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| Match Summaries : October 2005 |
| Bedford Town 5-3 City : Saturday October 1st 2005 |
Bedford Town
1: Ian Brown
2: Dean McElroy
3: Eddie Lawley
4: Rob Miller
(goal 34 mins)
5: Scott Preistnall
6: Ashley Blake
7: Jonathan Woolf
(sub 73 mins)
8: Derwayne Stupple
9: Chris Dillon
(goals 76 & 87 mins)
10: Rene Howe
(booked 63 mins)
(goals 43 & 79 mins)
11: Craig Rydeheard
Substitutes
12: Jason James
14: James Hatch
for Jonathan Woolf
15: Matt Childs
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City
1: Dave Evans
2: Jamie Reid
(sub 40 mins)
3: Adie Harris
(sub 80 mins)
4: Neil Griffiths
5: Richard Mansell
6: Chris Burns
7: Neil Mustoe
8: Tom Webb
(goal 20 mins)
9: Daryl Addis
(goal 51 mins)
10: Richard Kear
(goal 59 mins)
11: Lee Davis
(booked 11 mins)
Substitutes
12: Keith Knight
14: Dave Wilkinson
for Jamie Reid
15: Lee Randall
16: Eddie Rimmer
for Adie Harris
17: Lyndon Tompkins
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This game was a hiding to nothing for City who travelled to the New Eyrie with rookie goalkeeper Dave Evans between the sticks due to Matt Bath's unavailability.
However it was City who were quickest out of the blocks and they almost surprised their hosts when home keeper Ian Brown had to react quickly to deny Neil Griffiths's near post header inside two minutes.
Lee Davis picked up a silly booking when he prevented a quick Bedford free kick. But despite having not found the net in the previous four games it was Chris Burns' men who delighted us all by taking the lead when Tom Webb beat the offside trap to collect Adie Harris' pass before calmly rounding the keeper to score.
It wasn't Lee Davis's day, first came the booking then he fluffed a gilt edged chance to put City two goals up before the inevitable equaliser came when Rob Miller shot on the turn out of the reach of young Evans.
City wing back Jamie Reid then became another addition to the oh so unfunny sicklist at Meadow Park when he was carried off with a suspected broken ankle and to add insult to injury Rene Howe rammed home a free kick to put the home side a goal up at the interval.
But City came out with spark and within minutes of the restart levelled through Daryl Addis who outpaced the defender and scored on the keepers near post for a much needed first goal of the season. It should've been two in as many minutes when Tom Webb fed Richard Kear only for the 'striker' to overrun the pass and end up in a heap on the penalty spot. Davis ran onto the loose ball and was desperately unlucky to see his effort hit the post.
With City well on top they took a deserved lead when Webby tormented his man down the left flank again and laid the ball off to Daryl Addis whose goalbound shot was deflected in by Kear, or rather it hit Kear and went in. Kear claimed it. That was the first time I can remember City scoring in such fashion since Ian Howell netted at Rushden and Diamonds in 1994!
Howe was cautioned for the Eagles when he went in late on Chris Burns, a foul that left the Gaffer on the floor in agony so it must've been pretty bad. Things got worse as Chris Dillon rose unchallenged at the far post to head Bedford level before a mix up between Davis and Burns left the ball loose for Howe to roll into the empty net.
Dillon completed the win with a tap in as City failed to clear a corner and sub Dave Wilkinson might've pulled one back in injury time but Brown pulled off a smart save on the goalline. However there were plenty of positives for Burnsy to take from the defeat and his look of dejection at the final whistle wouldn't have been matched by those few City fans present. |
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| City 4-1 Northwood : Saturday October 8th 2005 |
City
1: Matt Bath
2: Jamie Reid
(goal 29 mins)
3: Richard Mansell
4: Neil Griffiths
5: Lyndon Tompkins
6: Chris Burns
7: Neil Mustoe
(sub 76 mins)
8: Tom Webb
9: Daryl Addis
(sub 83 mins)
10: Richard Kear
(goal 38 mins)
11: Lee Davis
(goal 33 mins)
(sub 63 mins)
Substitutes
12: Keith Knight
for Neil Mustoe
14: Dave Wilkinson
for Lee Davis
(goal 66 mins)
(booked 87 mins)
15: Adie Harris
16: Lee Randall
for Daryl Addis
17: Dave Evans
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Northwood
1: Dean Lindsay
2: Gavin Hart
3: Fergus Moore
4: Danny Butler
5: Matt Ruby
6: Leigh Harrington
(sub 32 mins)
7: Shayne Demetrious
8: Chris Gell
(booked 85 mins)
9: Richard Gell
(booked 85 mins)
10: Peter Dean
11: Dean Clark
(sub 81 mins)
Substitutes
12: Dave Nolan
14: Ryan Kirkland
for Leigh Harrington
(goal 58 mins)
15: Richard McDonagh
16: Harry Howell
for Dean Clark
17: Anthony Limbrick
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Believe it or not, as early as October this was being billed as a relegation six-pointer. For me there was only ever going to be one winner, and the bookies agreed by pricing us up as even money. I was even tempted by bunging a fiver on City to win 4-0 at 50/1...
However my bet didn't look too good as the Cock-a-nee's took the game to City but for once the thin-ice like Tigers defence held firm long enough for surprise inclusion Jamie Reid to ghost in at the far post under the nose of Tom Webb to volley home Daryl Addis' cross. Reid had been carted off in an ambulance at Bedford a week earlier and looked to be another City casualty but this was a great way to signal his immediate return.
Northwood made a change as they replaced wing back Leigh Harrington with striker Ryan Kirkland.
The T-End had hardly caught its breath when a good move started by Webb out on the left wing picked out Richard Kear who flashed his boot at the ball to divert it onto the path of Lee Davis who shaped and volleyed the ball past the static Wood keeper.
It was three when Webb, playing the best football that he'd done for a good two years angled a cutting through ball to the unmarked Kear and the former Cinderford striker showed a glimpse of his talent by easily rounding the keeper and cooly slotting home. The goal brought a tap on the shoulder from Gordon Spragg to remind me of the bet that I'd made and suggested that I tell them to slow down a little!
The goals did stop coming for a while but not long after the start of the second half my bet fell down as Matt Bath failed to hold onto a stinging drive from Peter Dean (the highly rated nineteen year old striker and not the guy who used to play Peter Beale in Eastenders). Substitute Kirkland piled in and buried the ball in the back of the net.
There could've been trouble as Lyndon Tompkins appeared to freight train Kirkland as he strode in to add the finishing touch to his second but the referee ruled that there was no foul play (amazingly) and the ball was cleared as the Northwood contingent rued what might've been a penalty and a red card.
Lee Davis had apparently been sick all week and made an early exit to give Dave Wilkinson some more match practice as he looks to re-establish himself as a goalscoring force in the City side. It took him less than five minutes as he seemed to be left alone with the ball just inside the box with the target in his sights. He set himself, lifted his left foot and curled an audacious chip into the far corner.
Wood's Danny Bulter got one on target during the next bout of action, only it wasn't a shot but a fist as he caught Daryl Addis with a right hander. The referee must've been unsighted and he was allowed to continue playing.
Other than a flurry of subs the game was won and my bet was lost. But whats £250 when you win a six-pointer?!! |
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| Evesham United 0-0 City : Tuesday October 11th 2005 |
Evesham United
1: Dave Adey
2: Anthony Watson
3: Stuart Hamilton
(sub 29 mins)
4: Richard Robinson
5: Steve Hands
6: Gavin O'Toole
7: Matt Hall
8: Leon Blake
(booked 68 mins)
9: Richard Ball
10: Jae Martin
(sub 61 mins)
11: Guy Hadland
Substitutes
12: Grant Pinkney
for Stuart Hamilton
14: Adam Cooper
15: Jamie Bailey
for Gavin O'Toole
16: Jermaine Clarke
for Jae Martin
(booked 89 mins)
17: Darren Knurek
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City
1: Matt Bath
2: Jamie Reid
(sub 75 mins)
3: Richard Mansell
4: Neil Griffiths
(booked 84 mins)
5: Lyndon Tompkins
6: Dave Wilkinson
7: Neil Mustoe
8: Tom Webb
9: Daryl Addis
(sub 88 mins)
10: Richard Kear
(booked 68 mins)
(sub 85 mins)
11: Lee Davis
(booked 78 mins)
Substitutes
12: Keith Knight
14: Adie Harris
for Jamie Reid
15: Lee Randall
for Daryl Addis
16: Andy Varnham
for Richard Kear
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What can be said about this game to make it sound better than it was? It even caused me to go sick for the rest of the week and miss three nights work!
I'm sure the home 'fans' (are there any diehard Evesham fans?) would disagree but there seemed to be four chances spread over the whole ninety minutes, with two coming in the last five. However all of them were from City players.
Football was never going to be the winner on a wet, muddy surface at the Common Road ground that the Robins are continually bluffing to leave. The 'new ground' plans on the wall are now that old that they will soon be the old new ground with a newer ground being planned.
With Chris Burns suspended for talking himself into an unpublicised 'red card' after the Cirencester match two weeks earlier, I say red card but I don't think they're possible to attain once the ref has blown up for full time. Anyhow, I digress, finally Neil Mustoe was tried at sweeper, a position I've thought would suit him for a while.
Other than Muzzie's well angled 'clearance' that just whizzed past Bathy's post with the City keeper a mere spectator I though that Neil performed admirably and should take on the role permanently. The other near squeak from a City man came when Wilko (I think) lobbed Bath and saw his attempt scrape the bar before being cleared to safety.
At the other end City's two chances came from a Richard Kear snapshot which Evesham keeper Dave Adey reacted quickly to to turn over the bar but the keeper was almost embarrased in the last minute when a hopeful shot from substitute Adie Harris slipped between his fingers, then his legs and almost over the line. Whether it did cross or not we'll never know because no-one was brave enough to stand out in the pissing rain.
Disciplinary wise Burns' men picked up three bookings, with Griff and Lee Davis both falling vicitim to a referee who was unable to give a little leeway for the conditions as they were both slightly late into tackles. The other, for Kear, was rather bizarre. I can only assume he was cautioned for chinning Leon Blake's fist after the little c*** had smacked him.
Talking of the ref, hats off to him for favouring the home side (he came from Worcester you know) and also well done to him for blowing up immediately when Adie had his ankles tapped but stayed on his feet with oceans of space in front of him. Well done that man. Tosser. |
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| Cirencester Town 2-0 City : Saturday October 15th 2005 |
Cirencester Town
1: Steve Book
2: Marc Richards
3: Stuart Fraser
4: Micheal Jackson
5: Gary Horgan
(sub 87 mins)
6: Craig Fullam
7: Darren Robison
8: Lee Smith
(booked 23 mins)
9: Gareth Hopkins
(sub 74 mins)
10: Steve Cowe
(goal 58 mins)
11: Kevin Halliday
(goal 26 mins)
Substitutes
12: Shaun Wimble
for Craig Fullam
14: Paul Hunt
15: Nick Stanley
for Gareth Hopkins
17: Paul Thompson
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City
1: Matt Bath
2: Chris Thompson
(sub 78 mins)
3: Richard Mansell
(sub 62 mins)
4: Neil Griffiths
5: Lyndon Tompkins
6: Dave Wilkinson
7: Neil Mustoe
8: Tom Webb
9: Daryl Addis
10: Richard Kear
(sub 62 mins)
11: Lee Davis
Substitutes
12: Marvin Thompson
14: Andy Varnham
for Richard Kear
15: Adie Harris
for Richard Mansell
16: Jamie Reid
for Chris Thompson
17: Lee Randall
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The City fans leaving the Corinium Stadium this afternoon must've been filled with a wicked sense of deja-vú following this most effortless of defeats.
With Chris Burns suspended and on the touchline the heart of the team didn't tick and the experience, height, strength and overall decisiveness of Brian Hughes' men rolled to an oh so easy victory. With a number of this current squad having enjoyed the euphoria of the success against Woking and Southport just three seasons earlier it's hard to fathom how they can fail so easily in knockout competitions.
City started well enough and had a couple of half decent chances as the clown between the Ciren sticks spilled an easy cross only to recover and block Wilko's close range effort. Interestingly Richard Kear was on hand to pick up the pieces but was pictured on his heels not anticipating a mistake from the keeper.
Lyndon Tompkins was unlucky when his header from a corner went narrowly over but he was a weak link in the side as his lack of fitness against Ciren's Goliath striker saw him concede foul after foul, with two in particular leading to the match winning goals.
The first strike came midway through the first period when Hopkins nodded a set piece into the path of Meadow Park diving cheat Kevin Halliday who for once, in the penalty area, managed to stay upright to blast the ball past Matt Bath. They say that in life cheats don't prosper, don't believe them, this tosser was the one doing the smiling. Although it was nice to see that he had his fingers strapped up, I hope that hurt when he did it.
The second goal came from Steve Cowe, nothing more than a tap in when he diverted Lee Smith's shot past Bath when yet another set piece was only half cleared. Gloucester City undone by two Gloucester residents playing for Cirencester. Something absolutely not right there.
The saddest thing about this performance though was City's total lack of invention and inability to impose a serious threat. Adie Harris could've scored when he rounded Book but his shot had no punch and was easily walked off the line by Craig Fullam. Richard Mansell also had a chance but the youngster who has done little to impress the City faithful dragged his shot wide with the whole target to aim at.
We're doomed! |
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| Mangotsfield United 5-4 City : Tuesday October 25th 2005 |
Mangotsfield United
1: Danny Greaves
2: Tom Warren
(sub 85 mins)
3: Drew Shore
(goal 70 mins)
4: Rob Cousins
5: Gary Warren
(goal 16 mins)
(booked 36 mins)
6: Mark Summers
(booked 59 mins)
7: Dave Anyinsah
(goal 42 mins)
(booked 57 mins)
8: Ross Casey
9: Rob Claridge
(goal 11 mins)
10: David Seal
(goal 65 mins)
11: Luke Prince
(sub 28 mins)
Substitutes
12: Lee Howells
for Luke Prince
14: J***n E***n
15: Dean Birkby
16: Jordan Hazell
for Tom Warren
17: Dave Mogg
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City
1: Matt Bath
2: Jamie Reid
(goal 43 mins)
(sub 85 mins)
3: Adie Harris
4: Neil Griffiths
5: Marvin Thompson
6: Lyndon Tompkins
(booked 29 mins)
7: Neil Mustoe
8: Tom Webb
9: Luke Corbett
(goals 1 & 49 mins)
(booked 8 mins)
10: Lee Davis
(sub 55 mins)
11: Dave Wilkinson
(goal 80 mins)
Substitutes
12: Keith Knight
14: Andy Varnham
for Lee Davis
15: Richard Mansell
16: Lee Randall
17: Chris Burns
for Jamie Reid
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Who needs the entertainment of the Premiership when you can get goals galore with Gloucester City?
Unfortunately, this one went the same way as the Bedford game and didn't repeat the success that the Tigers have enjoyed against Rugby Town and Northwood. However, despite the yellow bellied defending from the Yellows this game should've seen three points for the enterprising City but for a dreadful kop out by referee Neville Brimming from Worcester.
Midway through the first half with the home side having just taken the lead, as he strode onto a Lee Davis pass Dave Wilkinson was crudely brought down on the edge of the box by Gary Warren, the last defender. Quite how the official decided it only warranted a yellow is beyond me and only serves to stoke up the growing contempt that I have for these people.
It had started incredibly for Chris Burns' men. New boy Luke Corbett, released by the Cossham Street outfit a week earlier and snapped up by City for half the money he was on in Bristol had set out to show his former employers that they'd made a mistake when they discarded him so readily. Within fifty seconds he'd lashed a pinpoint pass from Davis past the static Greaves and purposely positioned his celebration so that those in the home dugout were in the box seats.
However our league position tells a story and so does our defence as they stood idly by whilst Martin Grimshaw's surprise promotion chasers scored not once, but three times. Rob Claridge, Warren and Dave Anyinsah were the beneficaries although the defender should've walked for his professional foul not long after he'd tapped in Mangotsfield's second.
The third goal made mugs of two City defenders and Matt Bath as they escorted the Claret winger to goal and failed to challenge him as he shot. Bath watched it in too as he was rooted to his spot. What could've been a body blow for the Tigers was rescued by youngster Jamie Reid who followed up his recent maiden strike for the first team with an audacious thirty yard drive straight out of the top drawer. Mango's keeper Danny Greaves could be forgiven for watching and even applauding as it burst the net.
In the second half playing downhill on a pitch about as level as a Jamaican Steel Drum City enjoyed a spell of dominance and within minutes had deservedly pulled the scores level. Following a game of head tennis Corbett ghosted in amid calls for offside and volleyed home the equaliser.
After not being able to make their dominance count, pretty much like their last visit in August 2003 the home side profited from more appalling defending when Lyndon Tompkins, his lack of match fitness causing more problems than his presence solves gave away a needless foul. The free kick, rifled into the far corner was just watched by Bath and not to take anything away from the fine strike by David Seal might've been reached by a goalkeeper more in tune with his game.
Neil Griffiths added to our defensive woes when he inexplicably handled a lofted centre and Drew Shore scored easily from the spot for the second time this season.
Two goals down City showed their fighting spirit by clawing one back through Wilko as he smashed home a rebound from Tompkins' Corbett-like volley but it wasn't to be and City should really take a compliment from the fact that Mangotsfield were holding the ball in the corners with as much as five minutes to go.
But as much as we held our heads high as we left it was a bitter defeat to take against a team where the word 'overrated' can apply to pretty much everything that they have to offer. |
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| Bath City 0-0 City : Saturday October 29th 2005 |
Bath City
1: Paul Evans
(booked 75 mins)
2: Steve Jones
3: Graeme Power
4: Matt Coupe
5: Gethin Jones
6: Adie Harris
(booked 75 mins)
7: Tony Bird
(booked 90 mins)
8: Jon Holloway
9: Phil Walsh
(sub 45 mins)
10: $cott Partridge
11: Andy Sandell
(sub 74 mins)
Substitutes
12: Martin Paul
for Phil Walsh
14: Dean Clarke
for Andy Sandell
15: Chris Holland
16: Andrew York
17: Mark Bryant
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City
1: Matt Bath
2: Jamie Reid
(sub 53 mins)
3: Adie Harris
(sub 74 mins)
4: Neil Griffiths
5: Lyndon Tompkins
6: Chris Burns
7: Neil Mustoe
8: Tom Webb
9: Daryl Addis
10: Luke Corbett
(booked 12 mins)
(sub 86 mins)
11: Dave Wilkinson
Substitutes
12: Keith Knight
14: Marvin Thompson
for Jamie Reid
15: Andy Varnham
16: Lee Davis
for Luke Corbett
17: Richard Mansell
for Adie Harris
(booked 90 mins)
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In this life we are surrounded by the "have's" and the "have not's", this was a game that featured teams of either ilk. There's no denying that Bath are a quality team and with that in mind Chris Burns went for the defensive option, after all it was great coming away from Cossham Street having scored four goals but we had no points to show for it.
Both Burns and Neil Mustoe appeared in what looked like a six man back four, although the Gaffer was sat in front of the line and Muzzie was sweeping up behind it. The two games that Mustoe has played there he's been a star and must realise that it's his best position. Here's hoping Neil makes the permanent move into defence.
Their main task was to keep out £600 per week striker $cott Partridge but we couldn't help but notice that Bath are so in awe of the Mighty Tigers that they went and signed their own Adie Harris because they couldn't have ours.
After his sensational debut in midweek Luke Corbett lined up against another of his former clubs despite suffering a heavy knock and it showed. It didn't stop him picking up a card for his late tackle on Steve Jones though but it was a little harsh being the game's first foul.
The game flowed, sadly it all flowed to the Bristol End which Bath were attacking, however brave blocking and woeful finishing ensure that the Tigers goal wasn't breached before the break. We did have one chance though as Wilko strode from midfield, played a one-two with Corbett before tamely shooting straight at Evans in the Bath goal.
Matt Coupe, hate him or hate him and as much as I don't like to admit is a damn good defender, Although quite why he persists with his niggly foul play is a mystery and only looks bad on him. This afternoon he slid in for a well timed tackle on our Adie but made sure he followed through and gave the City veteran a hefty whack on the ankles. Animal, asshole, menace to society, you name it, he is it. Although, with a face like his at least he won't have to shell out on a mask for Halloween on Monday night.
At the break under pressure Romans boss John Relish took off striker Phil Walsh and replaced him with old timer Martin Paul. A few minutes had passed when the dangerous Andy Sandell looked to have been tripped by Reid but to the relief of the Tigers the ref waved play on. The only support that the home fans seemed to give were there frequent shouts of "Penalty!!" although as time wore on I wondered whether it was just a tape loop playing over the tannoy.
Reid made way for Marvin Thompson as City looked to strengthen up at the back. Bearing in mind the number of games that Jamie has played lately it must be weird for him to wake up one day and think that he doesn't have a game!
City were frustrating Bath and looking to counter attack more and more although Neil Mustoe was on his guard to nip in and sweep the ball away from Partridge's feet when the journeyman moneygrabber had a rare sight of goal.
Bath seemed to give up the game as they took off their best player of the afternoon when a defender (Dean Clarke) came on for the free attacking Sandell. At the same time City's Adie Harris was replaced by Richard Mansell.
The big talking point came with ten minutes to go when Daryl Addis chased a ball up the left wing. Bath goalkeeper Paul Evans obviously thought he would get it and chased out of his area. However Daryl got their first, touched the ball and Evans flew in two-footed, got one part ball and three parts Forester. With the City man in agony on the floor the ref blew up and after much interference from players in Black and White shirts only booked the goalkeeper, even though had Addis stayed on his feet he'd have had an unguarded net to shoot at.
Lee Davis came on for a cameo role as he replaced the struggling Corbett before more slapstick refereeing allowed Bath to keep eleven men on the pitch when a red card should've been produced. Mansell came out of defence but was always shadowed by Tony Bird. The Welshman eventually caught the Tiger, pinched the ball and turned defence into attack. However the City man did something unseen by most and Bird stopped in his tracks before grabbing Mansell in a choke hold and starting a melee which could've turned as ugly as Yuffie.
Bizarrely the ref chose to book both players instead of sending off the aggressor. I know football's a contact sport but come on, a choke hold??!!
Still City had the last laugh as despite playing about eight minutes of injury time they snatched a point off their hosts for the second season running. On this evidence, barring a massive injustice both teams will be in the same league again next season.
God I love to see Bath City fans squirm! |
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| Page last updated : 30th October 2005 |
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