A wonderful journey to Ruabon and Wrexham (Oh and a game was played as well)

The alarm clock chirped and I struggled out of bed at 6:50am, 6:50 on a Saturday! Awful, I collected Dave and went to the train station for what was to be an epically long day. The first train dropped us off at Newport (so I've finally made it this season given the two postponements!) and we boarded the train which was to take us to Wrexham.

The train line ambles along between the Welsh/English borders, only realising you are back in one or the other by the place names. Having travelled to most away games this year by coach or car, it was a true treat to be on the train again. Travel at your time, stop where you want to stop and drink! Happy glorious ale on the move, so at 10 the first bottles were cracked, and fine beers were supped as we watched the green and pleasant land outside the window slip past.

Not pronounced as you'd expect!

Beery heaven lies within

At 11:53 we disembarked at Ruabon, "Ruabon?!" I hear you cry, "you're meant to be going to Wrexham." And of course we are, but once again the joy of the train is we can stop where we want rather than where you are told with the coach (a point which was rammed home when we arrived at Wrexham and found most of the coach in a Wetherspoons, sod that!) and Ruabon, which is a mere 5 miles from Wrexham has a pub nominated by CAMRA as one of the 4 pubs of the year.

Part one of man incredibly happy with his pint

The Bridge End Inn had been visited by fellow stripe Tim the night before and he had forewarned staff that we would be arriving. So come 12 o'clock we all look like a right bunch of alkies hanging around a pub door waiting for it to open! The church bells tolled and the key in the door turned and we were in!

And part 2!

The pub itself is a treat, and an enjoyable two hours were spent before we got back onto the train. Leading to a conductor who knew we'd got off where we shouldn't have asking questions and a straight-faced reply of "We got off at the wrong stop" was returned. We arrived at Wrexham General and popped into the Wetherspoons mentioned previously, for a quick pint and saw the people off of the coach.

Now I will readily admit to us being a couple of minutes late to the Racecourse ground, but this I have never encountered. The turnstiles were closed, closed! At 5 minutes after kick off, so we paid the fee directly to two stewards who opened the main exit gate and ushered us through...what's the likelihood of that money arriving in the Wrexham coffers!?

Biggest terrace in Europe

The game concluded exactly as expected. Wrexham won at a canter, without really getting out of first gear. City had a few moments, including an unfortunate clearance off the line when Marley Watkins had rounded the keeper and hit the ball towards goal, only for the covering defender to get it off the line. At half time it was 1-0, then minutes after the restart Mark Preece tripped Speight for a clear penalty, Speight picked himself up and hammered the ball home. 2-0 and that is how it would finish. Wrexham allowed the men in stripes to knock the ball around in areas that were not threatening, so the stats will show evenish possession, but in reality City were never in the game.

However, that is not a criticism, the team battled hard and didn't get battered like last week at Grimsby, so I think most people were reasonably contented with the result, although Jamie Cook once again came on and in Palmers words "marked the full back" City were poor but tried their best.

Joules mirrors

After the game, we retired to the Royal Oak pub which sold Joules beer, and learnt that Joules red cross is the 6th oldest beer mark in the world. We then got the train home, that should be the end of the story, but due to the fact that some lads were fighting at Abergavenny we were stuck on our train in danger of missing the last one back home!

Wrexham General with Racecourse in background

 
Oh dear, we managed to get back to Bristol and just about snuck onto a replacement bus, which then again was delayed by lads who couldn't handle their beer. They were chucked off and finally around 11:55 I arrived back home. An enjoyable day, slightly ruined by the football!

It's very hard to understand is Welsh!

Getting fed up of moaning, but being given reason to...

I am not that much of a whiner, I promise, however, recently the state of refereeing at City games has turned me into a whining bitch, and for that I apologise. Apologies over, I am now going to launch into a full scale moan...

City were at home to Alfreton Town, a small town in the East Midlands, who are playing in the conference national for the first time. They are the result of a merger between the fantastically named "Alfreton Miners Welfare" and the not so well named Alfreton United.

A friend from Newcastle is back for a few weeks, so Dave is watching his first game at Twerton since the preseason game against Bristol Rovers, how the outlook has changed in terms of hopes and dreams!

The White Horse refreshed us before the game, and after a quick Twerton Chippy pit stop we were within the confines of the most atmospheric ground in England. The team was much to be expected although Garner came in for Matthews for his first appearance in a few months.

City started poorly, very poorly and conceded to a ridiculous goal. A long throw bounced twice across the area before hitting Adam Connolly and rolling into the goal. I cannot remember seeing a goal as farcical in a long-time.

City rallied a bit after the goal, and Murray had a few jinking runs but with little obvious output. However, the stripes were still attempting to play football, unlike Alfreton who were wasting time from the second the first goal went in. At half-time we dejectedly made our way to the new refurbished Charlie's, which I have to admit looks a lot better with its new black and white facelift...however, I will still be using The Old Crown, White Horse, Victoria, Royal Oak or any pubs in town before I use Charlie's, just a personal preference and cannot be avoided.

However, in the second half came the anger again. We walked around the Popular Side just as an Alfreton player launched into a tackle with Alex Russell, which to be fair I thought was hard but fair, however, moments later Jarman jumped into a tackle double footed which somehow Scott Murray avoided, and yet no freekick, booking or anything was given. Moments later Jarman clattered Murray again, this time to me it appeared Murray did kick back at him, but to be honest I'd have ended up double footing Jarman myself, so Murrays restrain was commendable!

However, on 58 minutes the whole game changed, the ball was loose on the edge of the Alfreton area, when Gethin took a poor touch, however, he then won the ball cleanly with a cracking challenge and Anthony Wilson double footed (again, fucking Alfreton!) Geth...the lino flagged for a City freekick and surely a red for Wilson however, the ref walked to the lino...and red carded Gethin!(See the ridiculous tackle here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl4hNImkdys) Unbelievable! Sean Canham then completely lost his rag and launched the ball at the ref, it struck Russell but was a clear red, so City are 1 down, down to 9 with 30 minutes remaining.

I will admit to a footballing first at this point, I have been infuriated by refereeing decisions before, but have never in my life walked around a ground to vent my anger. I have now. I crossed the Bristol End, and asked what I still believe is a valid question of "Fucking hell lino, how can you give the freekick then send Gethin off?" I stand by, that is a question and not that abusive, however, I was politely asked to leave by a steward, so I did.

City actually played better with 9, perhaps galvanised by a sense of injustice. However, the referee then decided to give a penalty from what I could gather from my angle was by having a player near our keeper, however, I reserve the right to question that if I see a better angle of it. Eventually Alfreton scored another and won 3-0. The referee left the pitch to a chorus of abuse and boos, which I think were deserved.

Unfortunately I think that definitely confirms the relegation, which has been on the cards for a while. However, am I still going to Wrexham away, of course I bloody am! For the love of all things stripey! UTC!

Bradford Town Vs. Roman Glass St. George

With City away in Cleethorpes getting horribly beaten 6-0 by Grimsby choices were made as to whether go to Wrexham away or Grimsby, luckily I'd chosen Wrexham away as my game of choice, so avoided a 6-0 stuffing and instead found myself at the Trowbridge Road ground with 4 other stripes watching promotion chasing Bradford take on Roman Glass St. George of Bristol.

Given some of the ridiculous journeys I have taken (and am planning to take) watching Bradford Town is always a joy, a 15 minute walk via a pub and I am there!

The weather was blowy and very cold, so I was grateful of the gloves I had cleverly remembered to grab on the way out of the house. So bottle of Spitfire in hand (got to love Western League and being able to drink while watching the game!) the game commenced, and within 25 minutes Bradford were 3-0 behind.

Bradford Town were having the better of the game, but Roman Glasses finishing was much superior and their third goal was an absolute beauty of a finish, a stunning volley past the keeper from a well crafted move.

However, the Town began to get a foothold in the game and continuing his tradition of having blinders when I watch Matt Cooper scored twice to have Bradford going into the game 3-2 behind. His first coming from that forgotten footballing transgression...the pass back! Oh yes boys and girls, for the first time in years and years we saw a indirect freekick given for a backpass, which Cooper smashed hard and low after a little roll back and Bradford were back in the game.

At half time we wander out of the ground over the road to the ANP stores purchased a sausge roll and another bottle of ale (Badgers Tanglefoot this time!) and went back into the ground. Again, the love of Western League is overflowing at this point. Bradford attacked relentlessly after the break, with Matt Minnis coming very close on a number of occasions.

Minnis fired home the equaliser and could have scored the winner when latching onto a long ball and nodding narrowly wide. The game finished 3-3 and probably killed Town's hopes of reaching a promotion place. However, once again the Western League provided a cracking game and quite probably the most exciting game I have watched this season.

FA Trophy

After dispatching Chelmsford away in the last round of the FA Trophy (what do you mean you've never heard of the FA Trophy! See here for information http://www.thefa.com/Competitions/FACompetitions/TheFATrophy/History) , the mighty stripes had a home tie at Twerton for the first time in 5 years, however, this is not due to unbelievable bad luck, more unbelievable bad form, as 5 years equals 5 games in a competition City have never warmed to.

City were due to play Basingstoke Town, a side with which we have a lot of previous having existed in the same leagues for a lot of their history. The two sides ran out to a cold Twerton Park, in front of 600 home fans and about 20 away fans, as Basingstoke had surprisingly decided to not run a supporters coach, so a massive DUYC round of applause for the commitment of the 20 odd in getting the train (respect which was diminished somewhat in The Old Crown after the game when hearing a fan order a "Summer Fruits Bulmers")

City played the strongest available team, which I can assume was for the £6,000 win money and the chance to continue building some sort of form. Within 2 minutes Scott Murray had timed his run to perfection and Adam Connolly picked him out with a perfectly weighted through ball, Murray in superb goal scoring form, has to score with just the keeper to beat? Well no, somehow despite some cracking recent goals Murray knocked the ball wide of the post.

Jason Matthews then pulled off two brilliant saves to deny Basingstoke, Hoggy tried a audacious overhead kick which didn't really threaten, that was all in a footballing sense Hoggy contributed as the rest of the match he seemed determined to get himself sent off. However, on 23 minutes in the only pure moment of class in the game City scored. The ball was played forward to Sean Canham, who flicked the ball onto Alex Russell and then span into the box, Russell then crossed the ball in well and Sean Canham met the cross perfectly for a glanced header into the bottom corner. 1-0 to City.

For the second half Hogg was replaced by Cook, but at this point the game really did turn into a bleak reminder of what is to come if we get relegated next year. No football of note was played, and Basingstoke defended resolutely and used the long ball at all opportunities.

City were under pressure but unlike last weekend managed to hold on for the 1-0 win. The only real moment I can remember from the second half relates to Jamie Cook who managed to completely miss the ball from 6 yards...leading to this conversation in the Crown with Rik Mason "I gave Cook some gyp when he missed that chance, and he gave me the wanker sign, as if I'm the wanker"! Hahaha! Best moment of the day for me that! Anyway, City are through to the next round, unbeaten at home in 4 and on the way to Wembley, possibly.

Still raging

I am writing this a full 25 hours after the game finished in a hope that I had calmed down, however, I haven't! My God I'm angry, and the reason for that anger? Take a bow Wayne Barratt of Bromsgrove you cheating, biased rhymes with hunt.

The reason for my anger, a 95th minute penalty (95th minute!!!) for what I will never know. I watched the replay on Palmers camera time and time again, but for the life of me cannot see the reason why it was given, not a single Braintree player appealed, we all thought it had been given for a foul on Jason Matthews, and yet no it's a penalty. Awful, awful decision from a man who had seemed to want to give Braintree everything all day, and City nothing. Continual fouls on Sean Canham went unpunished, while Hoggy was booked for having the temerity to be fouled!

However, while Barrett has a lot to answer for, City were the architects of their own downfall. City started the same team as for the game against Newport with the exception of Scott Murray (who was away on compassionate leave) who was replaced by Alex Russell.

City swarmed over Braintree and on 5 minutes Hoggy lashed a shot in, which took a deflection off of a defender which dropped to Sean Canham who hammered the ball home. City were 1-0 up very early, and continued to press. The first half passed quickly with City attacking, but failing to find the additional goal. Watkins had a few decent chances, and hit the post after one enterprising run, but City were on top and playing well. City went into the break leading for the second time in a week!

The second half descended from the attacking football played in the first, to more long ball hoofs and endeavour taking preference over skill, nevertheless City still attacked well and Marc Canham had 2 identical chances from 25 yards with both of them ending harmlessly in the Bristol End. Canham was also on the end of another of Barratts baffling decisions when he was booked for scoring after being flagged in an offside position (from my angle he didn't look offside but would need to see it again)

 Braintree were having some luck with their high balls into the box and Matthews pulled off a wonderful save from a dangerous freekick. Watkins had a hell of a chance which led to a goalmouth scramble, but Hoggy was penalised for christ knows what.

However, into injury time City appeared to be collecting their 2nd win of the week and 3rd home win on the bounce, before Barratt decided to step in and give Braintree a point. A ball was crossed in, a couple of Braintree players seemed to clatter Matthews, but Barratt pointed to the spot. Matthews managed to save the penalty but unfortunately it rebounded to Sean Marks who had taken the penalty and he tapped it home.

At the full time whistle the abuse towards the referee was fierce (and deserved) and Adie Britton jabbed an accusatory finger at the official, while it appeared Marley Watkins pushed the referee slightly (hopefully that will not have been noticed) and I admit to using language of the lowest denominator and I apolgise for that, and particularly to the father of a small girl who no doubt asked her Dad to explain what it meant!

However, City are now only 4 points off safety, and unbelievably actually have a chance of staying up, its unlikely, but have faith. UTC!

Our friends from across the bridge...

So after the Boxing Day farce of the late postponement due to a waterlogged pitch, Bath City and Newport County reacquainted themselves at Twerton Park, which despite a 24 hour deluge of biblical proportions was more than up to the task, unlike the crappy athletics ground that Newport call home.

Since Citys last game at Kettering (on the 18th December I remind you!) Sean Canham has again joined City on loan, this time for the rest of the season. He slotted in and replaced Jamie Cook (thank God I hear you sigh) but otherwise the team was unchanged.

The weather around Bath had been awful all day, but the rain eased off before the game leaving just the blustery wind. The stripes took the game by the scruff of the neck and attacked Newport at will, however, at the 10 minute mark a comment was made that City needed to score quickly otherwise they'd do their usual trick of conceeding against the run of play.

And then it happened Newport broke down their left flank, Andrew Hughes managed to get a cross in passed Simo and the cross floated over Matthews, hit the post and went in (or so it appeared from where I was, it is debateable as to whether the Newport forward got the last touch) Now I defended Matthews for the identical mistake against Mansfield but I'm thinking Garner needs to return as Matthews maybe the more vocal keeper but is nowhere near as good at actual goalkeeping, which is what I'd prefer my 'keeper to be good at!

City roused themselves again and continued attacking with verve, S.Canham hit the post from a Murray cross, before Adam Connolly won a tackle on the edge of the area, exchanged a neat one-two with Marley Watkins before hammering the ball in at the near post. 1-1 and City were on top.

The stripes were dominant at this point and after a flowing move which started in our half Hoggy picked up the ball wide on the right, after a step over to buy himself room he whipped over a cross that the Newport 'keeper misjudged allowing Sean Canham to tap in at the back post. Somehow, something that hasn't happened at Twerton this season occurred and the stripes went into the break in the lead! Happy days!

Then joy of joys two minutes after the restart Canham knocked it wide to Murray who hit a bobbly (rubbish if I'm honest!) shot which somehow crept into the bottom corner of the goal! 3-1! City are cruising and the legion was in good voice and we all relaxed to enjoy what looked like an enjoyable 43 minutes to come...however, we support the City (and that's the way we like it...) and we should have known it wasn't going to be that simple.

In the second half City were attacking the Bristol End and the fierce wind was blowing from the west meaning it became harder and harder for City to get out of their half. City were weathering the storm reasonably well, although Stonehouse and Burnell both don't look like defenders, but eventually County won a corner which was emphatically headed home. 3-2 with over thirty minutes left.

Somehow, despite many close calls and some scares City held on for win number 3 of the league season, would have hoped it was more by January, but starting 2012 with a win is a boon and will hopefully lead to a productive year.

Western League Fun

As moaned about on the last post City have been very quiet recently. So due to the fact the Newport game at Twerton isn't scheduled till the 3rd (tomorrow) I decided to travel to Melksham for the game between Melksham Town and Bradford Town in the Western League Divison One.

Entrance to ground

Melksham and Bradford are both small towns in West Wiltshire and the journey for this local derby is minimal. We arrived and headed to The Conigre Ground, which is situated slap bang in the middle of Melksham.

Melksham Town have been in existence since 1876, and have a fine iron gate at the entrance to the ground with the name and year of formation proudly displayed in the clubs yellow and black colours.
The fee for admission was an acceptable £4.00 and we walked in. The Conigre is a fine Western League ground, with 3 sides covered and one uncovered end. The club have clearly taken care at one time or another and is painted with the name or initials on two of the sides. A chuckle was raised amongst us when we saw the man putting in the names for the scoreboard of "Melksham Town" and "Visitors" leading us to question why they ever take them down, or why they didn't paint the names in originally! However, as Twerton Park doesn't have a scoreboard who are we to criticise!?

We went into the clubhouse which was one of the better extreme non-league ones and supped a bottle of the Melksham brewed Moles Rucking Mole, yes unfortunately that is an ale named after a rugby term, but the beer was good and for local ales you can't really beat that! (As a side note The Old Crown at Twerton is owned by the Moles Brewery but no Moles ales are served there!)

Local ales, much more interesting than lager

We moved over to the covered side and very quickly saw Bradford race into the lead with a deservedly given penalty being expertly dispatched by Matt Cooper. Bradford were allover Melksham outplaying them easily despite the poor pitch conditions. The game finished at halftime 1-0 to Bradford. We trouped back over to the clubhouse and got another beer. At which point it rained like I haven't seen in a long time, just as the players started the second half the rain turned to hail....and the big girls blouses ran off the pitch to let the hailstorm pass! This was unusual, but play soon resumed and continued with Bradford all over Melksham.

Bradford scored a second through Matt Cooper again when he reacted quickest to some good play and shot by Matt Minnis and tapped the ball in after Minnis' effort was well saved by the 'keeper.

At this point Melksham got back into the game and scored leading to some nervous glances amongst the 30 odd away fans. However, there was no need for concern as Matt Cooper scored his hat-trick and in truth Bradford could have won by more than the 2 goals they did.


So ended my footballing drought and once again the Western League provided some needed entertainment.

Festive Frustrations

While football fans across the country have gorged themselves on the festive football, for some unknown the footballing Gods decided that City would only play 1 game over the Christmas period, away at Newport on Boxing Day and then the next game would be 3rd January. So the festive football fix was looking unlikely.

However, on Boxing Day the Newport game was called off at 12:55 due to a waterlogged pitch, the supporters coach was almost getting onto the motorway at Bristol and a few stripes had even made it to Newport. Unbelievable really, as a waterlogged pitch is unlikely to dry so the game should have been called off early, unlike a frozen pitch which could have thawed. This piled the anger onto the situation as the game was originally meant to be played at Twerton Park, but due to Avon & Somersets "finest" (used very, very loosely) the costs would have been prohibative. So a game that would have gone ahead at Twerton was cancelled late, annoyed doesn't really sum it up!

However, a new year and new hopes. Sean Canham has signed for City on loan till the end of the season now, which is a bonus as he scored and looked class in his spell earlier in the season. So hopefully City will at least win a few more before the end of the season. I still dream of staying up, but that is only because of the enternal optimism of Paul Hill and a few others, I think we're down so hopefully this time next year I'll be writing about how we're storming the Conference South (or God forbid North) and are looking good for promotion.