| An early start for all involved today as the game was put forward so as not to clash with the afternoon's England versus Wales game at Old Trafford. It was a move that would've suited the Lincolnshire side more than City as they'd didn't have to travel cross country three hours earlier than normal. |
| Disadvantages were the last thing that Chris Burns' injury hit team needed. With the two week break giving ample time for Andy Hoskins and Dave Wilkinson to recover from their recent absences, the Gaffer was dealt a hammer blow with news that Jimmy Cox would be a non-starter due to a problem with nose bleeds following a recent nasal operation. |
| Also centre half Adam Howarth had gone back on his word and joined up with Brian Hughes at Cirencester Town, this added to the double transfer snub in the week making it look as though City could attract players like Luke Chadwick could net modelling deals. |
| It had been suggested that on loan striker Lee Davis had also moved onto Cinderford with Mike Cook so that left the Tigers with just one barely fit striker in Hoskins, who himself was partnered by Burns. Neil Mustoe, Tom Webb and Keith Knight made up the midfield with Griff, Lyndon, Thommo, Marvin and Lee Smith at the back. |
| For Grantham, new boss Lee Glover has his work cut out turning around the Lincolnshire club's fortunes following their recent continual under-achievement. The ex-Forest striker will be aware that current Glasgow Celtic boss Martin O'Neill cut his managerial teeth at Grantham and will hope he takes a similar career path. However, if he's unlucky he can follow the fortunes of ex-gaffer Dave Norton, now in charge at Peterborough and District Sunday League side Wagon Wheel FC. |
The Kesteven Sports Stadium is one of those wide open athletics arenas and with Lincolnshire not being the hilliest of counties, the elements always seem to play a major part in proceedings. Most fans, well, not too many out of a crowd of 303 congregated opposite the main stand. This included a smaller than average troop of City supporters, many put off due to the early kick-off.
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| Often games take a while to get going, but not today. I had an 'Arsene Wenger' moment and didn't see what happened, but the sight of the referee singling out Chris Burns and shouts of "Send him off", "Bye, bye, bye, bye" and "Oi, stop treading on my knuckles" from the Grantham fans suggested that the City man had done wrong. The red card confirmed my suspicions. |
| It turned out that he'd given one of the home side a clip round the ear and that their man had gone down like a sack of spuds. Although, a clip round the ear from Burnsy can be quite tasty so he probably got his just desserts with his early shower. Looking on the bright side, he won't need to wash his kit in time for next Saturday's game against Stamford! |
| Shellshocked, City regrouped and tried to carry on as normal. It helped that Burns had started up front as there weren't any gaps to cover, but it was harsh on Hosky who would've hoped for a less strenous re-introduction to first team action following his enforced break. |
| It was last season's Western Division top scorer who had the first meaningful attempt on goal when his cross turned into more of a shot as Grantham keeper Mario Ziccardi had to be alert to palm the ball over the bar. |
| Grantham never really made the spare man count and chances for them were few and far between. Striker Brett Darby was unlucky that Matt Bath was in the right place at the right time to simply catch his far post header but Dominic Hallows seemed to have the City keeper beaten as he dragged his shot narrowly wide of the upright. |
It wasn't all Grantham but City had to play a containing game and be content with the occasional counter attack. Saying that, the home team weren't exactly overawing the Tigers and it was disappointing that no-one could get a touch to Keith Knight's corner as the ball flashed across the six yard box.
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| The Gingerbreads had their best spell with a quick break that called Bath into action twice in a minute. A snapshot was blocked and within a minute the City man got down well and saved with his legs as Lee Glover's men were denied. |
| Marvin Thompson seems to be enjoying his time out on the left wing after starting the season as a centre back and almost scored a contender for the goal of the season when he headed off on a mazy run the ended with a shot at the keeper from just outside the box. Hosky was also unlucky when a few minutes later he headed a Neil Griffiths long throw just wide of the near post with Ziccardi back on his heels. |
| With City reluctant to commit too much into attack and Grantham simply unable to penetrate half time couldn't come quickly enough for both sides as the final ten minutes passed without incident. |
| Grantham made a change at the break bringing on Jim Neil to try to add more attacking prowess. The substitute almost gave the home side the lead from a beautifully struck free kick after Lyndon Tompkins had been penalised for handball but his shot flew just the wrong side of the post. |
| City's reply should've ended with a goal from Tom Webb, but when the midfielder seized upon a defensive mistake he could only slot the ball into the side netting as the goalkeeper made himself big and stood his ground. |
If Webb had missed a sitter then Grantham striker Jamie Clarke should've been jailed for crimes against football when he headed wide from an unmarked position six yards out from goal. If he was out to catch the new boss' eye today I'm pretty sure that he did with that miss!
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| City made their first change with twenty five minutes to go when Dave Wilkinson replaced Knight in midfield to add more bite and the possiblity that the Brockworth man might get into the box to score. |
| The excitable home fans were woken up and goalkeeper Ziccardi found himself in the book for his over zealous complaints after a foul had been awarded against defender Adrian Speed following an off the ball incident with Andy Hoskins. If the Grantham free kick had been sublime and caused City heartbeats to flutter then there was no danger as Neil Mustoe pathetically dragged his set piece just six inches off the pitch and into the legs of the pack of players grouped in the penalty area. |
| More high jinks followed from the home fans when Wilko slid in and looked to have fouled his man, but he ran away with the ball and the ref waved 'play on' as the Grantham man lay on the deck. One demented fan in particular swung his arms with such fervour that I thought he'd take off. Still, anything to get away from the dull Lincolnshire town. |
| Lee Smith had had a quiet game but made the keeper work following a run from his own half and a shot that needed to be saved. Ziccardi was called into action again when Smith volleyed goalwards but the stopper was on the spot to deny the City wing back. |
| The Tigers had stepped up a gear now sensing that Grantham were nothing special and could be beaten with just ten men. Tom Webb easily intercepted a poor through ball and surged forward before playing in a hopeful ball to Wilko, but the defender just got in ahead of the deceptively slow City sub. |
All of the afternoon's hard work might've been for nothing when Neil Griffiths almost sliced a shot into his own net after a swift Grantham move ended in a goalbound shot from Willis Francis. What is it with these weird names? One Grantham player has two christian names and another has two surnames, maybe they ought to do a trade!
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| Having done well to get so far from starting the game as an injury doubt Marvin Thompson (or Derek Thompson according to Keith Knight) was replaced by Adie Harris. The veteran winger is far from fit due to a problem with his shoulder but in the ten minutes or so that he was on the pitch showed us what we'd been missing with his cheeky runs along the flank. |
| Another foul in a dangerous position by Tompkins marred what was otherwise a competant performance and it gave Neil the chance to better his previous free kick. Again he swung the ball up and over the wall, but this time it was on target. Sadly for the Grantham fans though Matt Bath showed why he's rated as one of the best keepers in the league by flying to his left to push the ball onto the post and away from danger. |
| Now knackered following his recent spell on the sidelines Andy Hoskins was replaced by his strike partner Jimmy Cox for the final five minutes. Cox rarely threatened but I for one can't wait for them both to be fit, available and starting a match together for the first time this season. |
| The ref blew the final whistle to put an end to the encounter and deny this reporter the opportunity to descend into a Norwegian style 'Margaret Thatcher, Sir Isaac Newton, Nicholas Parsons, Leslie Grantham, your boys took one helluva beating style' rant. |
| City would be happier with the point than Grantham but it was frightening to think how Burns didn't seem to be missed following his first minute red card. |
| The City fans retreated to the bar to see England slay the Welsh Dragons before hitting 88mph around the ring road and heading back to Gloucester. |
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| Phil Gough's Man of the Match - Matt Bath |
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Matt Bath
Star Man |
| Following the near-record breaking sending off of his manager Chris Burns, Matt, aided by his defence managed to shut out the Grantham attack for a whole ninety minutes. Two saves in the first half within a matter of seconds and a free kick that was superbly tipped onto a post in the second ensured that he kept a well earned clean sheet. And the praise of Phil Gough. |
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