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Tiger Roar frontpage archive - 2013 Q1
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| Saturday March 30th 2013 |
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Lewis Hogg
saved City
Matt Liddiard
fouled keeper?
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This was a game that might be remembered for goalkeeping mistakes that led to both goals. While Histon's Calum Kitscha might claim a foul as he flapped at Lewis Hogg's cross-cum-shot to concede a late equaliser poor old number one Mike Green won't thank Tom Hamblin for the backpass on the bobbly Whaddon Road pitch which saw him slice his clearance for Lewis Taffee to tap in a deserved goal for the Cambridge team.
To be brutally honest David Mehew's team only just rated above "crap" today and will probably see the point as daylight robbery while Histon might regret the two dropped points they still move one point further away from relegation as Colwyn Bay lost at home to Chester.
The first half was probably only memorable because for once the sun shone over Cheltenham, although by the time the full time whistle went it was bitterly cold and snowing. It's Easter for goodness sake!
Chances for City included a right footed shot from Tom Webb that is probably still in orbit, thus leaving us to conclude that he should only shoot from distance with his left. Matt Liddiard will probably think he should've got his header on target too but all through the half Histon looked more likely to score, especially as they'd already hit the post.
A change of formation at half time saw City switch to three at the back and although it gave them a stronger grip on the game inevitably the Stutes from Cambridge took the lead. After pulling off a superb save Greener will want to forget what happened next as Taffee put the visitors ahead.
With a referee that seemed happy to let everything go Histon took advanatage and mad a frustrating afternoon for the City fans worse with their clever time wasting. I know we all do it when necessary but it's terrible to watch.
As they upped the tempo City seemed to adopt a gung-ho approach towards attacking leaving them short on numbers at the back and on one occasion Ben Coker had a great chance to kill the game when the ball fell kindly for him at the far post but he screwed his right footed effort hopelessly wide.
And then the payback for the Histon time wasting came as Hogg returned Kitscha's punched clearance back into the goal, with an assist for Matt Liddiard for his blatant foul on the goalkeeper.
I have to say, through their rise into the higher echelons of non-league football they weren't known for making friends and some of their antics today underlined why. The point was pretty worthless to us but denying Histon two was priceless!
City : Green, Rawlings (Hamblin 46), Andrew, Coupe, Holland, Webb, Hogg, Liddiard, Edwards (Harris 69), Davies, Morford. Subs n/u : Mustoe, Mehew
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| Tom Hamblin and Matt Liddiard celebrate Lewis Hogg's equalising goal |
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| Wednesday March 27th 2013 |
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Tom Webb
déjà vu goal
Will Morford
naughty!
Tom Hamblin
almost won it
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"Pay What You Want" said the promotional material and over six hundred people did on a freezing cold night in Cheltenham as City did well to earn a point against a rejuvanated Colwyn Bay team.
Whilst cynics might suggest that even though it was effectively free football, one thing which I doubt has ever happened is Cheltenham people coming to watch City at Whaddon Road and the arctic temperatures will have kept people away from the game too so whilst a sub-four figure crowd and less than half that of the Orient game it was still four times the number of the people through the turnstiles for the Droylsden match and the money taken will go a long way to giving the club confidence in it's immediate future.
And as has been said, on occasions where the crowd has been bigger than normal the players don't produce, but in contrast to the previous two homes games, which were effectively walkovers the north Walians put up a real fight and it was a bit of a ding-dong battle with late drama. The noise made by the City fans when Matt Liddiard's header hit the back of the net was something to behold and had Tom Hamblin's injury time effort done the same they'd have taken the roof off of Whaddon Road. If it had one.
In his post match interview City boss David Mehew suggested that his players had been nervous in the opening throes as Frank Sinclair's team dominated and took a deserved lead.
A defensive error let in Robert Hopley who was denied by a fine block by Mike Green as he came off of his line to narrow the angle but his effort was for nothing as Bay immediately won the ball back and from a similar angle Gareth Evans gracefully drove in a shot with his instep from an angle into the top right hand corner.
The silence was deafening, other than a few Colwyn Bay fans cheering and whats more, when you're stood directly behind the players foot as I was it's even worse!
Tom Webb bagged the equaliser for City with a goal which could easily be a carbon copy of the one he scored against Guiseley. From pretty much the same spot, at the same end with the same result. I even get to use the "like a deflating balloon" analogy again!
If there was one disappointment from the game from City's perspective it would be that none of the four main attackers really had much effect on the game. Darren Edwards seemed to mess up a couple of one-two's, Davo couldn't stand up to the physical nature of the Colwyn Bay defence or maybe the role that he was expected to perform in City's direct attacking play, Manny had one shot which went harmlessly wide and when Will Morford came on as sub even though he looked better than any of the others his most memorable contribution was an act of simulation against Bay keeper Chris Sanna which he was lucky not to be booked for.
It was the same referee who was in charge the night that Jack Harris broke his leg against Corby and he seems to be one of those who lets play flow and doesn't really give too many decisions. So maybe tonights opponents were unlucky that number one Mike Green might've given away a penalty when the ball fell from his grasp and also when the ball might've brushed Lewis Hogg's arm. They say that decisions even themselves out etc etc but we all know that they don't when you're in bother at the bottom.
Sinclair might've thought that his luck had changed when he profited from a mistake from Green to bundle the ball home and give his team the lead with the clock ticking down but he hadn't reckoned on Liddiard who first brought an absolute World class save from Sanna before stooping to head home the equaliser from Danny Andrew's pinpoint corner.
If you were one of those fans who came and enjoyed the game, we're at home again on Saturday against Histon (k/o 3pm) before two away trips to Solihull Moors on Easter Monday and Bishops Stortford on Wednesday complete a busy week for Boris and his team, at the end of which, if points have been picked up we can probably say that we're mathematically safe from the drop.
City : Green, Green (Rawlings 46), Andrew, Coupe, Hamblin, Webb, Hogg, Harris, Edwards (Liddiard 76), Davies, Mann (Morford 60). Subs n/u : Holland, Mustoe
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| Matt Liddiard laps up the attention after his late equaliser against Colwyn Bay |
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| Saturday March 23rd 2013 |
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Save Our City
support the tigers
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City's game at Bishops Stortford today has been called off due to snow. Snow. In March!
With a packed fixture list between now and the end of the season it looks likely that the game will be re-arranged for Wednesday April 3rd, keeps your eyes on the COF or the Official Site for confirmation.
A meeting is being held at the Hallmark Hotel in Matson Lane on Monday night to discuss the current issues surrounding the club, it all kicks off at 7.30pm.
And don't forget Wednesday when City host Colwyn Bay at Whaddon Road, you can pay what you want to get in. Essentially it's free but the club would like a donation so chuck a fiver in the bucket please. |
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| Saturday March 16th 2013 |
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Tom Hamblin
own goal gaffe
Darren Edwards
tested keeper
Lewis Hogg
volleyed over
Danny Andrew
set piece woe
Darren Mullings
very welcome return
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It's always difficult when you're en route to the home of the Champions elect, knowing that they'd only dropped thirteen points all season and trying to remain positive in the hope of getting something from the game. We did it at Histon back in 2005 and the feeling is great but given our current roll call a shock was never likely.
Youngster Joe Parker had called in sick and Ethan Moore had been persuaded to sign for Worcester City instead of us so David Mehew's options were limited again.
As a supporter there seemed as though we had little right to come here and win. Looking around the ground from the memorial shirts at the gates to the ground to the flags decorating the backs of the stands, this was a stadium that that seemed to be much more of a home than the soulless concrete ground that had been described to me by a Cheltenham Town fan. It's hard to knock Chester and their fans after they brought more than five hundred fans to Whaddon and I was particularly impressed with the welcome shown to their disabled and disadvantaged supporters.
For the first time in almost a quarter of a decade watching the Tigers I saw a blind fan "watching" football. Close your eyes and try to follow a game. I couldn't.
They have big crowds here and a big budget. Today's attendance of 2626 was almost twenty times what we had for our last game!
The Chester team featured players largely unknown to me over the course of our four year stay in the Blue Square Bet North. The obvious exception being Lee Trundle, a striker who Bristol City paid £1M for and winger Dave Hankin who absolutely destroyed Lee Marshall when City were beaten 1-4 by back in December 2009.
Thinking about it, they had Trundle on the bench and we had an injured Chris Holland, half fit Will Morford and Sam Rawlings as well as Neil Mustoe. But, for once, we had a full bench and nothing could've made a City fan more pleased to see the name Darren Mullings against the number fifteen shirt on the team sheet. What a fantastic boost for both player and club.
City had a go at their hosts from the start but the only time home keeper got his hands dirty was when he dived to save a hopeful header from Darren Edwards. By then Chester had nudged themselves in front with an incredibly simple goal as Hankin looked to have hoofed the ball forward, even though it was probably a measured pass and striker Tony Gray got behind Tom Hamblin and eased past number one Mike Green's attempt at making himself big before calmly rolling the ball into the empty net from an angle. As one City fan suggested, it was sad to let in such a soft goal as a big crowd could easily get on the home teams backs if they didn't score early doors.
The second goal came on the stroke of half time, or so it seemed according to the illuminated clock on the top of the west stand. A pinged in low cross from the left wing was met by Hamblin doing what looked like an Irish jig, appropriately in time for St Patrick's day tomorrow as he turned the ball into his own net.
Set pieces can be a real leveller when you're playing against a team who are simply better than yours so it was a great disappointment to see Danny Andrew fail to beat the first defender on a good few occasions that he had the chance to. Even the free kick routines didn't really work when tried and left the City defence exposed to counter attacks.
Had we scored from a corner in the second half I could've trotted out the old line of a corner taken in Wales and scored in England as the border actually disects the pitch at the Exacta Stadium. The club offices had to be built in the position they were for the club to be considered a member of the English FA and not their Welsh counterparts.
As I made my way around the four optimal points of the pitch with my camera in hand I rested in front of the home terrace I heard "You'll get no photos at this end". Do people who say that think they're the first person to ever crack that joke? Even if he was partially right because we didn't have a shot on target after half time, even if we did arguably have the better of the play. Although Lewis Hogg did send a volley just over the crossbar.
Trundle came off the bench and looked a class above and almost scored with a superb angled chip over Green but was denied when the ball hit the far post.
For City the high point of the game was the appearance of Mullings for Jack Harris and even though he will have got soaked as it absolutely lashed down over Chester he'll have been delighted to have played his first football for six months.
City : Green, Green, Andrew, Coupe, Hamblin (Rawlings 51), Webb, Hogg, Harris (Mullings 72), Edwards, Liddiard, Mann (Morford 63). Subs n/u : Mustoe, Holland
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| Chester keeper John Danby saves a header from Darren Edwards |
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| Tuesday March 12th 2013 |
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Steve Davies
opening goal
Chris Holland
did he score?
Darren Edwards
too cool
Matt Liddiard
first City goal
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So, City's last two BSBN games have yielded eight goals, scored by seven different players a feat as remarkable as the fact that that is as many goals as they managed since the big freeze yet somehow there is still a feeling of emptiness given the sheer number of chances spurned in those two games.
Tonight we can count "misses" from Steve Davies as early as the second minute, then Darren Edwards who put the rebound wide, Lewis Hogg passed a shot straight at Droylsden goalkeeper Dale Latham and Tom Hamblin hit the bar with a header. In the second half Davies and Edwards again failed to score from the same attack, the former hit the post from a narrow angle and his strike partner failed to beat the keeper with the rebound and youngster Joe Parker was denied by a great save, although he can hardly be blamed for that. And I almost forgot the superb angled effort from Adam Mann that his the angle of post and crossbar.
In stark contrast to the chance that he missed Davo's goal belied any thought that he might be low on confidence as he turned on the pace, cut across from the left wing and did a little shimmy that left a defender on his ass before burying a shot into the top corner with the instep of his right boot. The sight of a joyous Steve Davies celebrating a goal is one to behold and something he really should let us see more often.
Conversely when Chris Holland scored the second on the stroke of half time the look on his face was more one of constipation than anything else! His former Bath City teammate Lewis Hogg skillfully skipped past a defender on the left hand side before whipping in a delicious cross which Dutch nodded home despite the presence of a Droylsden defender, although the fact that Latham hardly moved and that Chris had a muted celebration might indicate that it was actually an own goal. We'll never know and don't care so for the record it belongs to the City man.
Tigers physio Charlotte Wigmore needed to be fit because after treating Davies who'd either been freight-trained by the keeper or hit the post or hoardings she had to run to halfway where Holland had a more serious injury and had to be replaced by Liddiard with Jack Harris comfortably slotting into the heart of defence.
The third, was from The Buisness, so as ever there was no celebration which is a bit too cool for my liking. Edwardinho might've only tapped in Tom Webb's low, hard centre but a goals a goal and thats what we're all here to see.
Again, another goalscorer, another reaction and there can't have been many people not pleased to see the net ripple when Liddiard climbed high at the far post to nod Danny Andrew's perfect far post corner in. What was encouraging to see was how senior players like Hogg and Edwards warmly congratulated the young City midfielder. There's a lot of potential in Lidds and he'll do well to listen to those two.
There was even enough time for Neil Mustoe to make another cameo, this time for Hogg. Tony Gaze's lawyers have instructed me not to mention his reaction to the substitution in this TR update.
Droylsden keeper Latham was that impressive that even though City scored four times he was named man of the match by the sponsor and given a bottle of whiskey, although as he posed for his post match he definately had one of those WTF kind of looks on his face!
Thats the good part of the game covered, now for the bad bit. The piss poor crowd of 142. Less than half of the people who enjoyed Saturdays win against Hinckley enjoyed it enough to come back tonight. With the negative press surrounding this football club at this time it would be very easy for it to just fold. Who'd really care?
Ironic really that David Mehew's men sit comfortably in ninth place in the second tier of non-league football with virtually no chance of being relegated (for on the field affairs anyhow) yet so few people can be arsed to come to watch. Gloucester people are a disgrace.
City : Green, Green, Andrew, Hamblin, Holland (Liddiard 53), Webb, Hogg (Mustoe 87), Harris, Edwards, Davies (Parker 78), Mann. Sub n/u : Mehew
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| Steve Davies lobs the keeper to score but the linesmans flag ruled the goal out |
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| Saturday March 9th 2013 |
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Sam Rawlings
diving header
Adam Mann
broke deadlock
Steve Davies
glancing header
Darren Edwards
"The Buisness"
David Mehew
signed forms
Lewis Hogg
man of the match
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In a game which you could've bet your house on going by the horrendous record of financially hamstrung opponents Hinckley United the Tigers finally got the result that their domination demanded with a 4-1 win.
That said it looked as though it might've been as frustrating as the game where we destroyed Redditch 1-0 at the Valley Stadium almost two years ago to the day after Hinckley's Jack Lane had equalised with a quite audacious after a superb and brave diving header from Sam Rawlings had given City the lead.
Of course this should've been the stage for Cheltenham Saracens youngster Ethan Moore who'd been the subject of an approach from City last week but after some stupid comments in the from his manager Gerry Oldham he was conspicous by his absence.
So, instead of signing a young striker this week club secretary Shaun Wetson signed an old(er) one as City boss David Mehew was named on the bench alongside fellow veteran Neil Mustoe. Only Adie Harris' name was missing from the teamsheet!
Hinckley had been under a transfer embargo for much of the season and having seemingly accepted relegation some time ago todays set of results, with Corby beating Stalybridge Celtic confirmed their downfall.
From the start there was only ever going to be one winner with City going close on a couple of occasions from set pieces; Steve Davies shot inches wide of the far post on one and Chris Holland had a header cleared off of the line on another.
Midfielder Matt Liddiard could count himself lucky not to have had a broken ankle after a late challenge by Hinckley's goalscorer Lane but fortunately the City youngster escaped injury.
It took fourteen minutes for the Tigers to score and the goal came from something of an unlikely source. Adam Mann got into the left hand corner and sent in a perfectly placed cross away from goal where Sam Rawlings got in and put himself bravely between the defender and the goal to head home. It was one of those goals where the scorer had to stretch every sinue to connect with the ball and if the defender tried to get the first touch it would've ended up in his own net.
On it's own merit it was a great goal but better was to come, albeit at the wrong end as Mike Green was beaten by a truly stunning strike from Lane. Almost forty yards from goal he took a touch and lashed a shot up and over Green to not only stun the crowd but to earn applause. How often do home fans clap and away goal?
Almost immediately Holland had a goalbound header well saved by Hinckley keeper Martin Conway as it seemed that City's luck would be out and anyone who did indeed bet their house on the result might be starting to sweat!
Having been feeling the effects of a calf injury in the run up to the interval Rawlings was replaced by the half-fit Darren Edwards in what may have been a blessing in disguise because the front pair of Mann and Davies weren't really stretching their markers whereas Edwardinho would certainly put a cat among the pigeons.
The Tigers started the second half on the front foot with Edwards bringing the best from the Hinckley keeper with a low header before Mann, still searching for that illusive first goal of the season shot at Conway with City's top scorer unmarked at the far post. Again Mann was denied when he headed Danny Andrew's corner right into the keeper's hand and that was followed by Davies somehow managing to only head the ball against the upright from a yard out and cruelly see the rebound fly across the length of the goalline before being hacked to safety by Theo Brown.
Even number two Mike Green had a go, shooting from a narrow angle but failing to squeeze his shot between Conway and the post. That was followed by Davies gallopping into the area from an angle but taking a poor touch when he should've shot and Tom Hamblin glancing a header off of the eyebrows and wide of the far post.
The City fans needed something to raise their spirits and they did get a good laugh when it turned out that Hinckley substitute didn't like being called "Sideshow Bob". Click to see his reaction!
Boris gave his team a more attacking edge by replacing Matt Liddiard with fellow teenager Joe Parker and that moved seemed to work as the goal that we needed finally came when Mann blasted home from close range after Davies had miscontrolled the ball. It fell nicely for Manny to score with his left foot and finally net his first of the season, and just his fourth goal in ninety games, a statistic that will no doubt concern a player of his talent.
If Davies missed out there then he didn't a couple of minutes later when he met Andrew's corner at the near post and diverted the ball inside the far one. There is some debate whether Parker got a touch and should claim the goal but it would be unfair to take it away from Davo and I'm sure Joe will agree that he'd like his first senior goal for Gloucester City to be better than a disputed minute flick on someone elses goalbound effort from a foot out against the league's whipping boys!
City seemed to take their foot off of the gas as Hinckley sparked into life but the doomed Brummies failed to trouble the City goal.
In a similar situation to last week at Workington Davo was feeling the effects of a heavy tackle and limped off to be replaced by Neil Mustoe again. This time there were no howls of derision so one could only assume that Tony Gaze was in the toilet at that precise moment!
As the catalyst for the second half goals Edwardinho deserved a goal and got it from the penalty spot after he'd been sent tumbling by Declan Towers.
If footballing fate decides that City and Hinckley aren't going to cross swords again then the overall record is pretty even P10 W4 D2 L4 f18 a18!
City : Green, Green, Andrew, Hamblin, Holland, Webb, Hogg, Rawlings (Edwards 46), Davies (Mustoe 82), Liddiard (Parker 70), Mann. Sub n/u : Mehew
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| Sam Rawlings dives in to open the scoring against Hinckley |
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| Tuesday March 5th 2013 |
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Will Morford
sub subbed
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"Wow! Embarrassing!" tweeted City's Danny Andrew after what looks like a heavy defeat for City at Boston United tonight. Well the score might be for him owing to playing in front of friends and family because he hails from that part of the country but looking at the highlights what was more astonishing was that it made the home side look the best team.
But they weren't necessarily.
On chances it was a very even game, where Spencer Weir-Daley scored twice for the Pilgrims the damn thing simply wouldn't go in for his opposite number Steve Davies. Boston deserved their win but the late two goals by Ben Fairclough and Conor Marshall absolutely flattered them and gave the scoreline an unfair look. City get to pick up the pieces and hope that Ethan Moore fancies the step up to the Blue Square North because Saturday v's Hinckley could see Boris struggle to name a substitute.
City : Green, Green, Andrew, Hamblin, Holland, Webb, Rawlings, Harris (Morford 36 (Parker 50)), Davies, Liddiard, Mann. Sub n/u : Mustoe
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| Saturday March 2nd 2013 |
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Steve Davies
won penalty
Danny Andrew
scored from spot
Tom Hamblin
got the elbow
Matt Liddiard
superb display
Neil Mustoe
dusted off boots
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So, the annual pilgrimage to Workington, that desolate spot beyond the beautiful surroundings of the Lake District, a place with more tattoo and gun shops per capita than any similar sized town in England. The moral of that story is that you shouldn't complain if you get a crap tattoo.
In previous visits Borough Park hasn't been a happy hunting ground for the Tigers, the previous three trips have seen 0-2, 1-2 and 0-3 results so, as Boris said before the game, we were due a win.
His mind would've been elsewhere on how to field a team given the current injury crisis that he has to deal with. Both Matt Coupe and Darren Edwards travelled, a great show of team spirit given that they went up on Friday evening and stayed in Wigan en route yet neither would feature. Will Morford could barely walk yet was named as a substitute and Lewis Hogg was clearly still feeling the effects of the knee injury he picked up on Tuesday.
That left enough players to fill a 4-5-1 formation with Steve Davies up front, although he'd periodically switch with Adam Mann as the lone front man.
It looked like it might be a good move as within ten seconds of kick off Davo should've scored when he cut in from the left and with the help of a kind deflection was presented with a chance but shot straight at Joel Dixon in the Workington goal.
City weren't downhearted and spent the half taking the game to their hosts who for once looked very light up front despite having players like Gareth Arnison, Jonny Wright and Phil McLuckie who in previous games had punished them. Tom Webb must've remembered Arnison from a previous brief encounter because the pair spent the best part of the game having their own personal battle.
It was Arnison who had Workington's only real chance of the game when he strode towards Mike Green's goal and tried to lift a shot over the in-form City keeper but failed as Greener reached up to clutch the ball and dash his hopes.
City should've had a penalty when Green's opposite number Dixon went to punch a free kick away but elbowed Tom Hamblin in the face instead. I'm not sure why more wasn't made of that!
At half time there was an air of disappointment because in a game which City had the best of the play and looked most threatening there always seemed to be a lack of a finish and it could be said that the most potent form of attack in a City shirt came when Derek Baker kept farting on the terrace behind the goal.
One would've expected the home team to show more guile and raise their game in the second half but it wasn't to be and City continued to threaten, aided mainly by their solid midfield from which youngster Matt Liddiard looked outstanding.
As the game wore on Boris' hand was forced and changes were made through injury as both Mann and Hogg were replaced by number two Mike Green and Joe Parker. The latter was put wide on the right side of the five man midfield
Behind where I was stood I heard what sounded like the noise of stilettos on concrete, so I turned around hoping to see a gorgeous woman in high heels to photograph so imagine my disappointment as Neil Mustoe walked past in football boots. He was heading to the halfway line opposite the dugout to keep Parker in check but when a home fan complained to the linesman that he was coaching Lee Randall was sent around in his place.
That excursion actually served as a warm-up for Muzzie as he was called into action to replace Steve Davies. As he stripped off Tony Gaze sent howls of derision from behind the goal towards Mustoe but in the time it took for the ball to go out Davo virtually won the game for City.
The Welshman, clearly struggling with his injury managed to force his way into the penalty area and drew a foul from Workington defender Dan Holdsworth. He was injured and he was quick enough to fool his opponent into fouling him. That was akin to the time that Malcolm Marshall batted for the West Indies with a broken arm against England and still managed to hit a four in the Third Test in 1984!
Danny Andrew made no mistake from the spot sending Dixon the wrong way and following the goal someone thought it clever to swear on the tannoy.
Despite the goal being announced as eighty-one minutes, the remainder of the game flew by, mainly because the Cumbrian team couldn't even be bothered to be lethargic and City rounded off a superb win to put them into thirteenth place ahead of what should be a tough trip to Boston on Tuesday but probably won't be because they're crap this year.
City : Green, Rawlings, Andrew, Hamblin, Holland, Webb, Hogg (Green 62), Harris, Davies (Mustoe 85), Liddiard, Mann (Parker 71). Sub n/u : Morford
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| Steve Davies is fouled by Workington's Dan Holdsworth for a penalty |
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| Tuesday February 26th 2013 |
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Joe Parker
rare appearance
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Whilst a goalless draw isn't always considered the best of results tonights outcome against playoff chasing Altrincham was more than welcomed by most City fans I would imagine.
Having faced the likes of the fallen non-league giants from Manchester and their playoff rivals over the past month in my opinion Lee Sinnott's men are the least best of the bunch and will do well to claim that coveted second promotion spot come May.
Reading the reaction of the away fans they were very disappointed by their failure to win, which is surprising given how they praised us after our visit to Moss Lane a few short weeks ago. More disappointment came from those scouts who might've come to watch young talent Duncan Watmore as he was left on the bench and only managed five minutes at the end. However hotshot Damian Reeves did feature and was involved in the games only major talking point, a second half penalty which he put horribly wide.
For City it wasn't a game to remember on an attacking scale as Darren Edwards toiled alongside Will Morford who came off injured at half time then in the second half with substitute Steve Davies and then youngster Joe Parker. none of whom really looked a threat to Alty goalkeeper Stuart Coburn.
After one game at the start of January, eight in February has taken it's toll. Whisper it, but there are eight more in March!
City : Green, Green, Andrew, Hamblin, Holland, Webb, Hogg (Liddiard 86), Harris, Edwards, Morford (Davies 46), Mann (Parker 70). Sub n/u : Rawlings
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| Darren Edwards holds off an Altrincham opponent |
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| Saturday February 23rd 2013 |
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Lewis Hogg
tested goalkeeper
Jack Harris
clumsy trip
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In my line of work Saturday's in these inclement conditions can be anything but fun. Out in the cold all morning, home for less than an hour to shower, change and have a spot of lunch before spending the afternoon back out in the cold at the football. It's days like that that you need the football to provide a spark of excitement to warm a man up.
It didn't happen.
It seemed that City started cold today whilst Harrogate were anything but. If I'm being honest there was only one team in it over the ninety minutes and Harrogate walked away as deserved victors. They pretty much had the game sewn up midway through the first half thanks to goals from Tom Platt and Dominic Knowles.
Platt, who had joined on loan from York City and was making his second visit to Whaddon Road in four days having been an unused substitute for Halifax on Tuesday lashed home an unstoppable shot from close range after Matt Coupe had failed to win a header that he'd called for and Knowles sent the excellent Mike Green the wrong way from the penalty spot after Danny Forrest had been clumsily tripped by Jack Harris.
City had one or two chances, one a decent shot by Lewis Hogg but as they all seem to, it went straight down Harrogate goalkeeper Craig McGillinray's throat.
Although City's distribution wasn't great, when they did get any kind of possession going forward they seemed to be halted by clever, cynical fouling from the Yorkshire team. The babyfaced referee didn't clamp down on it and even refused to book Platt when he deliberately blocked a quick free kick that Hogg took.
A freezing cold day to forget.
City : Green, Green, Andrew, Coupe (Rawlings 69), Holland, Webb, Hogg, Harris, Edwards, Morford (Davies 61), Mann. Subs n/u : Mustoe, Hamblin
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| All arms and legs! City's Adam Mann nicks the ball off of a Harrogate player |
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| Tuesday February 19th 2013 |
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Danny Andrew
scored from spot
Adam Mann
excellent
Scott Wilson
welcome return
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Sometimes there are games where you just have to hold your hands up and admit that you were beaten by the better team. Tonight was one of those occasions.
Halifax are in a good position in the pack chasing playoff places but with a ridiculous number of games in hand, which may well be their downfall come the end of the season. Having seen both the Shaymen and Guiseley in the last week, all round Neil Aspin's men looked the better team and could well go on to achieve their dream of a return to the Conference Premier, albeit as a phoenix club.
Whilst some might say that until Halifax scored the balance of play was even and maybe City were even the better side what mattered was that Halifax keeper Matt Glennon barely touched the ball. It was a tough night for Will Morford and Steve Davies; Morf won't have enjoyed the buffeting he got trying to hold the ball up while Davo struggled to make in impact in an advanced role.
The opening goal was as good a goal as you'll see. A superb turn by Gareth Seddon opened up the City defence and a smart pass found Liam Needham who curled a beautiful shot into the top left hand corner giving Mike Green no chance. It was City's defence who were being tested most and Green's namesake, "Number Two" Mike Green was having a great game in his unusual role as sweeper. He made two tackles which would've been both red cards had he mistimed them.
When Seddon made it two-nil it looked like it could be a long, hard night. A mistake from Matt Coupe was seized upon by the £30,000 striker who walked the ball into the empty net with an unnecessary swagger which was either the disrespectful act of a prick or great, depending on which team you support.
In the second half it got colder and colder, but on the plus side City got better. After an hour Boris started to make changes with the introduction of Adam Mann, Matt Liddiard and then Scott Wilson.
It was a welcome return to City for young Wilson who has been banging the goals in two divisions down, although it would've been nice to seem him for a bit longer. Manny, who has Hartpury College commitments this week was only given half an hour but that short period underlined what a very good player he is becoming. In that time he won a penalty which Danny Andrew converted and went on a great run which saw him denied when Glennon blocked his shot with his midriff.
Had we got a draw it would've been floodlit robbery!
City : Green, Green (Wilson 72), Andrew, Coupe, Holland (Liddiard 67), Webb, Hogg, Harris, Davies (Mann 59), Morford, Rawlings. Sub n/u : Mustoe
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| Penalty! Adam Mann goes down under a challenge from Halifax Captain Danny Lowe |
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| Saturday February 16th 2013 |
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Will Morford
two goals
Darren Edwards
injury concern
Chris Holland
crossfield pass
Tom Webb
set up second
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City continued their recent run of good form with a well earned three points at Oxford City today thanks to two goals from striker Will Morford.
It was only the fifth time that the clubs had actually crossed swords, remarkable considering the relatively short distance between the two Cities and the first time that the goods guys had actually won!
In two of the previous encounters City had taken the lead only to be pegged back by their Oxford opponents and have to make do with a point. And it looked as though this game would follow the same pattern when Jamie Cook took advantage of a quick free kick to sidefoot home an equaliser with a little under twenty minutes to go but Morford claimed a second goal with five minutes left to play to give David Mehew's men their seventh victory from their past ten games.
The thing that might surprise people about this revival is how it's been done with a threadbare squad. Mehew was forced into a reshuffle during the warm up when Darren Edwards pulled up injured meaning that Steve Davies took the number nine shirt and would start whilst Morford had to plough a lone furrow up front with support from Adam Mann tucked in behind him.
In the Oxford line-up was Paul Stonehouse, a player who came to the Tigers on loan from Forest Green back in 2006 and has since enjoyed a decent career at Conference Premier level with Mansfield and Bath City as well as Rovers.
But his experience barely helped the team who play in the shadow of Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital as City dominated the first half and took the lead when an absolutely pinpoint perfect crossfield pass from Chris Holland dipped over the diminutive Stonehouse and landed at the feet of Lewis Hogg who bypassed the defender, controlled the ball and tried to recreate the goal that he scored against Worcester. However, Oxford keeper Matt Ingram made himself big and Hogg's shot cannoned up off of his chest, but sadly for the home team came down right where Morf was who had the simple task of nodding it home.
Food for thought for Boris; When both Coupey and Hambo are fit, Dutch can be a midfield playmaker!
Oxford Captain Andy Ballard was booked for a studs up challenge on Jack Harris which left Vern in some discomfort and minutes later did him again, although not as badly arguably still a foul worthy of a second yellow.
At half time Boris must've wondered how his team could've been so dominant yet only score the one goal and they were to be made pay when his opposite number Mike Ford used the full depth of his bench to change the game. No disrespect to the injured Matt Coupe or Sam Rawlings and Neil Mustoe, but those are players who aren't really going to have a major attacking impact when called upon.
The equaliser from Cook came when Mike Green was ruled to have fouled Mark Bell towards the left corner flag and a quickly taken free kick to Felipe Barcelos saw the Brazilian lay the ball off to Cook who sidefooted home.
From that point only the most optimistic of City fans might've suggested that we'd win yet we did and it was thanks to a combination of Tom Webb and Morford when the City midfielder read his teammates run into the area and played a perfectly weighted pass that Will turned goalwards past keeper Ingram but in trying to clear the ball centre half Adam Learoyd was eventually adjudged to have knocked it over the line.
It was a controversial winner indeed because the linesman didn't flag that it had crossed the line and with the City fans celebrating a goal and pulling on the net the referee pointed to the centre-spot and City had their winning goal.
The Tigers are now in a pack of teams ready to pounce of those with aspirations of occupying the final two playoff spots with Brackley and Guiseley already seemed claiming the first two and if, and that's a big if we are to trouble that end of the table then we'll find out how good we are when we face FC Halfiax Town at Whaddon Road on Tuesday (k/0 7.45pm)
City : Green, Green, Andrew, Hamblin, Holland, Webb, Hogg, Harris, Davies, Morford, Mann. Subs n/u : Coupe, Rawlings, Mustoe
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| City defender Mike Green goes in where it hurts against Oxford City player Paul Stonehouse |
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| Thursday February 14th 2013 |
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Josh Wilson
Joey Barton's cousin
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Football bad boy Joey Barton has retweeted our video from the Guiseley game!
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| Tuesday February 12th 2013 |
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Tom Webb
equaliser
Lewis Hogg
got the elbow
Darren Edwards
won and scored pen
Adam Mann
hit it harder!
Steve Davies
hit the post
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The respect that City boss David Mehew showed to tonights opponents Guiseley was clear to see with his starting XI; A 4-5-1 formation with Darren Edwards up top on his own might be seen as playing into their hands but with the talent that his opposite number Steve Kittrick had at his disposal it proved to be the right decision as the Lions were largely thwarted early doors by City's solid set up.
In fact it took a superb free kick to pierce City's rearguard when Sam Rawlings fouled Kevin Holsgrove outside the penalty area Mike Green could do nothing to stop a pinpoint direct free kick into the top corner from former Vauxhall Motors striker Josh Wilson. As the ball hit the back of the net there was a brief moment of silence around the ground before the cheers from the travelling support confirmed that the ball had just evaded the in form City keeper.
City did try to force their way back into the game but there was an aire of desperation around the ground as Guiseley looked like the kind of team who could take a lead an keep it. When the Tigers did go forward they seemed to be forced out to the flanks and on one occasion Edwards strode down the left wing and was taken out by a crude challenge from the Savallas headed centre-back Danny Ellis. As the defender was being show a yellow card I passed behind the Guiseley goal where the keeper turned to me and commended Edwardinho on the dive!
But as has happened before, in games where City seem up against it, seemingly out of nothing Tom Webb struck a superb equaliser as he took a pass from Edwards and struck a shot into the top corner with his left foot leaving Guiseley keeper Steve Drench grasping at air. To be fair to Drench the ball flew like one of those one pound balls you get from the seaside and his effort to reach it make the goal look better than it probably was.
If ever a Tigers fan wished for things to get even better they had them granted when Wayne Brooksby got involved off the ball with Lewis Hogg, grounded the City man and was instantly shown a red card. The referee indicated to several curious players that there had been an elbow. To be fair to Brooksby the red card was more protection than punishment because you just know that Hoggy would've got him back.
Whilst there were no changes in personell for the second half Adam Mann was moved up front as City looked to take advantage of the extra man but it was Mann's fellow winger Steve Davies who really should've scored when set up at the far post but an awful first touch saw Drench rush off his line to push the shot onto the post and out for a ..... goal kick. The lino was having a mare!
It was then Manny's turn to almost score. He did a lot better than Davies when he beat the offside trap and curled a shot beyond the Guiseley keeper but his effort was just like Douglas Bader; it just didn't have the legs and was a good yard from going in as Aaron Hardy raced back to clear.
Those two chances looked to sum up City's night and inabilty to convert so it was a nice surprise to see the referee award a penalty after Edwards had got to substitute Will Morford's pass ahead of the keeper, who despite looking as though he was trying to pull his feet away from making contact provided the perfect obstacle to send the City striker tumbling. If there was a doubt about the penalty there was none with the finish as Edwards scored his ninth goal of the season.
The goal forced Guiseley to go gung-ho and change to a four man attack, with strikers the likes of James Walshaw alongisde Wilson and Holsgrove as well as former FGR and Stalybridge man Phil Marsh coming off the bench. Those four players would easily gobble up Boris' whole playing budget in this league of have's and have nots, but players win matches, not money (unless you're in Italy) and Mike Green did amazingly well to deny Walshaw as he closed in from an angle and shot.
Morford was then presented with a glorious chance to kill the game with a square ball from Edwards but our Will seems to be in rotten form in front of goal and he shot straight at Drench. Conspiracy theorists believe that the real Will Morford has been replaced by a Swedish doppleganger and our Will in trussed up in a log cabin just off the Arctic Circle!
Would we be made to pay for such wasteful finishing?
Yes.
Unlike Saturday when Bradford Park Avenue didn't look as though they'd score had we played until Sunday tonight was to be different as substitute Matt Wilson poked home the equaliser with his second touch after being thrown on as a last resort. As the game went into four minutes of injury time the nagging feeling that they'd score again soon disappeared as both teams looked happy with the point, although it won't help Guiseley as they aim to catch runaway leaders Chester.
As for City, it was a case of two points dropped rather than one gained, but we march on, east to Oxford on Saturday. We've never beaten Oxford City so it's a good time to start.
City : Green, Rawlings (Green 67), Andrew, Coupe (Hamblin 60), Holland, Webb, Hogg, Mann, Edwards, Liddiard, Davies (Morford 64). Subs n/u : Parker, Mustoe
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| Darren Edwards is sent tumbling by Guiseley keeper Steve Drench for a penalty |
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| Saturday February 9th 2013 |
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Adam Mann
goalscorer?
Darren Edwards
missed chances
Will Morford
game to forget
Danny Andrew
continues to shine
Steve Davies
supermarket sweep
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Today's single goal victory against Bradford Park Avenue has been described as an ugly win by one fan, but it wasn't. On chances it was so one sided that had everything gone their way City could've scored ten. As it happened, even up until the last minute it could've been a draw.
The result away at Bradford stands out as one of those pre-Danny Andrew that is one to almost be ashamed of. Had City shown this kind of consistency and form in the first half of the campaign then the league table would make much better viewing than it has done for too long.
They say a manager shouldn't change a winning team but City boss David Mehew revealed after that having played three at the back at Brackley there was no way he was going to do the same today, so Chris Holland found himself on the bench along with Adam Mann whilst matchwinner Steve Davies started, albeit on the wing with Will Morford playing his first game in six weeks up front. Sadly for Morf, it looked like his first game in six weeks too.
There were chances from the off and Darren Edwards was presented with a chance to sidefoot home the opener barely a minute into the match but saw his shot deflected over the bar. The less said about a second identical chances minutes later the better (has it landed yet?)
The early exchanges brought Bradford's stocky keeper John Lamb into the fray quite often and he used his girth to deny Tom Webb, not the only time that he'd put his body on the line to protect his goal. But his team mates were beginning to find their feet going forward and Matt Coupe might've turned a cross from Paul Walker into his own net whilst Alex Davidson thought he'd won a penalty when tumbled over by Danny Andrew but his rampant desire to point to the ref where he'd been fouled made it look every bit as though he was looking for it.
Interestingly Bradford are one of these teams who have their numbers on the fronts of their shirts, maybe in an effort to make it look as though they're attacking more often?
Whilst City were dominating their opponents the quality in the final third simply wasn't there, with Morf often being the one to break the play down with a loose pass. Whilst relations between the two strikers looked frayed there was a danger of real action after a head to head between Lewis Hogg and Bradford's Martin Drury after the latter had slid in on the City man with a late challenge.
At half time the game took a bizarre twist when the referee came off injured and the senior linesman took over, leaving a vacancy on the far touchline that was eventually filled by Tigers Radio commentator Matt Yates!
Following his introduction for Jack Harris at the interval Adam Mann almost made an immediate impact when he lost his marker and headed a Michael Green cross goalwards only to be denied by a superb save from Lamb, however minutes later he wasn't to be denied as he either did or didn't get onto the end of Morford's low centre to give City the lead with what turned out to be the winning goal.
Officially the winner has been marked down as an own goal by Avenue's Nathan Hotte but Manny really should be claiming it. Whatever way he needs to be more ruthless but for now it's the first own goal for City since the FA Cup match against Lowestoft at Cirencester in October 2009.
After the goal it started to become a very, very frustrating match to watch as City spurned chance after chance. First Edwards shot straight at the keeper, then Morf skied a perfect cross from Edwards in front of goal then a poor pass from the City number ten killed off a great run from Davies.
Bradford probed and drew a save out of Greener before another effort was poked wide of the post but back with the good guys twice Morf couldn't find Edwards on breakaway attacks. The groans were almost as audible off the field as on it. Edwards finally got a chance to shoot when Tom Webb played him in but the City striker lifted his shot over Lamb and .... wide!
Typically the game ended with another Edwards chance as he strode through onside, rounded the keeper and had the ball snatched off of his toe by Bradford's best player.
The final whistle brought relief to the City team and fans but mostly to Yatesey who hadn't been called on to make a major decision in his unexpected role.
Tuesday sees more Yorkshire opponents at Whaddon Road with Guiseley the visitors, kick off 7.45pm (bollocks to the Champions League!)
City : Green, Green, Andrew, Coupe (Holland 81), Hamblin, Webb, Hogg, Harris (Mann 46), Edwards, Morford (Rawlings 77), Davies. Sub n/u : Mustoe
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Well done to all of the winners of the delayed Christmas Draw. The big winner was City striker Steve Davies who has won a trolley dash around Sainsbury's! |
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| City fan and Tigers Radio commentator Matt Yates running the line in the second half! |
| Thursday February 7th 2013 |
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Bagasan Graham
has left City
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Winger Bagasan Graham's loan spell with the club has been ended by his parent club Cheltenham Town after an approach from Blue Square Bet Premier side AFC Telford United.
The winger took part in four games over a weather disrupted two month period with the Tigers, scoring on his debut at Vauxhall Motors, a world class goal which sadly was only viewed by a small band of City fans and wasn't videoed. Good luck to Bags for the future. |
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| Tuesday February 5th 2013 |
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Steve Davies
goal hero
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Saturday's defeat at Altrincham was just a blip then after Steve Davies came off of the substitutes bench to earn City all three points against big spending Brackley Town at St James Park tonight. He fired home a cut back from Tom Webb with just over ten minutes remaining in the second half. A fitting contribution too from Webb on his 450th start for the club!
It's not the first time this season that the Welsh wizard has conjured up a winner, he did the same against Boston and puts himself in contention for the number ten shirt against Bradford Park Avenue this coming Saturday at Whaddon Road (k/o 3pm).
The victory keeps up a remarkable sequence of results against The Saints; we've won every time we've played there and they've beaten us in "home" games at The New Lawn, The Corinium Stadium and Whaddon too!
City : Green, Rawlings, Andrew, Coupe, Holland, Webb, Hogg, Hamblin, Edwards, Mann, Harris. Subs n/u : Green, Graham, Davies, Mustoe
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The Supporters Trust intend to run a coach to the game at Oxford City on Saturday February 16th, for more details or to book . |
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| Saturday February 2nd 2013 |
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Bagasan Graham
heading practice?
Darren Edwards
hit the bar
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After a long month of bad weather, worse pitches and no football City finally got to kick a ball in anger at Altrincham and despite being the better team for parts of the game eventually succumbed to a two-goal sucker punch in the final minutes of the first half.
Matt Coupe was penalised when an Alty player ran into him on the edge of the area from where their Captain Shaun Densmore scored with a perfect free kick up and over Mike Green's wall. A minute later a cross from the left was headed home by hotshot Damian Reeves who timed his jump best out of a group of players in the six yard box. On the balance of played they absolutely didn't deserve to go in two up, but having scored two goals to our none they did.
City had had a number of good chances; Darren Edwards screwed a shot wide from an angle as well as hitting the bar with a header, Tom Webb poked wide at the near post and Bagasan Graham didn't have the conviction to stoop and get his head to a cross that had been pinged across the area. Altrincham had their chances too, but bearing in mind that they'd dicked Boston here 7-1 in midweek we'd given them a much sterner test.
All this was done with a bare bones team too as both Steve Davies and Will Morford were unavailable. Adam Mann had filled in up front but as willing as his running was he seemed to lack the edge to give too much trouble to the Alty back four. Jack Harris and Tom Webb in midfield were more than a match for their opposite numbers and in games where the midfield needs to be won I'm sure that City manager David Mehew won't hesitate to put them together again.
The second half turned out to be a rather poor sequel compared to the first, those two goals had really given the Tigers a mountain to climb but they made their chances with a couple of goalbound headers just clearing the bar and City's luck typified when Graham's superb run and cut back to Edwards was met by his shot striking a defender on the arm and the appeal falling on deaf ears.
City had three worthwhile shouts for handball too, a further one from Lewis Hogg which in fairness was too close to the player to give but in the first half there was one which was as blatant as could be. We got nothing from the officials all day, including a back pass which was ignored and when Reeves went down injured, he stopped play as City were a third of the way into the Altrincham half on an attack.
Hogg wanted to contest the drop ball but it was eventually kicked back to Greener in goal. How that outcome is ever fair I'll never understand.
And yes, Alty's Duncan Watmore did look as good as his reputation suggests.
City : Green, Rawlings (Green 65), Andrew, Coupe (Hamblin 46), Holland, Webb, Hogg, Harris, Edwards, Mann, Graham. Sub n/u : Mustoe
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| Bagasan Graham just fails to connect with the ball as it flies across the Altrincham goal |
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| Monday January 21st 2013 |
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Brackley away
postponed
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Another game, another postponement.
City's re-arranged fixture at Brackley Town, due to take place tomorrow had been called off because of the snow. The two teams will now attempt to play on Tuesday February 5th (k/o 7.45pm) |
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| Friday January 18th 2013 |
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Danny Andrew
signed permanently
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Tomorrow's game at Gainsborough Trinity at Whaddon has fallen victim to the snow that has fallen across the county today. Whilst it means that City won't have had a game since New Years Day I can't believe there are many people who enjoy going out to watch football in arctic conditions. Especially if they're using a camera!
Some good news on the player front sees left back Danny Andrew join the club on a permanent basis until the end of the season following his release from his contract at his parent club. The defender has impressed in his three games to date and will be a valuable addition to the squad over what will no doubt be a very busy few months. He is also joined my ex-club mate Bagasan Graham for another month however his signature is only on loan. |
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| Saturday January 12th 2013 |
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Jordan Goddard
back to Rovers
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City were dealt a blow with their scheduled game at Harrogate today falling victim to a waterlogged pitch meaning that David Mehew's team will have played just once since New Years Day and only five times in two months. The re-arranged game will likely see City face a midweek trip to North Yorkshire all thanks to the notoriously bad pitch at Wetherby Road which was levelled in the summer.
Two games have been given new dates; Both at Whaddon with 7.45pm kick off's, Guiseley on Tuesday February 12th and Droylsden on March 12th.
The loss of the Harrogate game has seen the end of Jordan Goddard's loan spell with the club. Well done Jordan and good luck for the future at Bristol Rovers. |
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| Tuesday January 1st 2013 |
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Jordan Goddard
a goal and goodbye?
Darren Edwards
poachers goal
Will Morford
bragging rights
Lewis Hogg
first city goal
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If you put the wasted trip to Brackley to the back of your mind then City have had a perfect week over this festive period.
After the professional display at St Georges Lane, the return fixture at Whaddon Road saw the Tigers, for the second time in two years completely humble their Three Choirs neighbours 4-2, having been four goals to the good at one point after a devastating spell just after the break.
Jordan Goddard, playing possibly the last game of his three month loan spell from Bristol Rovers gave David Mehew's men the lead on the stroke of half time when he fired home an angled drive from twelve yards after a half cleared cross had fallen to him but it was after the break that things heated up.
Darren Edwards was Johnny on the spot after Worcester goalkeeper Matt Sargeant had parried a left footed drive from Lewis Hogg into his path. Hearts might've stopped as City fans looked for an offside flag but Edwards is too canny for most linesmen and the goal stood.
Ex-Tiger Tyler Weir won't want to be reminded of the next two goals as both came in two minutes from where he was defending.
First Will Morford got between two defenders and lifted a shot into the net as Sargeant closed him down and then Hogg stole in behind to side foot easily into the big gap left by the Worcester keeper.
The big spending Brummies did try to force their way back into the game with two goals of their own through Rob Elvins and Kyle Patterson but it wasn't enough to take an undeserved point from the grasp of Mehew's Tigers.
The City manager had made some brave changes to the Eleven that had performed so well on Boxing Day with Matt Coupe, Tom Webb and Hogg coming back in and it was nice to see that Worcester had been hit by suspension too with danger man Greg Mills banned.
The first half saw chances for both teams before Goddard broke the deadlock and Worcester might point to them hitting the post as they try to pick out highlights but City also had great chances, especially through Bagasan Graham who somehow managed to avoid scoring from two yards out.
Weir looked good going forward and was given the space to shoot on a couple of occasions but as much as he'd have loved to have scored he'll more likely be scarred by the City fans reminding him that he signed for the wrong team and the buffeting he got from Hogg after barging him off of the ball. Had the referee seen Hogg's retribution we might've been talking about another red card!
One thing I'm certain that everyone saw was the bizarre series of events between Edwards and Worcester sub Stuart Whitehead. The Worcester man seemed to be goading City's number nine and it was working! All three officials had a conference before both players were booked. Why Darren can't just turn and walk away is a mystery.
Among the substitutions was a change at half time that saw Jack Harris come on at centre-half for Tom Hamblin. We're not sure of the extent of the problem for Hambo but it must be a concern for Boris having both him and Chris Holland out. It's just as well that Vern is happy playing in the middle at the back and sees it as his future position.
The opposition fans clearly weren't happy campers though and made their feelings known to gaffer Carl Heeley when ex-Tiger Mike Symons was dragged off. "You don't know what you're doing" came the shouts from above the dug out. Heeley must be feeling the pressure on a day when Colwyn Bay manager Jon Newby was sacked.
Talking of positions we're now sixteenth and ten points clear of Histon in the third relegation place. Looking up we're seven points from the playoffs. Well, we can dream can't we?
City : Green, Rawlings, Andrew, Coupe, Hamblin (Harris 46), Webb, Graham (Mann 71), Goddard (Davies 86), Edwards, Morford, Hogg. Subs n/u : Parker, Mustoe, Green
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| Will Morford waits to lift the ball over Worcester keeper Matt Sargeant to make it 3-0 |
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Tiger Roar news streams from Oct, Nov & Dec 2012 can be found
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| Page last updated : 16th July 2013 |
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