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.
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
Monday, 2 January 2012
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.
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!)
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.
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| Entrance to ground |
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!)
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| Local ales, much more interesting than lager |
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.
Sunday, 1 January 2012
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.
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.
Saturday, 17 December 2011
Dancing on Rushden & Diamonds grave with Kettering Town FC
Kettering Town were formed in 1872 and as you would expect of a team called "Kettering Town" they were based in the Northamptonshire town of Kettering. From 1897 to 2011 they played at Rockingham Road, Kettering (see a theme here) but as seems to be the way with modern football tradition was ditched and in the summer following the death of Rushden & Diamonds, Kettering Town were moved from the town which gave rise to the club to the small, village of Irthlingborough 8 miles away...rather predicitably the gates have fallen and the cost of Nene Park (memorably decsribed to me today as the non league Wembley!) at allegedly £1,000 per day have brought Kettering Town to the brink of destruction.
So once again an away day was being embarked on with the good people of First Pink Bus (which is neither pink or run by First, but it was many moons ago, so is still called FPB by some) I woke with a cracking hangover and headed to the Uni to collect Palmer before catching the coach at Odd Down. The coach journey was uneventful (aren't they always, while a cracking little resource the FPB does lack the romance and adventure of catching the train to games) and we disembarked in Irthlingborough. I forgot my camera (again!) but this is not such an issue as it is a nowhere place, with a crap ground and litterally nothing of note to take photos of.
The team at Kettering defied belief so I will type it out here in full:
Matthews
Simpson Jones Burnell Stonehouse
Murray Canham Hogg Connolly Watkins
Cook
So against a team that are so brassic they couldn't name a full subs bench and who lost 7-0 recently, we started with 5 in midfield and the permanently shit and lazy Jamie Cook upfront on his own. A role he is quite clearly not suited for, not that I've seen anything to suggest he's suited to being a footballer at all.
Nene Park is a classic new build, unnecessary numbers of seats, souless, and due to the overuse of plastic style pannels looks instantly dirty and grubby, give me Twerton Park and its knocked about glory any day.
The game was painfully predictable, City had a lot of play and the keeper saved a few, but mainly it was lots of football with sod all end product, and playing the lone striker meant the ball went into the box and....no one was near it as there were 5 men in midfield. The game was 0-0 at half time, and this was partly due to the worst surface I've seen at a game in a fair while, Palmer remarked that perhaps they were growing potatoes as a way of solving their cash issues!
Around 50 minutes Scott Murray picked up the ball wide on the right, ran inside and from 25-35 yards (we were on the side at the other end I have no idea how far it was!) unleashed an absolute screamer! The ball rocketed over the keeper and into the back of the net, probably the best goal I've seen this season, and probably the best goal since either Mackies against Darlo or Connolly at Tamworth from last season!
At which point City fell apart again, useless punts up field, no attacking threat, no chances Kettering grew into the game Gethin tried his hardest to keep giving them chances. Cook was replaced by Amadi-Holloway on 75 minutes, and A A-H proceeded to do the square root of fuck all. I fear my early optimism might have been misplaced, he clearly has skill but hasn't contributed anything so far.
Kettering finally got the expected equaliser of 84 minutes and probably could have gone on to win the game. So it finished 1-1 and I'm losing my rag with Adie Britton now. We're shit, we're definitely going down, so at least play entertaining football.
So once again an away day was being embarked on with the good people of First Pink Bus (which is neither pink or run by First, but it was many moons ago, so is still called FPB by some) I woke with a cracking hangover and headed to the Uni to collect Palmer before catching the coach at Odd Down. The coach journey was uneventful (aren't they always, while a cracking little resource the FPB does lack the romance and adventure of catching the train to games) and we disembarked in Irthlingborough. I forgot my camera (again!) but this is not such an issue as it is a nowhere place, with a crap ground and litterally nothing of note to take photos of.
The team at Kettering defied belief so I will type it out here in full:
Matthews
Simpson Jones Burnell Stonehouse
Murray Canham Hogg Connolly Watkins
Cook
So against a team that are so brassic they couldn't name a full subs bench and who lost 7-0 recently, we started with 5 in midfield and the permanently shit and lazy Jamie Cook upfront on his own. A role he is quite clearly not suited for, not that I've seen anything to suggest he's suited to being a footballer at all.
Nene Park is a classic new build, unnecessary numbers of seats, souless, and due to the overuse of plastic style pannels looks instantly dirty and grubby, give me Twerton Park and its knocked about glory any day.
The game was painfully predictable, City had a lot of play and the keeper saved a few, but mainly it was lots of football with sod all end product, and playing the lone striker meant the ball went into the box and....no one was near it as there were 5 men in midfield. The game was 0-0 at half time, and this was partly due to the worst surface I've seen at a game in a fair while, Palmer remarked that perhaps they were growing potatoes as a way of solving their cash issues!
Around 50 minutes Scott Murray picked up the ball wide on the right, ran inside and from 25-35 yards (we were on the side at the other end I have no idea how far it was!) unleashed an absolute screamer! The ball rocketed over the keeper and into the back of the net, probably the best goal I've seen this season, and probably the best goal since either Mackies against Darlo or Connolly at Tamworth from last season!
At which point City fell apart again, useless punts up field, no attacking threat, no chances Kettering grew into the game Gethin tried his hardest to keep giving them chances. Cook was replaced by Amadi-Holloway on 75 minutes, and A A-H proceeded to do the square root of fuck all. I fear my early optimism might have been misplaced, he clearly has skill but hasn't contributed anything so far.
Kettering finally got the expected equaliser of 84 minutes and probably could have gone on to win the game. So it finished 1-1 and I'm losing my rag with Adie Britton now. We're shit, we're definitely going down, so at least play entertaining football.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Football's rollercoaster
Christ, when I come to do my season review I'm sure I'll have to comment on how my moods have been more fluctuating that of a teenage girls! After the floating high of City's win against Telford United on Saturday, game the devastating low of the loss to Kidderminster Harriers on the Tuesday (last night)
City were to play at the Aggborough ground on the Tuesday night, so an early release from Foxhill purgatory was negotiated, and at 3:15 I escaped work, picked up Hilly and went to Odd Down to catch the supporters coach (now what did I say at D&R about how its shit but useful?!) The coach was full for the first Tuesday night away game in four years, meaning at least 49 stripes would be making the journey (in the end it was 87!) a surprisingly quick journey meant we were soon in Kidderminster. However, I had forgotten my camera so we'll have to make do with last years photo (hence daylight pics) we piled out of the coach and headed straight to the King & Castle pub. This is a superb ale pub crammed with 6 handpumbs and set in an old Great Western Railway waiting room. A few great ales were supped by the optimistic stripes and we set off for the ground via a "shortcut" and ended up stuck in a sidings, an inauspicious start to what was to be a crap night.
Eventually, we found ourselves at the ground and filed into the away end. For those of you who have never (or will never) get to Aggborough, the food there is amazing! Shockingly good, all football grounds in England should aim for this level of food! I grabbed a home made Cottage Pie (home made!!!!) and went to the terrace.
City started with the same team which beat Telford and via a massive deflected Scott Murray freekick were ahead within 6 minutes! The Legion were in full voice and for 30 minutes were all over Kidderminster and could have scored at least twice more with Murray and Phillips having chances...at which point the wheels fell off and City suddenly collapsed.
Kiddy in their first proper attack of the night, broke down the right, City's defence was at sixes and sevens and in the words of Paul Hill "a delicious cross" was floated over and Steve Guinan headed home. At this point all attacking intent drained away, and the insane decision to start Joe Burnell at centre back was exposed. This choice was made all the more baffeling when you considered the Kiddy striker Jamille Matt the towering centre forward, who Burnell would never beat in the air but who Charlie Clough could have dominated.
Then right on half time when a flick on from a goal kick dropped to Matt who hit the ball towards goal, Jason Matthews got a good hand to it, but the ball agonisingly dribbled over the line in front of the despairing Joe Burnell. At this point you sensed that City were fucked.
At half time I once again sampled the wonderful Kiddy food, this time opting for the curry, superb once again, and I will point out at this point that I don't normally eat twice in a game, but when the food is this good!!!
I really can't be bothered to describe the second half, but can sum it up with the words "City were shite" it was as bad a performance as the Forest Green game, which I didn't even write a post for as we were that clueless. Two more goals were scored and City lost 4-1. A disconsolate coach journey followed, and from the hope and optimism of Saturday came the despair of the late drive home from Odd Down, however, given how fluctuating my emotions have been, I wouldn't be surprised if City hit a 4 game winning streak! Although it is painfully unlikely.
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| The King & Castle |
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| Great Western carpet |
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| Part of the old Great Western Line |
Eventually, we found ourselves at the ground and filed into the away end. For those of you who have never (or will never) get to Aggborough, the food there is amazing! Shockingly good, all football grounds in England should aim for this level of food! I grabbed a home made Cottage Pie (home made!!!!) and went to the terrace.
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| Last years proof of cottage pie, and fancy dress |
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| Imagine this stand, but at night.... |
At half time I once again sampled the wonderful Kiddy food, this time opting for the curry, superb once again, and I will point out at this point that I don't normally eat twice in a game, but when the food is this good!!!
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| Imagine darker still, and you're almost there! |
Sunday, 4 December 2011
Its such a perfect day....
I'm glad I spent it with you (and all that) so it finally came to pass on 3rd December City finally played like they have threatened to at stages in the season for a whole game and absolutely battered AFC Telford United. The final score was a respectable 3-1 but if Telford keeper Ryan Young hadn't played like a young Peter Schmeichel City could have been 7 or 8 ahead by the end. Oh and to make the day even better Bath rugby lost.
City started with an adventurous line up (for once I hear you cry!) with Scott Murray finally getting the start everyone was screaming for, with Lee Phillips partnering Aaran [His official spelling not mine I hasen to point out!] Amadi-Holloway up front, as Sean Canham has returned to Hereford after his productive loan spell.
The change of emphasis showed, and City carried on from the last 20 of the Mansfield game and the form showed away at Cambridge in the 1-1 draw in midweek. They attacked with verve and vigour and while Scottys decision making was sometimes a bit wayward he was at least offering proper width and was causing the defence lots of problems.
City had three good chances through Amadi-Holloway and Phillips which the keeper did well to keep out, until on 26 minutes Murray was lying prone on the floor, but play continued the Scotch wonderman dragged himself to his feet, the ball dropped to him he ran at a few defenders fired in a shot, which appeared to be going wide) before it took a huge deflection wrong footed Young and nestled into the net. 1-0....but wait for the third game in a row we appear to have a lino who wants to shaft us as the flag went up. Offside appeared to be the decision but thankfully for once the officials didn't appear to hold a grudge against all things stripey and the referee overruled his assistant.
City continued to have the best of the half and Andy Gallingah continued to do a very excellent job of filling the Sido Jomabati sized hole on our left flank.
However, typically City went in at half time 1-1. A freekick was given around the halfway line, and while City were arguing with the officials Telford took it quickly bypassed the defence and Stephen Jones waltzed around Jason Matthews to score. Matthews exploded and screamed at his defence, and while Glyn Garner is the more adept shotstopper, Matthews is definitely more vocal and this maybe the reason for his selection.
How City weren't running away with this game was solely down to Ryan Young and the Twerton Park faithful were worried, but not overly as for once we seemed to have confidence and looked good all over the pitch.
City began attacking again, and then on 55 minutes the luck that had been going against City completely changed. A corner led to Gethin Jones being pulled down, it was a clear penalty which was awarded, happy days, everyone called for a red (as lets be honest football fans do whenever a decision is given!) but no-one expected it to be a red, but there it was a little piece of red card was flashed and we were jubilant! Marc Canham scored his 4th penalty of the year (am definitely annoyed he was in China when we had the two we missed) City 2-1 up and dominant against 10 men.
City controlled the game from then on, and while Telford started to try and excert a bit of extra pressure, very few chances fell for Telford and Ryan Young continued to deny City. However, he finally made a mistake when Joe Bryan fired a long distance shot which appeared to go under the keeper. 3-1 only the second win of the season, but incredibly City are only 7 points from safety, we have a chance, and if we play like we did against Telford we should easily begin the climb to safety, beginning with Kidderminster away on Tuesday night.
What a perfect, perfect day, oh and did I mention Bath Rugby lost? Perfect...
City started with an adventurous line up (for once I hear you cry!) with Scott Murray finally getting the start everyone was screaming for, with Lee Phillips partnering Aaran [His official spelling not mine I hasen to point out!] Amadi-Holloway up front, as Sean Canham has returned to Hereford after his productive loan spell.
The change of emphasis showed, and City carried on from the last 20 of the Mansfield game and the form showed away at Cambridge in the 1-1 draw in midweek. They attacked with verve and vigour and while Scottys decision making was sometimes a bit wayward he was at least offering proper width and was causing the defence lots of problems.
City had three good chances through Amadi-Holloway and Phillips which the keeper did well to keep out, until on 26 minutes Murray was lying prone on the floor, but play continued the Scotch wonderman dragged himself to his feet, the ball dropped to him he ran at a few defenders fired in a shot, which appeared to be going wide) before it took a huge deflection wrong footed Young and nestled into the net. 1-0....but wait for the third game in a row we appear to have a lino who wants to shaft us as the flag went up. Offside appeared to be the decision but thankfully for once the officials didn't appear to hold a grudge against all things stripey and the referee overruled his assistant.
City continued to have the best of the half and Andy Gallingah continued to do a very excellent job of filling the Sido Jomabati sized hole on our left flank.
However, typically City went in at half time 1-1. A freekick was given around the halfway line, and while City were arguing with the officials Telford took it quickly bypassed the defence and Stephen Jones waltzed around Jason Matthews to score. Matthews exploded and screamed at his defence, and while Glyn Garner is the more adept shotstopper, Matthews is definitely more vocal and this maybe the reason for his selection.
How City weren't running away with this game was solely down to Ryan Young and the Twerton Park faithful were worried, but not overly as for once we seemed to have confidence and looked good all over the pitch.
City began attacking again, and then on 55 minutes the luck that had been going against City completely changed. A corner led to Gethin Jones being pulled down, it was a clear penalty which was awarded, happy days, everyone called for a red (as lets be honest football fans do whenever a decision is given!) but no-one expected it to be a red, but there it was a little piece of red card was flashed and we were jubilant! Marc Canham scored his 4th penalty of the year (am definitely annoyed he was in China when we had the two we missed) City 2-1 up and dominant against 10 men.
City controlled the game from then on, and while Telford started to try and excert a bit of extra pressure, very few chances fell for Telford and Ryan Young continued to deny City. However, he finally made a mistake when Joe Bryan fired a long distance shot which appeared to go under the keeper. 3-1 only the second win of the season, but incredibly City are only 7 points from safety, we have a chance, and if we play like we did against Telford we should easily begin the climb to safety, beginning with Kidderminster away on Tuesday night.
What a perfect, perfect day, oh and did I mention Bath Rugby lost? Perfect...
Saturday, 26 November 2011
Mansfield Town
Sometimes as a football fan you feel you know what is going to happen before it does, other times you talk it up and the complete opposite happens and sometimes football just surprises you completely!
Since the heartbreaking FA Cup exit (still fuming about the second goal, and getting more angry each time I see it!) City have signed two new lads from Bristol City (everyones least favourite Bristol team!) Joe Bryan and Aaron Amadi-Holloway, who were apparently both "defenders" however on arriving at Twerton Park, I was told that Amadi-Holloway was a forward, who changed to a centre back and then back to a forward, so basically we didn't have a clue!
The team had a few changes from Wednesday, with Jason Matthews replacing Glynn Garner, Marc Canham coming back from suspension and Joe Bryan starting on the left wing (this is one of the alleged defenders!) Lee Phillips was once again on the bench again.
The game started very slowly with neither side really threatening much, and a much sparser (and quieter crowd) than Wednesday were all sort of stuck in a maliase. Bryan was causing some issues with his running and pace, and on 19 a threaded through ball found Sean Canham, who turned the fullback and snapped in a shot at goal, the keeper parried it but for once this season a parry found a stripey shirt, and Marley Watkins very cooly slotted the ball home with the keeper still struggling to get himself back up and set from the Canham shot.
Then a goal I don't think I can accurately describe (partly I'll admit as I was chatting to Notters and had took my attention away from the pitch...) but Meikle seemed to cross from just in front of the burger van and his looping cross caught in the wind, and a cross which was clearly heading wide took a blast of hurricane strength wind and dropped over Matthews into the net. Unbelievable, unfuckingbelievable! City are officially cursed, that goal was so undeserved it was ridiculous but here it was 1-1 and half time.
For this game I'd gone to Twerton with my Dad and another Twerton virgin, and it is always bizzare to hear people who are unaffected by your allegiance and prior prejudices discuss a team you hold so dear! Both were in agreement that Marc Canham was having a superb game and is clearly a talented midfielder.
A note at this point which will come to point in a second is that the game was refereed by Amy Fearn, and she had a pretty poor game. This isn't a criticism of her as she's a woman, as I have been critical of referees in other games see Luton, Dagenham & Redbridge x2! But Fearn has form having had a shocker in the Stockport game a few weeks back.
In the 2nd half City started the brighter, but it wasn't until Scott Murray came on for Bryan on 64 that City truly turned on the style, and from that moment on City were dominant and should, should have got win number two. Murray again added a pep, thrust and inventiveness that is missing from our play, and as much as I love Adie Britton if he doesn't start playing more attacking and utilising the likes of Murray more I am going to start getting pissed off.
To another moment with Fearn, M Canham had a freekick which he took well, before suddenly the play was stopped and he was booked for not waiting for the whistle. Ridiculous really, but the 5 minutes later she doesn't blow the whistle, so Canham is standing their arms outstretched screaming for her to be consistent, as I said, she's awful and this continues!
Lee Phillips and Amadi-Holloway came on for both Canhams and A A-H (as I might refer to him from now on!) went up front. A A-H looks a unit, big strong and quick, and bloody hellfire has he got a good touch and generally he looked a threat. So City keep banging on the door, Murray has chances, Lee has chances A A-H has chances, even Simmo almost scored in one of the best short passing moves I've ever seen! Then Murray breaks down the crosses in, and Phillips taps it home from a yard out 2-1! We're going to win!!!! Then no, whats this? It's been disallowed, for offside (football you bastard, after Wednesday as well) Not convinced is all I will say, I thought the ball was played sideways, and it flicked off a defender, which as we now all know is apparently not offside....
Then right at the last Amadi-Holloway blasts a volley towards the Bath End and it agonisingly sails just wide. 1-1 it finishes, but God we were good in the last 30.
Britton has to go for it, when we attack we seem unstoppable, while as we all know defensively we are terrible. And on an even brighter note, it might have only been 30 minutes, but Aaron Amadi-Holloway reminded me so much of Kaid Mohamed it is untrue, if he can be only half as important as Kaid was, we might, might have a chance of staying up. While we are still odds on to go down, we are raging at the dying of the light and we have to keep believing.
Since the heartbreaking FA Cup exit (still fuming about the second goal, and getting more angry each time I see it!) City have signed two new lads from Bristol City (everyones least favourite Bristol team!) Joe Bryan and Aaron Amadi-Holloway, who were apparently both "defenders" however on arriving at Twerton Park, I was told that Amadi-Holloway was a forward, who changed to a centre back and then back to a forward, so basically we didn't have a clue!
The team had a few changes from Wednesday, with Jason Matthews replacing Glynn Garner, Marc Canham coming back from suspension and Joe Bryan starting on the left wing (this is one of the alleged defenders!) Lee Phillips was once again on the bench again.
The game started very slowly with neither side really threatening much, and a much sparser (and quieter crowd) than Wednesday were all sort of stuck in a maliase. Bryan was causing some issues with his running and pace, and on 19 a threaded through ball found Sean Canham, who turned the fullback and snapped in a shot at goal, the keeper parried it but for once this season a parry found a stripey shirt, and Marley Watkins very cooly slotted the ball home with the keeper still struggling to get himself back up and set from the Canham shot.
Then a goal I don't think I can accurately describe (partly I'll admit as I was chatting to Notters and had took my attention away from the pitch...) but Meikle seemed to cross from just in front of the burger van and his looping cross caught in the wind, and a cross which was clearly heading wide took a blast of hurricane strength wind and dropped over Matthews into the net. Unbelievable, unfuckingbelievable! City are officially cursed, that goal was so undeserved it was ridiculous but here it was 1-1 and half time.
For this game I'd gone to Twerton with my Dad and another Twerton virgin, and it is always bizzare to hear people who are unaffected by your allegiance and prior prejudices discuss a team you hold so dear! Both were in agreement that Marc Canham was having a superb game and is clearly a talented midfielder.
A note at this point which will come to point in a second is that the game was refereed by Amy Fearn, and she had a pretty poor game. This isn't a criticism of her as she's a woman, as I have been critical of referees in other games see Luton, Dagenham & Redbridge x2! But Fearn has form having had a shocker in the Stockport game a few weeks back.
In the 2nd half City started the brighter, but it wasn't until Scott Murray came on for Bryan on 64 that City truly turned on the style, and from that moment on City were dominant and should, should have got win number two. Murray again added a pep, thrust and inventiveness that is missing from our play, and as much as I love Adie Britton if he doesn't start playing more attacking and utilising the likes of Murray more I am going to start getting pissed off.
To another moment with Fearn, M Canham had a freekick which he took well, before suddenly the play was stopped and he was booked for not waiting for the whistle. Ridiculous really, but the 5 minutes later she doesn't blow the whistle, so Canham is standing their arms outstretched screaming for her to be consistent, as I said, she's awful and this continues!
Lee Phillips and Amadi-Holloway came on for both Canhams and A A-H (as I might refer to him from now on!) went up front. A A-H looks a unit, big strong and quick, and bloody hellfire has he got a good touch and generally he looked a threat. So City keep banging on the door, Murray has chances, Lee has chances A A-H has chances, even Simmo almost scored in one of the best short passing moves I've ever seen! Then Murray breaks down the crosses in, and Phillips taps it home from a yard out 2-1! We're going to win!!!! Then no, whats this? It's been disallowed, for offside (football you bastard, after Wednesday as well) Not convinced is all I will say, I thought the ball was played sideways, and it flicked off a defender, which as we now all know is apparently not offside....
Then right at the last Amadi-Holloway blasts a volley towards the Bath End and it agonisingly sails just wide. 1-1 it finishes, but God we were good in the last 30.
Britton has to go for it, when we attack we seem unstoppable, while as we all know defensively we are terrible. And on an even brighter note, it might have only been 30 minutes, but Aaron Amadi-Holloway reminded me so much of Kaid Mohamed it is untrue, if he can be only half as important as Kaid was, we might, might have a chance of staying up. While we are still odds on to go down, we are raging at the dying of the light and we have to keep believing.
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