it got to the point where the Puritan defenders were disputing even the most obvious of City decisions and right back Les Robinson got a tongue lashing from a City fan for his lamest of appeals. |
| Banbury weren't just there to make up the numbers though and they eventually forged a chance of their own when Blossom, a talented striker and not that girl off the telly with a big nose was sent through with a diagonal ball away from goal but his effort was high, wide and handsome. |
Youngster Jamie Reid was in the right place at the right time to deny former Aylesbury man Ollie Stanbridge as he shaped to shoot but City came closer from yet another corner, this time Chris Burns (who'd by now given up on the wayward set pieces and took control himself) saw his corner headed goalwards by Andy Varnham only for Tricker to throw his frame in the way.
|
|
|
| Sadly the game descended into a lifeless, meaningless borefest as both teams cancelled each other out. The only incident to break the monotony was a knock that Varnham took which saw him replaced by Daryl Addis. |
| Dan Avery managed to create a little bit of excitement when he second guessed the Banbury man on the edge of his penalty box, robbed him of the ball and crossed to the far post where Dave Wilkinson was unlucky to be pipped to the header by Sullivan. It was only cleared as far as Chris Thompson though who fired a shot just wide of the post and uncomfortably close to my expensive camera! |
| The only action of note between that and half time came when Neil Griffiths tried to continue his rich vein of form in front of goal by powering a header just over the bar from Burns' corner. |
| During the interval we were treated by a display from a local Banbury marching band and although it was enjoyed by some of the 'pom, pom, pom pom, pom' older spectators some of the younger ones like Joe Green were shouting "Get off the pitch!" |
| Nothing happened at the start of the second half and it was more interesting to turn and watch the cows in the field behind the goal. Banbury boss Kevin Brock felt the game needed some fresh legs (forty-four to be precise) but only made one change as he swapped Mark Essex for Jason Allen. |
Minutes later Brock did more tinkering when McKay came on for Blossom.
|
|
|
| Howard Forniton almost gave the home fans something to cheer when he created room at the far post to chest down a cross that had cleared Chris Thompson with ease before seeing his goalbound effort blocked. City replied with a swift counter attack though as Cox and Addis linked up before the latter was sent tumbling in the box, and a penalty was given. |
| I'm sorry, that was a lie. We don't get penalties. The referee didn't look impressed and the 'no penalties for Gloucester City' campaign continued. |
| Last season Lee Smith was a regular source of spot kicks but this year has proved less fruitful. If he was to end City's drought then he'd need to be on the pitch for a start so it was a relief when he was thrown into the action with an hour gone. Jamie Reid made way for him. |
| Lee almost scored within a minute as he was fed by Thommo and progressed to the corner of the area where he unleashed a rasping drive which brought the best out of Tricker. |
| Adie Harris became City's third and final change when he replaced Marvin Thompson. Whether Marvin was injured or it was a tactical switch is unknown although it might've proved costly minutes later when Addis appeared to be having trouble with a knock as he kicked the ground whilst taking a corner. |
The Tigers enjoyed a purple patch when first Jimmy Cox rifled a shot across the face of goal, sadly it was always going wide and had too much pace for Daryl to get a touch to. Next up Wilko was denied a good penalty claim when he was pushed by a defender as he jumped for a Smith cross.
|
|
|
| It was written that City wouldn't get another spot kick this season, remember the last was on October 23rd 2004 and we've only had three all through the campaign (Team Bath at home plus Street and Dunstable away). This time Lee Smith was the victim of an elbow in the face from a defender as he tried to get to a ball at the far post. The referee didn't spot it but the City fans did and one in particular had a right go at the man in black. |
| It wasn't to be though and City were on the back foot again as Stanbridge made an impressive bolt upfield evading tackles en route but as he cocked his leg to strike what would've been a memorable goal he was tackled. |
| City's last hope of breaking the deadlock came when Addis found himself one on one with Tricker and he opted to lob as going around the burly stopper would be easier on a motorbike but his effort was comfortbaly held by the Banbury number one. |
| With the season now deep into injury time and the referee about to blow up Stanbridge found room to cross and Griff's defensive header glanced across the face of the goal and very nearly into the back of the net. I wouldn't have really cared but it didn't go in so it didn't really matter. |
| Still that was it and the three pheep's from the refs whistle brought the curtain down on a disappointing season which saw us narrowly avoid relegation back to the Western, get knocked out of every cup competition at the first attempt and have to compete as one of the smaller playing budget's in the league was cut even further. |
| Still, at least Bath City didn't go up! |
| -------------------------------------- |
| Sadly today marks a bit of a milestone and a dead end for these Tiger Roar match reports. Since the away game at Rugby United at the start of last season I've been to every game and written a report for each one, that's one hundred games and one hundred match reports. Unfortunately the time taken to compile these is too much and I'm increasingly finding myself posting these when the match is no longer relevant (for example I'm typing this at 3.10am during a lull at work), So from next season TR will just carry statistical information from the games with descriptions of the goals. |
| I hope you've enjoyed reading the reports and taken the humour in the way that it was intended (especially our cock-a-ney friends). |
| See you all next year and enjoy the cricket! |
|
| Tiger Roar Man of the Match - Lee Smith |
|
Lee Smith
Star Man |
Even though Lee started the game as a substitute it wasn't until his introduction that we looked like scoring. There are doubts whether he'll be here next season but any player that adds excitement to a team puts bums on seats. Can you imagine forty-two games like the first hour of todays? Thats what it will be like without him.
|
|
|
