| I usually look forward to games against Rugby Utd as much as turkeys do for Christmas. In fact, the last City game that I missed was away at Butlin Road in March 2003, simply because I couldn't be bothered to go! |
| However, this game had an edge. Whether the Midlanders like it or not, they were seen as weaker opposition than Halesowen, Cirencester and Merthyr Tydfil and were there for the taking. Three points were a must to stop the rot and start the climb away from danger. |
| Previous encounters though would suggest that this was going to be anything but a walk in the park. Rugby's last two visits to Gloucester have seen them keep clean sheets on both occasions, winning once and drawing the other. In Warwickshire two single goal victories have given them a perfect record, so todays mauling by Burnsy's boys really tore up the form book and blew any recent history out of the water. |
| One man that had played his part in Rugby's impressive record was goalkeeper Jason Pearcey but he was missing from the side today having fallen out with their clubs fans by allegedly calling them a 'bunch of inbreds' following a 3-4 defeat at Hemel Hempstead. His replacement, Mike Payne had been man of the match for their games over the Christmas and New Year period, oh how that was about to change! |
| Up front for United were potent attacking pair Justin Marsden and Robbie Beard, a combination whose main threat came from going wide before cutting back into the centre in to attack the goal. With a solid defence to rely upon they often forged victories by the odd goal in one, a tactic that worked well but must've been boring as hell to watch. |
| A small number of Rugby fans made the trip to Gloucester, unusual really when you think how many rugby fans there are already here. The travelling bunch included infamous supporter Jonny Lyons who wasn't happy that the Meadow Park social club didn't have Coca Cola on tap. |
| City kept the same team that had ultimately done well to restrict Merthyr to a point on the Bank Holiday Monday, although one face missing was Lee Davis having been released to cut costs. Youth teamers Jamie Reid and Eddie Rimmer took their now usual places on the bench. |
| Weatherwise, it was a mixed afternoon with an ice cold, swirling wind but Meadow Park was as bathed in sunshine as it has been for a good few months. It would take something special to keep the players and fans warm. |
City attacked from the off. For once, the kick off poutine of punting the ball into the corner didn't totally fail and Lee Smith seized on a flicked header by Dave Wilkinson to take possession and get in position to make Rugby goalkeeper Mike Payne field a bullet cross at his near post.
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| However it was from the opposite wing that we were treated to an early opener. Marvin Thompson picked out Tom Webb and the midfielder controlled the ball before swinging in a chest height cross that caught the Rugby defence in two minds. Wilko only had one and he seized the opportunity to net his tenth goal of the season. |
| City were really going for the jugular now and with Chris Burns dictating things in attack, he set Addis free on the left hand side and a deep cross found both Lee Smith and Jimmy Cox free but between them they couldn't force the ball into the back of the Rugby net. |
| Looking back, the star of the show was Daryl Addis, but he almost didn't get the chance to impress when he pulled up following a tough challenge in the centre circle. It was thanks to Adie Tandy's healing hands that the Forester was able to continue for the rest of the game. |
| The scores on the doors should've been level but for Robbie Beard's inability to finish from close range. Good work down the inside left channel and a pass to Rory Squire saw the ball flicked into the path of the Rugby striker, but he snatched at his shot and dragged it high and wide of the near post. |
| Back at the T-End and what should've been a routine call and pick up for the goalkeeper saw the defender take the ball away from him and pretty much give the ball to Lee Smith on a plate. Luckily for United, Payne got back to his line to palm Smith's shot wide. But he undid all of his good work by emarrasingly punching Neil Mustoe's corner into his own net. |
| It was all City now and Rugby would've wondered how they could be getting their asses whooped so easily at a ground where they usually reign supreme. |
| Two attacks from City and more specifically Smith and Wilko followed. The first ended with a shot just wide from the former and the second with the latter being fouled, for which Adam Hart was booked. |
| Justin Marsden, a tricky forward who has been watched by many clubs made a decent chance for himself when he collected the ball in the centre circle and headed for goal. Sadly for him he did everything right except the shot, which not only missed the target but also the barn door behind it. |
| Even with the wind in their favour United couldn't get back into the game and another effort from Marsden from hopeful distance was all they had to offer. |
But City had the cover of the T-End to help them play their football in the area that mattered most. Jimmy Cox's goalbound drive was pushed wide by Payne and the corner eventually found it's way into a crowded penalty area where an obscured City player flicked it deftly onto the far post. With the keeper on his heels, the ball bounced agonisingly away from Cox and into the hands of the fortunate number one.
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| Even Mustoe was getting in on the act now and was one of the first in the box when City attacked. His attempt at a flying header was lightly mistimed and even though the ball fell for Smithy at the far post it still didn't find the net. |
| A thoroughly entertaining first half ended with City in control, but Rugby boss Tony Dobson had nothing to say to his players during the interval and instead gave them each a rocket up the ass and lit the fuse. He did however change the team around with Marsden and Craig Herbert being replaced by Dave Pearson and Steve Evans. |
| It looked as though City might undo all of their good work of the first half when Burns gave away a penalty within a minute of the restart. Rugby had gone for the jugular as the Tigers were caught napping and a half clearance and poorly timed tackle resulted in the spot kick which Beard rifled home. |
| Reserve striker Pearson forced a good save out of Matt Bath before City realised that they had to pick up where they'd left off and a cross from Lee Smith was clutched by Payne with Jimmy Cox ready to pounce. |
| But the wind was knocked out of Rugby when Addis got his second goal for the club with a lovely finish. A move through the midfield involving Tom Webb, Mustoe and Cox saw the former Cinderford man heading for the target, but the defender was taking him wide and there seemed to be little scope to shoot. But the keeper was drawn off his line, Addis spotted it and flicked the ball in with the outside of his boot. Daryl knew it was a good goal and even afforded himself a smile when told so by a City fan. |
| Even though he's the clubs top scorer Dave Wilkinson still has his critics, though he did show his worth when he blocked a point blank goalbound shot with his head. Despite that some people were saying that he'd done nothing since he'd scored. Although, I did point out that scoring one goal and stopping another wasn't a bad return! |
| City made their first chance with Keith Knight replacing Marvin Thompson. With that the assistant boss moved into midfield and Chris Burns slotted into Thompson's place at the back. |
| It wasn't long before City bagged their fourth goal of the afternoon to kill the game off. A corner was half cleared, but only as far as Chris Thompson who directed a header back into the danger area where Wilko faced a determined effert from Payne to keep it out of the net. There was no way through for the City number elecen but Addis steamrollered his way into the six yard box just as the ball fell loose and he slammed it home for his second of the game. |
That goal signalled the end of Craig Dutton's involvement as John Douglas was thrown into the fray by Rugby boss Dobson.
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| It went from bad to worse for the Butlin Road side when left back Andy Commander saw yellow for pulling back Cox as he broke through, and minutes later could've seen red for what would normally be a booking but the referee cut him some slack as he was already having a shitty afternoon. |
| It was playtime for City now and Rugby were mere spectators. In a move that was formed with almost training ground football the Tigers' midfield passed the ball between themselves before Keith Knight stole in and having spotted the keeper off his line, lifted a shot from outside the area into the top right hand corner. If I was Knight I wouldn't shut up about that one for a long time because it was a beauty. |
| A response came in the form of a rare threat on the City goal, but it wasn't their day and wouldn't go in as Bath dived on the ball to kill any threat. |
| City Captain Neil Mustoe looked to get in on the act again when he was picked out following Addis' clever wing play, but even though the City Captain's shot was deflected over Rugby got a goal kick. |
| More woe for Rugby followed when a corner was headed against the bar and over by their centre half. It really wasn't their day.. |
| City boss Burns conceeded a free kick as referee James Cox awarded a foul against him for ungentlemanly conduct when he screamed "aaaagh" as a Rugby player jumped to head the ball. We shouldn't laugh, but it is funny. |
| With a little under ten minutes to go Lee Smith and Jimmy Cox were replaced by youngsters Eddie Rimmer and Jamie Reid. And just like fellow youth teamer Micheal Noakes, Rimmer got his name on the scoresheet to finish the game in style. |
| Playing in an unfamiliar strikers position, the teenager was sent clear down the wing and with only disenheartened defenders for company he made his way towards goal. Just one challenege stood between Rimmer and the target and he got a lucky bounce before dragging the ball under the goalkeeper for his first and City's sixth. |
| City cheers greeted the final whistle for this much needed and well earned win. To be fair to our opponents they didn't get what they deserved today, although they were soundly beaten. City have been threatening to do this for a few weeks now and it was hard luck on Rugby that it happened to be today. |
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| Tiger Roar Man of the Match - Daryl Addis |
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Daryl Addis
Star Man |
Two goals today from the striker who doesn't score, with his first being a superb flick into the far post. Although, it was Daryl's general play which caught the eye of the City fans and showed us that we've got a real gem on our hands now.
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