God football has a way of kicking you in the bollocks when you finally start to feel good. After the euphoria of the brilliant point against Luton come two massive kicks to the balls which make you wonder why you ever get excited in the first place.
Kick in the balls number one: Kettering at home, Kettering, not Wrexham, not Luton, not even bloody Grimsby [who we do at least beat!] but Kettering. 2 minutes in, I'm still making my way around the Bath End heading to the Popular Side (am still on crutches so is taking me longer to get everywhere!) and a ball drops in our box and is hammered home. One nil down after 2 mins...de ja vu much? City has a few chances, including a header from Lee Phillips most people thought was in for a split second.
The only plus point (and it is a massive plus) is the godlike human being that is James Stuart Rollo came on after three minutes and City did not conceed when he was on the pitch. Jimmer also attacked like I have never seen before and seemed to single handidly be trying to retrieve the situation, however, despite his best efforts City lost one nil.
Second even bigger kick in the nuts, we are currently 3-0 down at Ebbsfleet United, Ebbsfleet isn't even a proper place, and we are 3-0 down to a team who were a couple of places above us. So after 12 games the [not so] mighty stripes have zero wins, nil, none, nowt, nada...never has a team been more destined to relegation.
Tuesday 27 September 2011
Wednesday 21 September 2011
Luton 20/09/2011
Since the last post City have lost two away games at York and Telford United, meaning going into the game at Twerton against easily the largest team in the division Luton Town with a record of 9 games, 0 wins, 2 draws and 7 losses. To say confidence is low is an understatement!
The weather was classic English midweek floodlit game, pouring rain for hours before the game and a healthy, happy moment of bliss knowing that the Popular Side has a roof and that the away end does not!
City lined up with the three loanees starting (Clough, Swallow and Agdestein [from now on Toby, from his first name!]) and Swallow has been lively in all his performances, however, against a unbeaten Luton team hopes were for a small loss at best!
Citys keeper this year has been Glyn Garner who has looked ok in patches, but hasn't been outstanding, however in this game he was superb. Luton had a free kick centre of the pitch about 20 yards from goal after yet more poor play by Gethin Jones, he dwelt on the ball for the umpteenth time this season, was caught and fouled the onrushing forward. However, Garner palmed the ball away and would do so 3 more times from freekicks given away in the same position.
The weather meant the pitch was slick, however, the referee who was not biased, but who was so unbelieveably shite its a wonder he has been hired as a referee kept giving fouls for nothing tackles and booked Charlie Clough, then near half time Clough slid into a challenge on the edge of the area, won the ball, but no the ref gave the free kick and Clough went for a second bookable offence. Typically just before h-t the 10 men fell behind after a shot hit the post and the rebound was tucked away by Amari Morgan-Smith.
Despite playing well, going into the break a man and a goal down suggested the second half would be one of little promise, however, Hoggy came on for Toby and City had a sustained spell of pressure, with a succession of corners. Then on the 72nd minute a tackle from Canham broke to Swallow who ran at pace towards the defence, unleashed a shot which the keeper spilled and for once Citys luck changed and the rebound dropped to Phillips who gleefully tucked the ball home. The scenes on the terraces were of pandemonium as the recently success starved crowds errupted with joy.
City continued to battle valiantly against Luton Town and the referee, however, on the 88th minute Stonehouse caught an attacker and also received his marching orders...so City are down to 9 with 7 minutes remaining, Luton staged many attacks but were repelled by Glyn Garner time and time again....Glyn Garner my Lord, Glyn Garner, Glyn Garner my Lord, Glyn Garner, Glyn Garner my Lord, Glyn Garner, O Lord Glyn Garner!
The weather was classic English midweek floodlit game, pouring rain for hours before the game and a healthy, happy moment of bliss knowing that the Popular Side has a roof and that the away end does not!
City lined up with the three loanees starting (Clough, Swallow and Agdestein [from now on Toby, from his first name!]) and Swallow has been lively in all his performances, however, against a unbeaten Luton team hopes were for a small loss at best!
Citys keeper this year has been Glyn Garner who has looked ok in patches, but hasn't been outstanding, however in this game he was superb. Luton had a free kick centre of the pitch about 20 yards from goal after yet more poor play by Gethin Jones, he dwelt on the ball for the umpteenth time this season, was caught and fouled the onrushing forward. However, Garner palmed the ball away and would do so 3 more times from freekicks given away in the same position.
The weather meant the pitch was slick, however, the referee who was not biased, but who was so unbelieveably shite its a wonder he has been hired as a referee kept giving fouls for nothing tackles and booked Charlie Clough, then near half time Clough slid into a challenge on the edge of the area, won the ball, but no the ref gave the free kick and Clough went for a second bookable offence. Typically just before h-t the 10 men fell behind after a shot hit the post and the rebound was tucked away by Amari Morgan-Smith.
Despite playing well, going into the break a man and a goal down suggested the second half would be one of little promise, however, Hoggy came on for Toby and City had a sustained spell of pressure, with a succession of corners. Then on the 72nd minute a tackle from Canham broke to Swallow who ran at pace towards the defence, unleashed a shot which the keeper spilled and for once Citys luck changed and the rebound dropped to Phillips who gleefully tucked the ball home. The scenes on the terraces were of pandemonium as the recently success starved crowds errupted with joy.
City continued to battle valiantly against Luton Town and the referee, however, on the 88th minute Stonehouse caught an attacker and also received his marching orders...so City are down to 9 with 7 minutes remaining, Luton staged many attacks but were repelled by Glyn Garner time and time again....Glyn Garner my Lord, Glyn Garner, Glyn Garner my Lord, Glyn Garner, Glyn Garner my Lord, Glyn Garner, O Lord Glyn Garner!
Sunday 11 September 2011
Southport 10/09/11
A season which started with pretty high expectations and continued with what we thought was going to be a good point at Mansfield continues to collapse!
City took on Southport this weekend, having beaten Southport twice last season hopes were high for a City win and a kickstart to the new season.
The stripes unbelieveably kicked off with the same back 5 which had conceeded so many in the opening 6 games of the season, and 3 minutes in and true to form Southport scored first with a well taken goal from 20 yards out. The space and time allowed to Southport and the mistake which led to them gaining the ball was similar to the many troubles which have plagued the stripes this season.
Once again The Sandgrounders had seemed to bring a team of giants to Twerton Park, the smallest player on their team appeared to be over 6'2'' and they would have been less intimidating if they'd fielded Hulk Hogan and Macho Man Randy Savage! City's debutant Ben Swallow (on loan from Brizzol Rovers) was impressive and lively in the opening exchanges, however, on 25 minutes Lewis Hogg went into a crunching tackle and injured his knee (something I'm very similar with having dislocated my knee cap playing at Twerton for the supporters club last Sunday!) and everyone hopes for a speedy recovery for Hoggy as he's been one of the few with credit from his performances this season!
In the second half City pressed and created more chances in a short space of time than they have all season. However, a spell where Marley Watkins danced his way through the Southport defence leading to a goal mouth scramble summed up Citys luck this season, as every ball broke to a defender rather than a man in black and white.
Southport then broke to the other end and scored, leaving City 2-0 down with just over 15minutes remaining. Then a miracle of miracles happened City scored! Allowing me to see the second goal of my season of watching all but one of the stripes games this season! Watkins swept the ball home from close range after after a Swallow effort.
However, City then resorted to pumping balls forward for poor Lee Phillips (who changed shirts from blood twice and once again was vaselined over cuts) but given the aforementioned size of the Southport team this was never an option (http://www.btinternet.com/~portconnection/squad/davise.htm) and once again City didn't manage to get that first win of the season.
The crowd of just over 600 shows how poorly the mighty stripes have been playing, and how a few wins are desperately needed to draw people back into Twerton and hope against hope that a win comes soon.
City took on Southport this weekend, having beaten Southport twice last season hopes were high for a City win and a kickstart to the new season.
The stripes unbelieveably kicked off with the same back 5 which had conceeded so many in the opening 6 games of the season, and 3 minutes in and true to form Southport scored first with a well taken goal from 20 yards out. The space and time allowed to Southport and the mistake which led to them gaining the ball was similar to the many troubles which have plagued the stripes this season.
Once again The Sandgrounders had seemed to bring a team of giants to Twerton Park, the smallest player on their team appeared to be over 6'2'' and they would have been less intimidating if they'd fielded Hulk Hogan and Macho Man Randy Savage! City's debutant Ben Swallow (on loan from Brizzol Rovers) was impressive and lively in the opening exchanges, however, on 25 minutes Lewis Hogg went into a crunching tackle and injured his knee (something I'm very similar with having dislocated my knee cap playing at Twerton for the supporters club last Sunday!) and everyone hopes for a speedy recovery for Hoggy as he's been one of the few with credit from his performances this season!
In the second half City pressed and created more chances in a short space of time than they have all season. However, a spell where Marley Watkins danced his way through the Southport defence leading to a goal mouth scramble summed up Citys luck this season, as every ball broke to a defender rather than a man in black and white.
Southport then broke to the other end and scored, leaving City 2-0 down with just over 15minutes remaining. Then a miracle of miracles happened City scored! Allowing me to see the second goal of my season of watching all but one of the stripes games this season! Watkins swept the ball home from close range after after a Swallow effort.
However, City then resorted to pumping balls forward for poor Lee Phillips (who changed shirts from blood twice and once again was vaselined over cuts) but given the aforementioned size of the Southport team this was never an option (http://www.btinternet.com/~portconnection/squad/davise.htm) and once again City didn't manage to get that first win of the season.
The crowd of just over 600 shows how poorly the mighty stripes have been playing, and how a few wins are desperately needed to draw people back into Twerton and hope against hope that a win comes soon.
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