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City slumped to defeat against high-flying Mangotsfield,
victims of yet another sickening late goal. The City side seem to
have fallen prey to a virulent strain of defensive dementia, and
after this disappointing misfiring performance the Tiger's boss
may just be getting ready to take the knife to some of his squad.
Having fallen behing to an early goal the City side seemed to have
fought their way back into the game, levelling with a Whittington
paoched goal just before the break. Despite dominating the second
half City never split apart the Bristol team's defence and with
the attack having failed to fully ignite the finale had an all too
familar twist. A defensive lapse was compounded by some collective
failure to react and Maggots sub Aaron Cornwall was allowed to grab
a late winner, leaving a wretched City side to reflect on a dismal
night.
The players hadn't got into their rhythm before Mangotsfield
took the lead, Chris Lane seeming to be the only player awake as
he was allowed to run unchallenged from the half-way line. Having
arrived at the edge of the area with defenders still backing off
hime he sent in a low fizzing shot that seemed to catch out Matt
Bath to roll into the net. It was hardly a promising start and things
could easily have got worse for City as the Maggots dominated the
opening quater of the game. Some more sleepy defending was exemplified
when a nothing free kick floated down the centre of the pitch was
enough to catch us napping, Maggots' Rob Claridge left unmarked
for a close range header that Bath did well to tip over the bar.
Tim Harris made a decisive tactical switch with the
deeply unhappy looking Troy Wood
going off for Miller, with Jason Welsh's physical threat seen as
more useful up front than in defence. The boss was proven right
almost instantly as we suddenly looked happier both in defence and
in attack. Welsh competed for high balls and gave us an attacking
platform in front of the visitor's defence. City slowly worked there
way into the match and City's more adventurous and meancing attacking
play finally brought it's reward just before the break. Mustoe cut
out a Maggots pass and pushed the ball forward to Fowler. The Welsh
Wizard enjoyed a bit of luck as an attempted through pass rebounded
back to him of a defender, but by hook and by crook he beat two
men before sending in a low skidding shot from the edge of the area.
Puddie must have spent most of the half admiring the Meadow Park
floodlights, but when called into action the young loan keeper could
only parry the shot away to his left- and straight into the path
of Ch#!tenham team-mate Michael
Whittington who gleefully tucked the ball into the net from
six yards out. That had certainly changed the half-time team talks.
The City pressure continued as we enjoyed more of
the game after the break. City could have hoped for more when Welsh
did well to wriggle past a challenge near the corner flag and cut
in along the byline. However Welsh tried an almost impossible shot
from the tightest of angles to hit the side netting despite others
running into the goalmouth for a cross. The best placed was Mike
Fowler, Welsh's car sharing mate from South Wales, possibly
cause for long silences on the drive home after the match. City
did create more chances, Jonny Miller's driven free kick after a
foul on Wilson seemed to be clearly handled by a lifting arm from
one of the Mangotsfield wall but the ref wasn't interested. When
the match official comes from the same place as one of the teams
it's hard not to have your doubts - after all he won't be buying
his milk off a City fan in the morning.
City put together a couple of good passing moves with
Mustoe, Fowler and Welsh all linking together well but for all of
our increased possession we weren't really carving open clear chances
in front of goal. A Jason Welsh
drive saw the unimpressive Will Puddie almost again spill the ball
in front of goal, and Welsh made him struggle further under a high
ball but having ran loose Mustoe could only drive the ball high
through a crowd of players and over the bar. The match seemed to
be destined for a draw but City seemed to be caught out when Miller
gifted the Bristol side possession with a sloppy pass down the right
flank. Maggots sub Aaron Cornwall picked the ball up in front of
the main stand but was left unmolested as he ran straight towards
goal, finally unleashing a sharp drive that seemed to flash past
Matt Bath and into the corner of the net. It seemed as if somewhere
you could have expected a defender to make life harder for him,
but it was enough to take the spoils for Mangotsfield.
Ch#!tenham Town boss John Ward was at this game, presumably
casting his eye over his two players Whittington and Puddie, but
also on City winger Aaron Wilson
who has already turned out once for his reserve side. Hull City
were also apparently represented at the game to see Wilson, while
Forest Green's scouts are taking an increasing interest in Whittington's
City goal record. Neither player will have done much for their cause
on this showing and the only real sign of their ability was the
appreciation both received from the City fans. Aaron may have been
constrained by his groin strain, but despite a few good touches
he was carefully managed by the Maggots marking job. Whitts did
get a good striker's goal but his movement was not as sharp tonight
and this was a long way off his best. Perhaps both suffered a little
stage fright, but City need more from them now and they'll need
to do more to convince those interested in seeing if they might
be ready for the step up.
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T-Ender Match Snaps
The camera don't do night
time - donations towards better kit always gratefully received.
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Team Selection:
With Lyndon Tomkins
out with a hamstring problem striker Jason
Welsh made his comeback as a makeshift centre-back. Sykes was
dropped with Aaron Wilson starting against the side that tried to
sign him despite a nigling groin problem. Adie Harris and Jamie
Reid returned to the sub's bench after injury and suspension. |
TBBM Said:
"D'ya think John Ward will be asking after the City number
10 and trying to find out who he is?"
More than a few City fans surprised that the struggling League
neighbours seem content for Whitts to score our goals.
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Tactics Board:
Tim Harris can't be
accused of lacking courage in taking decisions. Having started with
two small, young nippy strikers Troy Wood was sacrificed with less
than half an hour gone as City struggled against the tall Maggots
defenders. Miller came on at right-back, Thommo shuffled into the
centre of defence and Welsh went up front. His more robust presence
immediately galvanised the City attack, but Troy Wood looked less
than chuffed at his early departure. |
Anorak Corner:
This is the lowest scoring
result between the two teams since 2002. In the previous three seasons
the two clubs have met in various competitions the match has averaged
5.4 goals a game. No wonder fans expected a goal fest when Maggots
scored in the 2nd minute. |
T-Ender Verdict
If Tim Harris was hacked
off after Hemel he can only be mad and miserable after the Maggots.
Yet again City seemed to lose concentration to fail to see out a
result, and these late goals have long since stopped being even
grimly amusing. His other worry will be that despite dominating
and pressurising the visitors for most of the second half there
were no clear cut chances created and a marked reluctance to pressurise
a distinctly dodgy looking keeper. You can't pick out any individuals
for lack of effort, but somewhere the chemistry of the team isn't
sparking and the passion and desire isn't quite what it should be.
You suspect the players don't have long to convince the boss - he
doesn't seem to be a man afraid to rip it all up and start again
if he feels it necessary. |
Highlights Elsewhere:
This result took Mangotsfield second, only behind new leaders
Bath City on goal difference after the Romans nicked a 1-0 home
win over Cirencester courtesy of another goal from one-time loan
Tiger Chris Holland. FA Cup heroes King's Lynn may have been knocked
off their top spot perch but will not be too unhappy with a 3-3
draw at Banbury United, especially after coming back from being
3-1 down with a last minute equaliser nicking a point.
At the other end of the table Cheshunt are off the bottom, leap-frogging
Northwood and Corby with a 3-2 win over Maidenhead that saw the
home team overturn a 2-1 defecit late inthe second half. There
were also big wins for Chippenham, returning to form with a Dave
Gilroy goal enough to beat Team Bath, and for Tiverton who put
their run of bad results behind them with a penalty sealing a
1-0 win and condemning Merthyr to their first league defeat of
the season.
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M.Whittington
(for 9, 28) J.Miller
Bookings:
Dismissals:
none
T-Ender City MotM: