So for the third time in 8 days we reconvened at Twerton Park this time for the visit of Kidderminster Harriers, which in the last two seasons has been one of my favourite away days, and provided a brilliant win early last season due to Kaid's goals and threat that have been sadly missing this year.
However, the day will not be remembered for the football, but for two things, the beer festival at The White Horse, which was simply amazing, and for Brian Yorks elegant and brave fashion accessory of the double hat! Now every City fan knows the brothers York, two of the most committed fans you will ever meet, who arrive at every game but are completely different characters, Michael the most pessimistic supporter ever who constantly predicts 3-0 defeats (to be fair to him he's mostly been right this year!) and Brian who is always cheery and positive and does love a "Hoggy, Hoggy, Hoggy, Oi oi oi" chant!
But Brian outdid himself, I arrived on the Popular Side chatted to the supporters FC about how their game went, and that my knee is healing so I'll be back (to steal from Schwarzenegger!) before Brian walked past with a Bath City cap, over which was a Bath City wool hat! Amazing, such daring fashion choices are unheard of, and I cannot wait until the double hat is worn by fashionistas everywhere, with Roberto Mancini pairing a double hat with the scarf and name dropping Brian as a close personal friend....
Anyway, I guess I should really talk about the game. Within minutes of the game starting Hogg dived into a challenge was booked, apparently he won the ball but from where I was it looked a tad reckless, which covers 90% of all Hoggy's tackles! Tommy Doherty the recently signed Northern Irish international (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Doherty) was committed in the challenge and was making a very impressive debut.
City actually created the first chance, but Sean Canham couldn't convert, however, on 18 minutes there was a Kiddy break where Matthews pulled off a good save, unfortunately the ball broke to Jack Bryne who finished from close range.
Scott Murray had a few shots on goal, but sometimes he does need to think about passing rather than just hammering it towards goal every time. While Bobby Charlton is right when he says "Fans will forgive a shot going into the stands as the chance was taken, but they won't accept people not shooting" there is a limit to that!
The half time came with the score still 0-1, and somewhat bizarrely Doherty who'd been playing well was replaced by Marley Watkins. Within 10 minutes of the restart City were 2 behind, Bryne again was the scorer, but the second goal was a beauty, he collected the ball around the edge of the area and hammered the ball towards the goal, in flashed past Matthews, hit the far post and nestled into the net.
Given the usual problems we have had with officials this season, I have to say in this game we were incredibly lucky to avoid being down to 8 in this game! Hoggy continued to fly into tackles, and at one point floored Bryne, he was adamant that he played the ball and made the point to referee Wigglesworth who reprieved Lewis. That was his last act as Adie wisely subbed him, bringing on the livewire Chris Shepherd.
Then Stonehouse tripped a player when he was possibly the last man but escaped a red. However, the worse was Marley Watkins. Lee Vaughan the rightback was an niggly, annoying little swine, and clearly this got to Marley! Vaughan hauled Marley to the ground near the Bristol End/Popular Side corner flag, and a wrestling match commenced. Watkins, had his hand in Vaughan's face, and at one point appeared to go head to head while on the ground. While it couldn't have been claimed to be a headbutt I expected the red to be flourished. However, I think the ref had no idea so booked both and left it at that!
City did actually reduce the arrears on 88 minutes when Sean Canham scored after the ball had pinballed around the 6 yard box, it effectively slapped him in the face and rolled over the line. City had a few more chances but it was not to be.
The loss wasn't unexpected and the game was reasonably entertaining (unlike H&Y on Tuesday) so a reasonable day. The whining and bitching of some fans is getting incredibly annoying now though, and some disgraceful behaviour was announced which has cast the club in a bad light. However, most will accept this disaster of a season and will still be there next year, and the majority of fans I know are decent, enthusiastic supporters. UTC.
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