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Tiger Roar frontpage archive - 2011 Q4
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| Thursday December 29th 2012 |
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City of Gloucester
coat of arms
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GLOUCESTER CITY PLANNING APPLICATION – HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Now that the planning application is up and running this is the opportunity for everyone involved with the Club to make their views known, but there are a few things you need to ensure in doing so. It is essential you quote the Planning Application Reference Number: 11/00430/OUT
Letters of support must be addressed to:
Mrs C Townley,
Planning Department,
4th Floor, Herbert Warehouse
The Docks
Gloucester
GL2 5FD
Or email: (again, include ref nr)
It would be helpful if you could let the club have a copy – hand it to any club official or into the programme stall, or send to
Gloucester City Football Club (Planning),
Arriva House,
Meadow Park,
Sudmeadow Road,
Hempstead,
Gloucester.
GL2 5HS
Or email:
POINTS TO MAKE
Entirely up to you, but key points to be made in support might include some or all of the following:- The Club will at long last be able to return to renew its historic and well established links with the City of Gloucester
- Good for the Club...good for the vibrancy and vitality of the City
- No more flooding as there is a comprehensive flood alleviation scheme proposed....which will protect the Club and 125 local residents/businesses.
- Excellent design of the building
- Meadow Park is a great location given the growth and development of this part of Gloucester (i.e. The Docks re-development scheme and the new South-West Bypass).
- Plans provide employment land which should be actively encouraged in difficult economic times.
- No concerns about access...as there is already a Football Stadium present which in it’s heyday accommodated 4,500 people.
- The application provides an opportunity for a community based approach....a proper home for the Club and all of its associated/ancillary activities.
- The development will considerably reduce carbon emissions....i.e. by removing the need for fans to travel to their “temporary home grounds”.
- The development will have no impact on any local residents/businesses...the plans will in fact provide a great improvement to the character of the area.
- The redevelopment will bring new life back into this part of Gloucester.
Obviously you might not want to include all of those, but the club is keen to get a cross section of those from supporters
TIMESCALE
It would be useful if fans could write or email in the next 2-3 weeks. Technically, the Planning Officers can receive them anytime up until the day of the Planning Committee...but early in the process is always better. As a suggestion, could you include some Club Officer contacts for people to provide a copy of their letters/e-mails of support to. I know that is probably a pain to do, but it’s important that we try to keep copies of them.
PLEASE HELP US TO MAKE THE CASE FOR PLANNING CONSENT – YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT AND WILL BE HEARD AS PART OF THE PROCESS |
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| Monday December 26th 2011 |
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Darren Edwards
superb goal
Adam Mann
denied penalty
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It was a bitterly disappointing end to 2011 at St Georges Lane today as City surrendered a half-time lead to go down 1-2 to hosts Worcester City.
Darren Edwards had put City 1-0 up midway through the first half when Matt Lock found him with a superb pass into space behind a square Worcester defence. Edwardinho easily took the ball past James Dormand in the Worcester goal before drilling home a shot with his left foot from a fair way out and acute angle to send the hundred or so City fans in the impressive Bank Holiday crowd of 1501 delirious.
But the home side should've equalised straight away when Simon Brown, unmarked at the far post rattled a shot against the crossbar when it looked easier to score. Just before the break Adam Mann was denied what looked like a when he rode a tackle by one defender before being tripped by the challenge of another, but not having been awarded one spot kick in the league this season these decisions just aren't going our way.
Worcester upped their game in the second half and finally got their goal when Tom Hamblin got caught in possession by substitute Michael Taylor who seemed to take an age to walk the ball in past Lewis Carey. This had come after Steve Davies has crafted and excellent chance but failed to convert.
Then just as these things happen Davies lost the ball on the halfway line and Worcester broke on the counter attack through the pacy Taylor who was brought down by Matt Rose in the area. A penalty was awarded, Rose was booked and Brown scored from the spot.
City only have to wait until New Years Day to get their revenge. Let's hope that the people of Gloucester can go some way to showing their three counties counterparts that they can support their football team as well. Kick off is at 3pm at Whaddon.
City : Carey, Harris (Michael Green 63), Weir, Rose (Wilson 79), Hamblin, Webb, Lock, Mullings, Edwards, Morford (Davies 74), Mann.
Sub not used: Rawlings
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| Saturday December 17th 2011 |
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Steve Davies
lively but to no avail
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Supporters always remember the great games that they go to see so this one won't be one that sticks in the mind after City surrendered to Bishops Stortford for the second time this season as they went down 0-2 at Whaddon Road.
On a bitterly cold day it took David Mehew's men a while to get out of the blocks but their opponents, no longer bossed by ex-England keeper Ian Walker looked much sharper as they were out to impress new manager Rod Stringer.
And that they did as they stopped everything City could throw at them before they could form even the remotest of attacks and took a deserved first half lead when Dwight Gayle pounced on mistakes from Matt Rose and Lewis Carey to score from an acute angle despite the attentions of Tom Hamblin.
Having had the opportunity to give his team a "gee up" at half time Mehew would've been aghast to see the cockney side score such a simple second goal as winger Junior Dadson strode through a motionless City defence to slot the ball past Carey.
Despite using all three substitutes City were unable to give Stortford keeper Jordan Archer too much to worry about as they celebrating doing the double over a poor City side.
One of the only plus points was seeing Jack Harris back on the pitch in a City shirt, although he could only offer the same as his teammates in an attacking threat. It was noted that he baulked at a fifty fifty challenge at the end of the game but he can be forgiven for doing so in what was, at that stage a dead rubber.
City : Carey, Rawlings (Harris 45), Weir, Rose, Hamblin, Webb (Mullings 54), Reece, Lock, Edwards, Morford (Mann 56), Davies.
Subs not used: Mustoe, Wilson
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| Will Morford has his eyes on the ball against Bishops Stortford |
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| Tuesday December 6th 2011 |
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Will Morford
headed city ahead
Matt Coupe
sent off
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A quirk of the fixture computer (or the back of Den's fag packet) saw City face against the history-less Birmingham club Nuneaton Town for the fourth time in just eight months tonight at Whaddon.
Sadly that run of games has yielded very little for the good guys, although for once the Tigers did manage to breach their opponents' back line as Will Morford headed home Charlie Reece's free kick to give his side a twenty-fifth minute lead.
But the game was turned on it's head in the second half when an offside looking Wesley York ran onto a miscontrolled ball from Justin Marsden and scuffed a shot over City keeper Lewis Carey. Lewis has rejoined the club on loan for a month to cover for the injured and suspended Mike Green.
There can be fewer worse sounds than that of Nuneaton Borough fans celebrating a Nuneaton Town goal against your own team. In fact the only time their paltry following made any noise was when they scored.
Things got worse minutes later when Matt Coupe was harshly adjudged to have brought down York and a penalty was awarded with Coupe sent off, however the offence took place outside the box but it was always going to go against City as the referee had had crossed words with City manager David Mehew before the game.
Striker Danny Glover unleased his lethal weapon of a right boot to win the game for the big-spending phoenix club who seem destined to buy their way back to the Conference where they were when they went bust before.
One can only hope.
City : Carey, Rawlings, Weir, Coupe, Hamblin, Webb (Lock 69), Reece (Mann 67), Mullings, Edwards, Morford, Davies (Rose 67).
Subs not used: Wilson, Harris
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| Darren Edwards watches as Will Morford's header hits the back of the net |
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| Saturday December 3rd 2011 |
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Will Morford
claimed goal
Darren Edwards
superb finish
Tom Hamblin
poor back pass
Matt Rose
loves it in goal
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Following the heartbreak of the FA Trophy defeat at Truro City looked as though they were still feeling it's effects as they went 0-2 down in the first half here today. And that scoreline flattered City!
Things might've been different though had the referee had the courage to award City a penalty when Darren Edwards was kicked in the area by a high boot. It would've been a soft penalty but it was still a foul, as was underlined by the fact that a similar incident occured outside the box later in the game which he did indeed act on.
Hinckley have improved since we beat them at their place and it showed as they punished a rare mistake by Tyler Weir and then scored a second with a lucky deflection that wrong footed City keeper Mike Green.
From a ball down the channel Weir got under it and flicked it to the unmarked Andre Gray whose cross was blocked by Sam Rawlings and at the second attempt Gray found Tom Byrne who made no mistake from eight yards.
Before they'd scored their second they had a great chance to get another when Green mis-kicked a clearance and was hopelessly out of position but Tom Hamblin did enough to block Danny Newton's view of the open goal and the Hinckley number nine could only shoot wide.
But it mattered little as Gray collected a second ball from a corner and having controlled it with his back to goal, turned and shot taking a wicked deflection off of Rawlings' toe leaving Green on his heels and the net bulging.
City were at sixes and sevens but the old adage about scoring just before the break being a great time to score worked in their favour. Will Morford held off a challenge at the near post to collect Charlie Reece's cross, turned and shot towards the far post but Rob Oddy got in the way and turned the ball in.
The team whose club charges coaches £10 to park in an unfinished car park came out firing on all cylinders in the second half and almost went further ahead in spectacular fashion when goalscorer Byrne escaped his marker at the far post and shot with a spectacular overhead kick that flew wide of the post.
Then having come back from 0-2 down on Tuesday David Mehew's men did it again. Tom Hamblin helped a corner on towards Darren Edwards and City's number nine showed his real worth with a run on a sixpence and half volloey into the corner of the net. That was Edwardinho at his best.
So with our tails up, what could possibly go wrong?
Two minutes later a poor backpass from Hamblin left Green in all sorts of trouble and despite Matt Coupe trying to fend off Gray the striker nipped in behind him and ahead of the City keeper to reach the ball first. This was followed by an almighty coming together and cartwheel motion by the Hinckley player followed almost immediately by the referee's red card, somewhat harshly owing to the fact that Gray wouldn't have scored because of the angle and that Coupe and Weir would've blocked the route to goal.
One has to feel for Steve Davies, making a rare start he became the sacrificial lamb as Matt Rose came off the bench for his second appearance as an emergency goalkeeper following his previous chance at the New Lawn against Banbury in 2007. City shut up shop and protected him well as the Leicester team failed to really test him.
In fact all Rose had to do was catch a few crosses and turn an attempted lob by Andy Gooding away from the danger area. He did flap at one cross and miss it completely but he didn't concede so we'll let him have that one!
We were happy with a point at the final whistle under the circumstances and now face a stern test against Nuneaton on Tuesday at Whaddon (k/o 7.45pm)
City : Mike Green, Rawlings, Weir, Coupe, Hamblin, Webb, Reece (Mann 64), Mullings, Edwards, Morford (Lock 84), Davies (Rose 54).
Sub not used: Mustoe
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| Stand-in Goalkeeper Matt Rose turns away a lob from Hinckley's Andy Gooding |
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| Tuesday November 29th 2011 |
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Darren Mullings
equaliser
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City experienced FA Trophy heartbreak in Cornwall tonight after battling back from two goals down only to concede again in injury time.
After a very even first half, one which should've seen Truro player Marcus Martin red carded for a two footed lunge on Darren Edwards minutes after he'd been booked the home side scored twice through defender Aaran Pugh at the start of the second.
New signing Scott Wilson pulled one back late in the game before almost instantly Darren Mullings equalised but Pugh popped up to score his third header and earn his team a game against Ebbsfleet.
City : Mike Green, Rawlings (Mustoe 68), Weir, Coupe, Hamblin, Webb (Wilson 69), Reece (Davies 58), Mullings, Edwards, Morford, Mann.
Sub not used: Liddiard
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| Monday November 28th 2011 |
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Ebbsfleet United
Trophy opponents?
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If City are successful in tomorrow nights replay at Truro they will face a first round tie against Ebbsfleet United at Whaddon, probably on Sunday December 11th due to a previously booked function at our rented ground.
It will be a tough but winnable encounter for the Tigers as they face a fellow Farnborough playoff slaying team. Although we've never actually faced the Kent team in their current guise, it's almost fifteen years since we played them when they were called Gravesend & Northfleet FC.
Jenni Silver of has been busy making photoshopped images of City players. Click to have a look at them.
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| Saturday November 26th 2011 |
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Charlie Reece
goalscorer
Adam Mann
left wing threat
Darren Mullings
victim of bad foul
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City must do it all again and face another midweek away trip to the extremities of the non-league pyramid on Tuesday after a 1-1 draw with Truro City.
Supporters hoping for a repeat of the 7-2 FA Cup drubbing were left disappointed as the wind took a hold over Cheltenham and dictated that the majority of the attacking play would take place at one end of the ground.
That mean't that City bossed the first half and Truro the second and although it wasn't for the want of trying it remained goalless at half time, although Darren Edwards had a great chance to put his team in front when he headed Charlie Reece's cross against the crossbar and Tom Hamblin shot over from the penalty spot after he'd controlled Matt Coupe's pass with his chest.
It always seems a bad omen when we have the same referee that oversaw the Corby match when Jack Harris broke his leg so thankfully our initial fears weren't realised wehen Truro's Marcus Martin went in hard and late on Darren Mullings. A horrible sound echoed around the ground and Mullings rolled around in apparent agony yet such a horrible foul only drew a yellow card. Fortunaltely the City midfielder wasn't hurt.
It was Reece who got the goal for the Tigers at the start of the second half when he turned in a ball that eventually came his way after good work from Will Morford on the left hand side. The Bristol Rovers loanee wasn't as well utilised as the superb Adam Mann on the opposite flank but is starting to look a real threat with the more football that he plays.
The goal seemed to spark Truro into life and they pulled level when a free kick was cleared as far as Jake Ash who turned and shot into the far corner giving Mike Green no chance.
The Cornish side seemed to dominate the final twenty minutes with the windy conditions a huge advantage but City had a great chance when substitute Steve Davies broke free but couldn't find the net when he tried to lob Tim Sandercombe in the Truro goal.
Having had a good tussle with Coupe Truro's veteran striker Barry Hayles hurt himself in a challenge with City keeper Green but that wasn't the end for his team who almost did away with the need for a replay when Ash broke through and shot with the outside of his boot. Although he missed the target he had Green beaten and the ball was about an inch wide of the far post!
The replay is at Treyew Road, Tuesday 7.45pm.
City : Mike Green, Rawlings, Weir, Coupe, Hamblin, Webb, Reece (Rose 88), Mullings, Edwards, Morford, Mann (Davies 63).
Subs not used: Mustoe, Liddiard
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| Tom Webb shows off his FA Cup Player of the Round Trophy |
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| Saturday November 19th 2011 |
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Tom Webb
another goal!
Darren Edwards
back among the goals
Darren Mullings
immense in midfield
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City completed a perfect week here at Moss Lane today with a hard fought 2-1 win over Altrincham to make it nine points from three games.
First half goals from Tom Webb and Darren Edwards were enough to overcome the one time non-league giants even if it did get a bit nervy once Damian Reeves had pulled a goal back. The home camp might complain about City's method of killing the game but the less time the ball spent away from Mike Green's goal, the less chance they were going to get to score the equaliser.
Will Morford returned to the side for the unfortunate Matt Lock who may be missing for a month with a knee injury and the City striker was in the thick of the action straight away heading a pass from Tyler Weir into the path of Tom Webb's lungbusting run from midfield. Webb's recent penchant for goalscoring continued as he controlled the ball before slamming a shot into the ground, over the dive of Stuart Coburn and into the net to give City a surprise early lead. The cheers of the forty-seven travelling fans was amplified by the silence of the ranks of home fans gathered behind the other goal.
Coburn didn't seem a happy man and took it out on Morf with a sly elbow to the head as the City striker was closing down the angle from a backpass.
In reply Altrincham came close as Mike Green was forced to save with his legs from top scorer Reeves and then was left rooted to the spot as a cross from Shaun Densmore fooled everyone with the bounce and hit the far post before going out for a goal kick.
The home time continued to press but it proved their undoing as Tyler Weir robbed Michael Twiss on the edge of the penalty area before passing to Adam Mann who found Morford with a wonderful pass with the outside of his foot. Morford easily beat his marker for pace wide on the left before spotting a run from Darren Edwards in the middle who controlled the ball before stabbing a shot over Coburn to double City's advantage.
As the second half gathered pace the home side made a couple of changes that altered their 4-3-3 formation as both James Lawrie (on loan from Telford) and Nicky Clee, who'd scored at Whaddon were introduced.
Both teams continued to attack and Charlie Reece was unlucky to see his shot from a narrow angle touched over by Coburn before the Alty keeper dived onto a backpass and after a lot of huffing and puffing a phalanx of Altrincham players charged down the shot from Darren Mullings after a indirect free kick.
But that "miss" proved costly as Lawrie fed Reeves with a low, direct pass and clever feet saw the Altrincham man chip the ball over the grounded form of City keeper Green to halve the defecit.
Although for all of their pressure Green's goal wasn't really threatened as City did what they could to run the clock down, although Edwards may question why he was booked for kicking the ball out of play.
City could've even added gloss to their performance when substitute Steve Davies, who was also booked for time wasting saw his angled drive smack against the top of the post.
City : Mike Green, Michael Green, Weir, Coupe, Hamblin, Webb, Reece, Mullings, Edwards, Morford (Davies 62), Mann (Rose 76).
Subs not used: Rawlings, Mustoe
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| Darren Edwards slots home City's second goal at Altrincham today |
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| Tuesday November 15th 2011 |
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Steve Davies
supersub
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City turning in their best performance of the season tonight at Northolme as they turned a half time defecit on it's head to come away with all three points thanks to a 4-1 win against Gainsborough Trinity.
The Tigers didn't enjoy the best of starts and were a goal down within two minutes when a shot by Michael Leary was deflected past Mike Green by Tom Hamblin and City struggled against their Lincolnshire hosts through the majority of the first half. The game changed however when Matt Lock went off injured to be replaced by Steve Davies.
It was Davies who brought David Mehew's men level after the break as a shot from Matt Coupe was turned in by the City man after Trinity debutant keeper Dimitar Evtimov had failed to hold it. Within two minutes the Tigers were ahead when Charlie Reece fired home following the keepers save from a Hamblin shot and the City centre half headed home from a corner to make it three.
Under fire City striker Darren Edwards, who'd played up front on his own added gloss to the scoreline when a he seized upon a poor backpass from Gavin Cowan before rounding the keeper and slotting the ball home.
City : Mike Green, Michael Green (Mustoe 89), Weir, Coupe, Hamblin, Webb, Reece (Rawlins 79), Mullings, Edwards, Lock (Davies 36), Mann.
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| Saturday November 12th 2011 |
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Darren Edwards
Edwardinho's back!
Charlie Reece
thats more like it
Adam Mann
has a big future
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The defeat at Wetherby Road against Harrogate earlier this season was a bitter pill to swallow; City hadn't played well, there weren't the players on the bench to change the game and the referee was a disgrace. But we didn't deserve to lose.
So today, this victory went a long way to banishing that defeat to memory.
One surprise in the starting line-up was that Tom Webb had been dropped, although with three tough games in a week (Gainsborough and Altrincham away to come) "rested" is probably a fairer description.
City went at their opponents from the off but the two free kicks and corner that they earned were wasted, whilst Harrogate probably should've scored from their first set piece. From then on it was backs to the wall for Harrogate in their rather dull grey shirts.
Since joining on loan from Bristol Rovers Charlie Reece has looked like a better dancer than footballer but today it all went right for him as he destroyed the left side of Town's defence and when he'd beaten his man actually looked up and picked out a team mate rather than play a percentage ball into space. Of course, his efforts didn't bear fruit but that was down to Will Morford's finishing and when he tried his luck himself, Harrogate captain Jake Picton's legs.
In the second half the Tigers were rampant. Reece went quiet and Adam Mann took up the mantle and was in such superb form that the only way they could stop him seemed to be with a sly elbow off the ball. It must be hard to take for the likes of Lee Elam, a well known non-league mercenary to be torn a new asshole by someone who has just turned twenty.
Darren Edwards thought he'd given City the lead when he bravely dived to head home a pass from Morford but it seemed that Morf was offside and the goal was ruled out. Worse was to follow for the goal-famined City striker when Darren Mullings saw his free kick saved and Edwards' rebound was deflected onto the upright by Harrogate keeper Ben Wilson.
But all's well that ends well and following the introduction of Steve Davies the pacy striker linked up well with Michael Green to deliver a cross which Wilson could only palm into the path of Edwards who made no mistake from twelve yards. It was a great relief to see Darren score such a vital goal and disappointing but no surprise that he chose not to acknowledge the cheers of the City fans, one or two of which seem to be questioning his worth!
The goal brought Harrogate to life but for all their effort they couldn't beat Mike Green and the closest they came was a cross which had the City keeper on his heels as it whistled past the far post.
The win pushes City up to thirteen whilst the Yorkshire team are in freefall on the back of their fifth straight defeat.
City : Mike Green, Michael Green, Weir, Coupe, Hamblin, Lock (Rawlins 83), Reece (Webb 78), Mullings, Edwards, Morford (Davies 71), Mann.
Subs not used: Rose, Mustoe
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| Adam Mann of the Match! |
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| Monday November 7th 2011 |
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Truro City
FA Trophy opponents
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City have been drawn against Truro City in the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy. The game will take place at Whaddon Road on Saturday November 26th, kick off 3pm.
Obviously the 7-2 FA Cup win is still fresh in our minds and having recently had a potentially club threatening court case delayed and with the added threat of journeyman footballer Barry Hayles in the side the Cornish big spenders will be looking for revenge. |
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| Saturday November 5th 2011 |
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Tyler Weir
another goal
Will Morford
no fan of Sarah!
Lewis Carey
thanks and good luck
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When your luck is down, your luck is down.
Halifax came to Whaddon today and performed a classic smash and grab, scoring three goals and taking all three points. At least they had the decency to bring a few fans; 183 from the West Yorkshire town and as far as we know they went home having not caused any damage to the ground unlike the time we played the "old" club in 1997.
For City Lewis Carey was making his last appearance before returning to Bristol City and Charlie Reece started in place of the flu-ridden Matt Lock.
Both sides started with half chances and with a bit of good fortune Darren Edwards' volley would've flown into the net but Edwardinho isn't getting much luck at the moment.
It was ironic that City were playing the ball around really well but getting nowhere when a mis-placed pass from Tom Hamblin saw the ball hoiked up field to James Dean who traded passes with James Marwood and in one swift move Dean had crafted a nice shot beyond the reach of Carey and Halifax were ahead.
Just to prove that Lady Luck has deserted us a goalbound shot from Tom Webb took a heavy deflection off of a defender and with the goalkeeper grounded the ball diverted inches wide of the near post!
Frustrations began to creep in for City and when Edwards had gambled on a miskick from Halifax keeper Simon Eastwood he couldn't provide the kind of delivery that he himself craves and Will Morford was unable to get a touch on his centre. As the game approached half time City had another great chance to score but three players all took turns to not shoot and the moans and groans from the stand were painful to listen to.
City took the game to their opponents at the start of the second half and referee Sarah Garratt waved away appeals for a penalty when Morford went down under pressure from Scott McManus with the goal beckoning. But the scores were levelled when twice in a matter of minutes the Town defence backed off as a City player bore down on them, first Darren Mullings shot hopelessly over the bar but Tyler Weir made no mistake when he drilled a shot into the bottom corner.
Another penalty appeal against Morford was turned down and the City man was booked after the protests but somehow Halifax's Simon Garner stayed on the field after he had been booked earlier he got away with pulling back Weir on another run at goal and then slapping Edwards around the head and neck. Sarah certainly has mellowed since her previous visits!
And typically as City were laying siege to the Halifax goal they broke away and scored. Dean was the scorer after good work from Jason St Juste on the left wing. Substitute Danny Holland added gloss to the scoreline with another goal as he turned Tom Hamblin and shot beyind the reach of Carey to give the scoreline a real flattering look.
City : Carey, Michael Green (Mustoe 84), Weir, Coupe, Hamblin, Webb (Rose 84), Reece, Mullings, Edwards, Morford, Mann (Davies 54).
Subs not used: Rawlings, Mike Green
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Ben Hunt has left the club and joined Cirencester Town after two non-playing substitute appearances although City will retain his Conference registration. |
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| Will Morford goes down under pressure from a Halifax defender |
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| Tuesday November 1st 2011 |
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Tom Hamblin
just shot wide
Matt Lock
great chance
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Ever since the last time that City reached the first round proper of the FA Cup they seem to have been cursed with conceeding late goals.
Back in 1989 it was Morrys Scott who scored twice for Cardiff City as they clawed back City's 2-0 lead at Ninian Park whilst in more recent times the game at Cirencester against Lowestoft sticks in the throas and Saturdays injury time heartbreak at Chelmsford was also hard to take.
So tonight, as Ricky Modeste floated over a cross in the 85th minute for Cliff Akurang to head home that familiar sinking feeling took hold again.
After a very even contest that looked as though it might need both extra time and penalties it was the Essex team who took the honours and earned a home game against AFC Telford United but City can look back on their exploits with pride after twice matching a team who are spending heavily to get promoted to Conference Premier and avoid being shunted north like Bishops Stortford.
City's best chances came when Adam Mann shot at the keeper early doors and forced a good save despite Darren Edwards being well positioned in the middle whilst Matt Lock had a great chance in the second half but took an extra touch instead of shooting.
Even then with the game in injury time, as their number five had done on Saturday City's Tom Hamblin appeared at the far post and had a snap volley that just went the wrong side of the post. It wasn't our night.
Let's put this one to bed and concentrate on the Trophy.
City : Carey, Green, Weir, Coupe, Hamblin, Webb (Davies 86), Lock, Mullings, Edwards, Morford, Mann (Reece 55).
Subs not used: Rawlings, Rose, Hunt, Jack Harris, Mustoe
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City's postponed BSN game at Gainsborough Trinity has been re-arranged for Tuesday November 15th, kick off 7.45pm.
Defender Jack Harris has joined Cirencester on a month's loan. |
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| Will Morford leaves a Chelmsford defender in his wake |
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| Sunday October 30th 2011 |
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Andy Sinton
Telford manager
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If City win their replay against Chelmsford City at Whaddon Road on Tuesday they have been rewarded with a home time against AFC Telford United on Saturday November 12th.
So get along to the replay, 7.45pm on Tuesday and sing your hearts out as City look to reach the First Round Proper for the first time in 22 years. |
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| Saturday October 29th 2011 |
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Lewis Carey
saved penalty
Will Morford
scored for City
Tyler Weir
toughest test yet
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I guess it's fair to say that before the game we'd have taken a draw, but to be winning with two minutes of injury time gone and then having to face a replay brings a sick feeling to any City fan or players stomach.
The game was never going to be a classic on Melbourne Park's cabbage patch of a pitch especially with a hurling wind blowing across the wide open athletics stadium that the Clarets call home and City's players were made to work hard against a team whose core seemed to be made up of six-foot plus Goliaths.
Up front for the Essex side was Kezie Ibe, a player who has made a career out of bear hugging centre-halves behind him and then toppling over as soon as a defender has made contact with him. How officials can be so green against such a craven cheat over such a long period of time beggars belief.
City's travelling fans made their best effort with decent numbers and louder noise than their opponents but were treated to a nightmare start when Michael Green looked to have tripped Ibe but Lewis Carey made amends for his teammate by pushing Sam Corcoran's spot kick onto the post.
Will Morford had a great chance to put his team ahead when he took advantage of some lazy defending to beat the offside trap but he scuffed his shot wide of the far post as the ball bobbled up on the substandard playing surface before Carey continued his man of the match show as he touched an Aiden Palmer free kick wide.
Matt Coupe finally lost his rag against Ibe and was booked either for fouling the fouler or for speaking out of turn against the referee.
As the game entered first half injury time City took the lead. Green lofted a sidefooted pass high into the penalty area and under pressure from Darren Mullings, Chelmsford defender Kenny Clark headed the ball into his own penalty area where Morford was on hand to poke the ball in off of the post.
During the break the Chelmsford stewards got word that one of the pitchside photographers was giving abuse to the linesman. Not guilty!
The second half was virtually one way traffic as City gave it their all in an attempt to stop the home team scoring. This led to a number of bookings to add to the ones that Green and Coupe got in the first half.
Tom Hamblin was harshly penalised when the ball reared up off of one of the flatter divots and struck his arm and saw yellow whilst Darren Edwards was cautioned for persistantly being fouled.
Edwards himself was inches away from getting a touch to Morford's powerful ball across the face of the goal which would've put the game beyind the hosts but as it happened one goal wasn't enough and Clark appeared at the right place at the right time to sidefoot home a volley and earn his team a replay.
With the game deep into injury time Chelmsford were given another free kick and as the players jostled for position Edwards was felled with an elbow by Cliff Akurang, which was seen by the ref and the home attacker with shown a straight red card.
City : Carey, Green, Weir, Coupe, Hamblin, Webb, Lock, Mullings, Edwards, Morford, Mann.
Subs not used: Rawlings, Reece, Rose, Hunt, Jack Harris, Davies, Mustoe
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Striker Jake Harris has returned to Newport County. |
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| Lewis Carey dives full length to save Aiden Palmer's free kick |
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| Thursday October 27th 2011 |
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Ben Hunt
new signing
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City boss David Mehew has strengthened his striking options with the addition of striker Ben Hunt to his front line.
Ben originally featured for the Tigers at the start of 2010 whilst on loan from Bristol Rovers and has since had spells in the Conference South with Dover Athletic, Lewes and Weston-super-Mare. He must like the sea air! |
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| Tuesday October 25th 2011 |
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Charlie Reece
first start
Tom Webb
is going to Wembley
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City's recent two game burst of sensational goalscoring came to an abrupt halt tonight at Damson Park thanks to the hands of Solihull Moors keeper Jasbir Singh who stopped everything that City forwards could throw (head and kick) at him as his team won 0-1 on a wet and rain sodden night in the Midlands.
The only goal of the game came at the start of the second half when Solihull skipper Phil Midworth arrowed a left footed shot into Mike Green's top right hand corner after Tyler Weir had headed a clearance in his general direction, however, in truth as good as the goal was it shouldn't have been allowed to stand as Weir was wiped out by a Moors attacker immediately after he'd cleared the initial ball.
City : Mike Green, Rawlings (Mann 59), Weir, Coupe, Rose, Webb, Lock, Mullings, Edwards, Morford, Reece (Jake Harris 75).
Subs not used: Mustoe, Hamblin, Michael Green
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Congratulations to who has been named the Budweiser Player of the Round for the third qualifying round of this seasons FA Cup after he commanded 35% of the vote on the FA website. Tom will be a guest of honour at this seasons FA Cup final. |
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| City striker Will Morford gets airborne at Solihull |
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| Saturday October 22nd 2011 |
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Tyler Weir
lovely goal
Will Morford
five in five now
Jake Harris
lobbed keeper
Tom Hamblin
cut forehead
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Eleven goals in just two games; value for money for Tigers fans at Whaddon Road so it's a shame that the crowd from last week was smaller!
Since being promoted to the Blue Square North we've had a pretty decent record against Blyth with just the defeat at Whaddon last year being the only blemish, so it was good to get back on track with this 4-0 humping of the Geordie team.
Blyth had less than an hour to prepare for the game after a late arrival in Cheltenham and were never at the races all afternoon with City going at them from the off shooting at every opportunity.
Both teams had a goal disallowed for offside before the proper scoring commenced when Tyler Weir, a player seemingly wanted in midfield by the fans but one who looks like the best left back Tiger Roar has ever seen in a Gloucester City shirt firing a superb shot over Blyth keeper David Knight and under the crossbar. A goal of top quality.
Darren Edwards had a great chance to instantly double the lead seconds after the game had restarted when he was presented with the ball on the edge of the area but after he'd chested the ball down his first time volley flew inches wide of the far post with Knight a mere spectator.
The Spartans enjoyed their best spell of the game in the ten minutes before the break and whilst Lewis Carey wasn't tested it was still a relief to hear the referee's whistle.
Blyth carried on from where they left off after the break but again didn't trouble the scoresheet whilst indecision among their defenders saw Will Morford barge his way through to double City's advantage as he netted his fifth goal in consecutive games.
If Blyth were going to get back into the game then their task was made much harder when Wayne Buchanan saw a straight red card for a late tackle on Edwards as City carved his teams defence open with some slick passing. The City number nine got there just ahead of the Blyth man but with studs showing he caught City's top scorer heavily on the shin and the referee had no option but to send him off.
From the free kick City got their third goal and the one that meant it was no way back for Blyth.
With Matt Lock having had several failed attempts at repeating his wonder goal from the Truro game Darren Mullings took charge for once and his strike was almost a carbon copy of Andreas Brehme's free kick for West Germany against England in the semi-final of the 1990 World Cup. However it might've been so much better for Blyth had their keeper not taken a step forward as the ball was kicked because he was only a stride away from getting a hand to the ball as it looped back over him into the back of the net.
Tom Hamblin made a welcome return to the side as City boss David Mehew brought off Matt Coupe to avoid any unecessary bookings and Hamblin was almost forced off after getting a nasty cut on the forehead as he bravely jumped in for a header at a corner.
That injury was the downside of trying too hard in a game that was already won and a lone voice from behind the dugouts didn't like it as City ran the clock down with a game of keepball, a shout which not only got a reaction from Boris but also from Adam Mann and Jake Harris who combined for the latter to lift a shot over Knight and score City's fourth with the last kick of the game.
A comfortable win against opposition who were a shade of the team that came here last year but City are still in the wrong half of the table and will almost certainly be looking for another three points at Solihull on Tuesday.
City : Carey, Rawlings, Weir, Coupe (Hamblin 78), Rose, Webb (Reece 63), Lock, Mullings, Edwards, Morford (Jake Harris 78), Mann.
Sub not used: Michael Green, Mike Green
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| Goalkeeper David Knight arches back in vain as Darren Mullings' free kick finds the back of the net |
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| Thursday October 20th 2011 |
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Charlie Reece
signs on loan
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City have signed Bristol Rovers midfielder Charlie Reece on a months loan from the nPower League Two club. The move is more proof of the good relationship building between City and David Mehew's former club Rovers.
The Tigers are back in BSN action against Blyth Spartans on Saturday, kick off 3pm at Whaddon Road. There is a coach to the game with pick up points around Gloucester, for more information. |
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| Wednesday October 19th 2011 |
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Tom Webb
vote for him!
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City Captain Tom Webb is one of five nominees for the FA Cup player of the round for the part that he played in City's 7-2 FA Cup win against Truro City on Saturday. It was his 400th start for the club, in his twelfth season having first played for City aged sixteen.
On Saturday he scored himself and had an assist in Will Morford's goal as City progressed to the fourth qualifying round to face Chelmsford City.
Please follow and vote for Tom.
There will be at least one coach running to the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round match at Chelmsford on Saturday October 29th. The cost will be £16 for adults and £14 for concessions with further discounts for families. to book your place. |
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| Monday October 17th 2011 |
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Matt Lock
ex-Chelmsford man
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City's reward for their 7-2 drubbing of Truro City is a trip across country to old Southern League foes Chelmsford City. The game will be played on Saturday October 29th, kick off 3pm.
It's a tough draw against one of the favourites from the Blue Square Bet South but we beat them last year in the FA Trophy and we can beat them again in the FA Cup. City midfielder Matt Lock will relish the chance to test himself against his old team having signed for City from Chelmsford in the closed season.
Keep your eye on the COF for details of coach(es) to Melbourne Park.
Ticket sales are going well for the Legends Night at the Community Hall in Innsworth on Tuesday November 8th. For more details see .
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| Saturday October 15th 2011 |
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Matt Rose
scored a goal
Tom Webb
goals like buses
Will Morford
4 goals in 4 games
Darren Mullings
first goals this year
Matt Lock
stunning free kick
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Not since the Tigers beat in the FA Cup has the competition brough such a smile to the faces of the long suffering City fans.
Despite the 7-2 scoreline, it was a very even affair until midway through the second half when Darren Mullings scored City's fourth. As the Cornish team were forced to chase the game their defensive frailties were exposed as City piled on the agony.
Whilst the Tigers were missing Steve Davies, Jack Harris and Tom Hamblin from their starting line-up the most notably absentee was ex-Scuzzer Barry Hayles who Truro had to do without owing to him being involved in a car accident on the way to the game. Although he was named as substitute he was never spotted at the ground so one would assume he didn't make it back to Whaddon Road.
The goals came as early as the second minute when Truro Captain Marcus Martin was booked for a studs up challenge on Darren Mullings who got up to head Matt Lock's free kick over the flailing arms of Tim Sandercombe in the Truro goal where Matt Rose powered in to send the ball crashing into the back of the net.
Truro levelled the scores when diminutive striker Andrew Watkins climbed highest to head home from a corner whilst Darren Edwards had a great chance to put City back in front when he beat the offside trap wide on the left before his attempted lob over Sandercombe easily cleared the crossbar.
Tom Webb, goalless for two and a half seasons since his stunning volley at Stourbridge scored his second in a week with a splendid break from midfield to connect with a clever pass from Will Morford before shuffling his way past the grounded keeper before prodding the ball home and milking the celebrations from the T-Enders.
Morford had a great chance to score himself when his header grazed the top of the crossbar before netting his fourth goal in four games as he latched onto a wildly mis-hit Webb effort in an unmarked position and drilling the ball home giving Sandercombe no chance.
Minutes before the break it could've been even better when Lock strode through a static defence to collect a long ball. He controlled it and in one move volleyed it towards the top corner but Sandercombe's massive framed worked to his advantage for once as he touched the shot wide.
Off the field, or just on it there were bizarre scenes as the senior linesman had a volley of his own, although his was a verbal one which contained a string of F's and C's aimed at, well, he claims that he was shouting into the field of play but the number of complaints from fans behind him led to a visit to his changing room at half time by the head steward.
Compared the frenetic pace of the first half the second was much more pedestrian as Truro took heed of their half time "talking to" and set about reducing the arrears.
The lifeline they needed came twenty minutes into the second half when Watkins again got his head to a cross to beat Lewis Carey for a second time. The game was in the balance now and Edwards picked up a cheap booking for kicking the ball away after a goal kick was awarded.
But City weren't going to fold and Mullings profited from good hold up play by Morford to collect a pass and hammer a shot under the keeper to make it four.
More shenanigans off the field saw trouble in the stands as the vocal City fans again had a run-in with the CTFC stewards; the only sour note to mar a great day for the club.
City were now on top and a mazy run from the excellent Tyler Weir was halted abruptly by two Truro players and a free kick was awarded thirty yards from goal. Up stepped the impressive Lock, who, with a short run up lashed a shot directly into the top corner. A goal of pure class.
Truro were now chasing the game and threw on record goalscorer Stewart Yetton in place of midfielder Danny Clay who, along with Tom Webb had just been booked. Clay had been guilty of play acting at times through the game and was no loss to the overall contest.
Yetton didn't affect that game at all though as the goals continued at the other end; Morford collected a wonderful pass from Adam Mann before running into the area and setting up Mullings who hit his shot with such force that it made that lushcious noise as it smacked down off of the crossbar and in.
And where goals are scored Edwardinho isn't far away but it was just a surprise that it took until injury time for him to notch as he easily beat the offside flag to make no mistake as he lifted a shot over the advancing Sandercombe to record City's first seven goal haul for almost fifteen years.
City : Carey, Green (Rawlings 72), Weir, Coupe, Rose, Webb, Lock, Mullings, Edwards, Morford, Mann.
Sub not used: Mustoe, Jake Harris, Hamblin, Claridge
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| Will Morford celebrates after his goal makes it 3-1 to City today |
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| Saturday October 8th 2011 |
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Jack Harris
struggling for form?
Darren Mullings
emergency defender
Will Morford
3 goals in 3 games
Tom Webb
at last a goal!
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This was quite a surreal outing for the Tigers.
For all the moans and groans about us being placed in the Blue Square Bet North it was quite an oddity that we travelled to a league fixture on a near identical longitude to the east along the A40, M40, M25 and M11; roads that I don't miss from our Southern League days and am quite happy to continue our love affair with the M5 and M6 en route to the north!
The last time the we went to Bishops Stortford it was in the FA Cup and we took two full coachloads of fans whilst today the usual fifty or so made the trip for a game which on paper was three points for the Tigers but on grass turned out not to be so easy.
With a seeming embarrasment of riches in attack Boris opted for a combination of Steve Davies, Darren Edwards and Jack and Jake Harris out wide which disappointingly didn't work on a slick Woodside Park pitch. Whilst City enjoyed more than their fair share of possession there seemed to be no cutting edge in the final third and Stortford Jordan Archer was rarely tested.
It was a surprise when the home side took the lead, a slip in the penalty area by Tom Webb gave Scott Shulton a clear view of goal but he squared for Lewis Whiteley to control the ball and lift a shot into the far corner of the net.
Without wanting to criticise a player on his way back from a nasty broken leg Jack Harris really seems to be struggling to find any kind of form and was replaced halfway through the first half by Adam Mann as City's threat down that wing became more potent, although the only goal that was breached was Lewis Carey's as a well timed run by Dwight Gayle pierced the makeshift centre-back pairing of Matt Coupe and Darren Mullings before the Stortford man shot home despite a block by the City keeper.
Those in the toilets at half time were treated to a share of Boris' half time bollocking thanks to the paper thin walls and it had an effect at the start of the second half as City looked more lively but on Stortford's first attack Michael Bakare sidefooted the ball home unopposed!
A tactical change at the back saw Matt Rose on for Davies with Mullings going into midfield and Tom Webb wide on the right and Will Morford swapped with the disappointing Jake Harris.
Morford who had been surprisingly dropped to the bench scored soon after coming on as he controlled the ball in the area and shot under Archer for his third goal in three games; the first time the talented City striker has done that since March 2009.
As City dominated the final throes of the game there was another first; a goal from Tom Webb, which given the circumstances he didn't celebrate as he got rid of what was hopefully a huge albatross which has hampered his game.
It came with four minutes of normal time left when Morford arrowed in a wonderful cross which the onrushing Edwards couldn't divert home but Webby appeared at the far post to sidefoot home despite Edwards now appearing on the goalline seemingly impeding the goalkeeper as the ball somehow squeezed inside the near post.
The Tigers threw everything but the kitchen sink at their hosts and were denied a blatant handball as the home team held on to gain all three points after just four minutes of injury time, but had the referee added on all of the time that Stortford had wasted we'd still be there now.
City : Carey, Green, Weir, Coupe, Davies (Rose 56), Webb, Lock, Mullings, Edwards, Jake Harris (Morford 56), Jack Harris (Mann 30).
Sub not used: Mustoe, Rawlings
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| Tom Webb watches as his shot squirms inside the near post to make it 2-3 |
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| Wednesday October 5th 2011 |
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Truro City
FA Cup opponents
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City will face Blue Square Bet South side Truro City in the Third Qualifying Round of this seasons FA Cup after the Cornish side squeezed through 3-2 against Bournemouth Poppies in a replay at Treyew Road last night. The White Tigers were 0-1 and 1-2 down before a controversial penalty (dive) won by Les Afful and a winner a minute later from Marcus Martin saw the hosts through.
Truro dumped the Tigers out of the FA Trophy two seasons ago 0-1 in Cornwall, again on a Tuesday night but that came after City had made the trip down on the Saturday only to see the game called off at 2.45pm. |
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| Saturday October 1st 2011 |
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Darren Edwards
opened scoring
Will Morford
won pen and scored
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In a game played on the hottest October day for years, against opposition from four leagues below in a ground to match City comfortably eased their way into the third qualifying round of the FA Cup over the ninety minutes at Longmeadow today.
Two goals in quick succession at the start of the second half put paid to the hopes of the Hampshire minnows from the Wessex League. Darren Edwards had seen his first half penalty saved but put that behind him to rifle a shot in off the bar even though there was a hint of offside and handball about it. His strike partner Will Morford, who'd been fouled for the spot kick made it two minutes later when he strode around the home goalkeeper and finished with aplomb.
City were always on top throughout the game and there was never any danger of the name Whitchurch being added to our FA Cup Hall of Shame; Lewis Carey didn't even have a shot to save whilst his opposite number Thomas Hindmarsh impressed not only with his spot kick save but his ability to stop most of what came at him, including a brilliant point blank block to deny Darren Mullings at the death.
As the game wore on City kept and passed the ball with ease and could've gone on to score more but the final scoreline was resounding enough and to hammer Whitchurch would've been unfair on the people at the club who'd given the Tigers and their fans such a warm welcome.
Longmeadow would make a good venue for a future pre-season friendly.
City : Carey, Green (Mustoe 77), Jack Harris, Coupe, Hamblin, Weir, Lock (Rawlings 68), Mullings, Edwards, Morford, Mann (Webb 38).
Sub not used: Claridge
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| City's fans celebrate as Will Morford's shot hits the back of the net |
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Tiger Roar news streams from July, Aug & Sept 2011 can be found
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| Page last updated : 25th March 2012 |
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