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City grabbed a last gasp and well deserved equaliser
to take a point from a game where the odds seemed stacked against
City from the start. Boss Tim Harris was forced to continually reshuffle
his squad, losing two key players in the pre-match warm-up and then
seeing his side depleted further as Chris Thompson was forced off
in the second half with a suspected broken nose. Both sides struggled
in atrocious pouring rain that seemed at times to threaten the game
going full-term, and often left players sliding around on a slick
and treacherous surface. The late taken point represents something
of a triumph for a brave City team who will have high hopes for
the coming year if the same commitment can be reproduced with any
regularity.
With so many recent matches lost due to saturated
pitches it was perhaps surprising City fans turned up in such numbers,
sadly the home fans were not so numerous and the players must have
felt like they were at Meadow Park. There was a concern the match
might not start as torrential rain started to pour down half an
hour before kick-off, but once we got under way it was the City
team that started brightest. Aaron Wilson ploughed his way down
the left and presented Jimmy Cox
with a good chance, but the striker couldn't get the ball out of
the water and his shot lacked enough power to trouble Danny Greaves
in the Clevedon goal.
Both sides were finding it hard to defend with any composure on
the wet ground and Fowler did well to head a hanging cross off our
line, Thommo also did well to get back and recover possession with
a fine tackle having initially slipped to lose the ball. However
Clevedon took the lead with Andy Gurney getting up highest to plant
a back post header into the City net.
The lead lasted just a minute though, and stemmed from a free kick
given after the Clevedon goalscorer was lucky to just be booked
for a wild challenge on Aaron. The tackle was out of character for
the game as the ref and most of the players were trying to be sensible
in conditions which could easily be dangerous. It was good that
City exacted full justice with Webb first to get his head on Sykes'
free kick as it flew into the box, Jason
Welsh in the right place to nod in from close range as Clevedon's
keeper slipped.
City should have had a half-time lead with Danny Greaves seeming
to find the conditions particularly problematic. Webb and Sykes
had drives blocked in quick succession, then Sykes went even closer
with one of his special dipping efforts from 25 yards which crashed
back off the crossbar. Mike Fowler
also got in on the action, producing a fine stop by Greaves who
did well to see the Welsh wizard's shot as it flashed through a
crowd of bodies in the penalty area.
The half-time break was mainly taken up with worrying if the game
would re-start, but the worst of the rain seemed to be relenting
even though the blustery wind was strengthening to ensure the conditions
remained challenging. City were now defending in the teeth of a
gale and Matt Bath had to be at his best to produce a full length
diving save to prevent Gurney's free kick going in. Things were
to get worse for City though when skipper Chris
Thompson got sandwiched between a Clevedon striker and Barnes,
collecting a blow in the face that saw him helped off in a bloody
mess. City's makeshift defence was now looking decidedly threadbare.
City were having to defend in numbers now and Clevedon were piling
on the pressure. Welsh made a fantastic stretching tackle but Barnes
was booked for a clumsy challenge on Pitcher. Welsh was first to
most of the high balls but one long ball saw the City defence caught
flat footed and Hapgood was able to race onto a flick on, flying
through the spray to shoot a firm low drive crisply past Matt Bath.
Falling behind woke City up and we now managed to make Clevedon's
defence creak under pressure. Cox was almost able to make the most
of a comical defensive mix-up as Scott Hendy ignored his keeper's
call and put his header beyond the advancing keeper but just wide
of the post and just ahead of the chasing City forward. Clevedon
had another escape when the ref was lenient with Gurney when the
former Swindon player could have picked up a second yellow card
as he blocked Mustoe's attempt to take a quick free kick.
City threw on first Joe Tustain and then Adie Harris as the mud
splattered players pressed for the equaliser. Adie
Harris may be heading for the super-veteran category but he
showed his continuing worth with a blistering few minutes where
his pace almost unhinged a tiring Clevedon defence. His run took
him past two players but his dangerous low cross zipped just behind
Tustain and Wilson. City were now attacking in numbers, but when
Sykes saw another fierce long range shot well saved by Greaves it
looked as if we'd rather harshly leave the pitch with nothing for
all our efforts.
However there was still time for more drama as Adie Harris won
a corner with another charging run. Sykes put over the perfect delivery
which was met firmly by Ollie
Barnes downward header. The ball may have crossed the line already
but it was hard to make out in the muddy melee as Clevedon tried
desperately to clear, but the ball ended up in the net as Tustain
and Welsh bundled the ball in to make sure. Players and fans celebrated
wildly and it was only later the confusion over who had actually
claimed the crucial goal raged in the bar. Tustain doubtless wants
the goal most as a striker looking to his season's scoring tally,
but the Southern League seem to have formally credited it to Ollie
Barnes - and the Clevedon based defender on loan from Bristol Rovers
will be happy enough to score against his home town club.
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T-Ender Match Snaps
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| Somewhere in the puring
rain lurked a football match. The people of Clevedon were
at home building the ark... |
 |
|
| Clevedon's Danny Greaves wallows in
the mud as Welsh tries to pounce |
Fowler slips and slides as City dig
in. |
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Team Selection:
City were forced into a major reshuffle as Jamie
Reid and Tom Hamblin
picked up injuries in the pre-match warm-up. That forced Jason
Welsh back into defence as a replacement centre-back, with Wilson
taking a starting spot in a reshaped midfield and Jimmy Cox claiming
a starting role.
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Tactics Board:
Tactics - this was
down to last man standing stuff. |
T-Ender Verdict
This wasn't ever going to be a pretty game but Tim Harris will
be delighted to have taken a point that we thoroughly deserved
for a great diaply of character and commitment in some considerable
adversity. If we can show the same spirit in better circumstances
we could yet continue our five game unbeaten run into the upper
reaches of the table. Funny how this is the same result as the
Boxing Day draw with Merthyr, but feels very different.
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Highlights Elsewhere:
Stamford were able to secure a position at the top of the table
for the first time having beaten struggling local rivals Corby
Town, a position secured briefly by Mangotsfield's enforced inaction
due to another postponement. However Bath City still look like
title favourites given their games in hand, they're now a point
behind the top spot after a 1-0win at Chippenham Town after Lewis
Hogg converted a late penalty to seal the derby points.
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Bookings:
Dismissals:
none
T-Ender City MotM: 