2009/10
A very poor season ended with City spared from relegation only by the misfortune of others. City's second season in the South league was the last as City moved to the North for 2010/11
COMMENT - Life after Relegation
Listening to some of the comments City fans were making during the proverbial "six pointer" against Lewes (see below) a general theme seemed to be that the club should be playing at the highest possible level. This led me to think about why there is this seemingly insatiable desire to gain promotion to the exclusion it seems even of the financial position of the club. With the game drifting along I felt I might gain a different insight by chatting to a Lewes supporter about life in the Conference. His view was that promotion had been a disaster for Lewes that had all but extinguished his club. Pondering on this statement led easily to the changes brought about by the "pyramid solution" to the organisation of lower level football. Gone are the likes of Telford United, Newport County, Nuneaton Borough, Farsley Celtic, Scarborough, Halifax Town, Boston United and Chester City - all brought to their needs by failing to look first to their financial health in the blind pursuit of success. At any level of football but more so at semi-professional level "investing" in the club means making a loss.
The worst of the organisational changes has been the formation of Conference North and South with one northern based and two southern based feeder leagues. This done to the exclusion of all clubs based in the centre of England. No way can it make any sense for the likes of Worcester and Gloucester to be presented with midweek trips to the likes of Blyth and Workington and vice versa.
If the pyramid system is to survive then the formation of a Conference Midlands Division is vital with only the champions of that league being considered for promotion and then only if they can prove that they have the financial strength to survive at a higher level.
Relegation could prove to be a bonus in disguise with shorter trips to away grounds, more visiting fans and local games and the probability that gates would remain unchanged or even improve.
Andrew Smith
Worcester City v Lewes - Saturday 10th April 2010
This game said everything you need to know about twenty five years of under-performing and over-spending as perhaps the worst City team ever to take the playing field turned in another truly awful performance. Three years of really dire football was summed up as City gave away a totally needless goal shortly before half time. The stalwart defender, Graham Ward thought Jake Meredith was coming to gather the ball whilst the latter thought not. The result was of course a goal to Lewes who had earlier scored an easy goal against a static square defence and this after the bar had come to their rescue earlier in the game.
City were marginally better in the second and gave their fans something to remember with a headed goal from Matt Dinsmore fifteen minutes from time. It was far too little and far too late to make any difference. Whilst it might still be possible to avoid relegation the sad fact is that City are just not good enough for this level of football.
Worcester City v St Albans City - Saturday 20th March 2010
Although some will see a point as a satisfactory outcome to this game, as relegation rivals Lewes also managed only a draw, City could and should have won this game very easily. For a team on the fringe of the promotion battle and with four straight wins in recent weeks the visitors were a poor outfit indeed. Only their veteran goalkeeper, Paul Bastock, is worthy of mention as the other ten players barely registered on the radar. But for Bastock's four excellent saves the City would have won easily. Quite how St Albans have managed to score let alone defeat teams in recent weeks in a mystery.
City suffered an early blow when Danzell St Louis-Hamilton was injured taking a free kick and was replaced by the out of form Jake Meredith. This might have been the cue for the visitors, who even by fifteen minutes on the clock could have been four down, to step up a gear. Instead it wasn't even training ground fodder from the visitors who managed not one shot on target - indeed only one all afternoon and this well wide of the goal. Meredith's role was reduced to that of spectator with just the occasional lame cross or goal kick to deal with.
For City it was a case of more enforced changes in the team with newcomer Jason Pike making the starting line up. Returnee, Jamie Price, lined up at left back with Mark Clyde, Wayne Daniels and Graham Ward making up the rest of the back four. Marc McGregor's experience up front showed where both he and Alfie Carter had fine games. The midfield was as so often on recent weeks controlled by the ever improving Gary Walker and Craig Wilding. Rob Davies impressed with a good turn of foot and was a source of trouble all afternoon for the visitor overworked goalkeeper. Pike was impressive in the 75 minutes that he was on the pitch and looks a good acquisition. He was replaced by Josh Quaynor, player from Cheltenham.
Despite dominating the game City thus failed to score and the game ended 0-0.
Worcester City v Hampton & Richmond Borough - Saturday 6th March 2010
This was a tale of two penalties - one given and gleefully accepted by the visitors; one denied and hotly disputed by City. Both looked solid cases for penalties and an incensed Rob Elvins was sent off following the incident. One thing that is certain at this level of football is the universal incompetence of the referees - some you win and some you lose - today City were the losers. The fact that the eyesight of the referee was the main talking point speaks volumes about a game that was heading for a 0-0 draw before his intervention.
It was though not a dull and boring affair as both sides created chances and tried to entertain the 646 spectators. City came closest to scoring early in the second half when a wayward defence header stuck the visitors cross bar and was then headed over from a yard or so out.
The game looked to be petering out when the referee struck the decisive blows. City's woes were compounded by the loss of Elvins but limited somewhat as only Lewes of the chasing pack gained a single point whilst both Weymouth & Weston-super-Mare lost.
Worcester City v Maidenhead United - Monday 1st March 2010
The importance of achieving a win in this vital match at the bottom of the Blue Square South could not be underestimated. It showed in the early stages as City made a tentative start and surrendered control of the midfield to a lively Maidenhead United team. But like City Maidenhead are very short of confidence and showed little ability in and around the penalty area.
As the edgy start was starting to affect the nerves of the City faithful an ominous silence fell over the ground, relived only by questioning the antics of a referee who seemed out of touch with the requirements of the rule book. All that changed on the half hour when Wayne Daniel crashed a header against the underside of the crossbar, the ball was not cleared by the defence and Graham Ward neatly flicked the ball over a defender's head before crossing low to the near post. The defence looked certain to clear the ball but against all the odds Craig Wilding pounced and in a split second turned and stuck a low shot across goal into the corner of the net.
City were now in complete control of the game and the visitors could muster not even one shot on target. Indeed their only attempt at a shot on goal was a poorly hit free kick that sailed high and wide of the City goal. Matt Dinsmore had two golden chances to add to City's goal tally but wasted both opportunities. In the end this was of no account as City gathered the priceless points to open up a five point advantage over next lowest placed team, Lewes. A good start to the season of "must win" games and time to regroup before trying to do the same again on Saturday against the team one place above in the league.
The other major talking point for the evening was the absurd prices being realised on the Internet for City programmes. The Worcester City v Wolves 'A' programme from the 1948/9 season recently sold for an astonishing price of £65.00 whilst a Llanelly v Worcester programme from 1953 sold for £51.50.
Worcester City v Braintree Town - Monday 15th February 2010
This was very much a question of the points that got away and if at the end of the season City fall short by one point then the one taken from them in the third minute of added time will be seen to be a pivotal point.
There is a new found confidence about City since the appointment of the new manager and it showed for a large part of this game. As on the previous Saturday City fell behind early on - this time by failing to defend a tenth minute corner. There never seemed much doubt that City would equalise and it came for new man Farrell just seven minutes later with a fine header. Alfie Carter was leading from the front for City as they broke down Braintree's eight man defence at will. They failed to turn their first half domination into goals but did go in front with a lovely strike from Josh Emery just after the restart. Braintree though were made of sterner stuff than Woking had been and their work rate was amazing. They kept pushing forward and always looked capable of drawing level. The elusive third goal for City never came and the visitors scored with about twenty minutes left. City held on grimly as Braintree threw everything at City. The game was deep in added time when the linesman flagged for what seemed to be a stumble by a Braintree forward and Mark Clyde was harshly booked for it. Worse followed as the free kick was headed in the roof of the net for a somewhat unlucky defeat for the City.
City v Woking - Saturday 13th February 2010
It is not often enough that one leaves St Georges' Lane with the sounds of cheering ringing in the ears and a warm glow on the cheek but this match was one to gladden the hearts of all City fans.
Early on though it looked as though the gods were not looking favourably on City as the lamentably bad officials conspired to rewrite the rule book. It came from a corner that was powerfully headed home by Wayne Daniel only to be ruled out apparently for the non existent offence of being offside direct from a corner. Worse followed as a rare error by Shabir Khan gave Woking a gift goal and then a wonder strike from 20 yards doubled the visitors advantage. It looked like curtains for the City but instead it inspired a truly remarkable comeback. There was plenty of energy and enthusiasm from the City and they gained a string of free kicks as they pressed forward. At this point one fan commented that "City were not playing badly and could still win this" and straight away a free kick saw Rob Elvins superbly head the ball into the bottom corner of the goal to setup as another supported noted "the possibility of an interesting second half".
It could have been different had a bullet header not gone agonisingly wide of the City goal in the visitors best attack of the second half. Instead City grew in confidence and started to win the crucial 50-50 balls. The equaliser was a rocket header by Rob Elvins from Graham Ward's corner at the dressing room end of the ground. Woking faded badly and Alfie Carter's rocket shot that went in off the far post was no less than deserved. Woking tried hard to fight back but City stood firm to record a magnificent 3-2 victory before 607 spectators.
City v Kidderminster Harriers - Monday 1st February 2010
Sadly but predictably a poor Kidderminster Harriers team coughed and spluttered their way to victory at St George's Lane courtesy of a moment of indecision in the city defence shortly after the start of the second half.
The Harriers win owed as much to the tolerance of an ineffective referee as to anything else. Quite how keeper Singh stayed on the pitch after deny City a goal scoring opportunity by deliberately carrying the ball well outside the penalty area remains a mystery and his tolerance of numerous crunching and illegal tackles didn't contribute either.
City were in control in the first half hitting the post with a long range shot and then seeing another effort cleared off the line. Harriers huffed and puffed but were too often guilty of taking one pass too many - indeed they mustered only one shot on target in the first 45 minutes.
After Harriers has taken the lead City committed everyone forward but the best they could muster was to produce Singh's handball foul and a Marco Adaggio effort that was over the bar after he had engineered a one on one situation with the visiting keeper.
So it is Harriers who take the road to Oxford but on the evidence of this performance Wembley must seem a long long way indeed.
Worcester City v Weymouth - Saturday 23rd January 2010
ALL HAIL THE KING
It has come to a pretty sorry state of affairs when two such famous old teams are consigned to a desperate struggle for a few points to banish the fear of relegation. City started very slowly indeed and it was Weymouth who looked to be the more dominant force and who deservedly took the lead after a long range effort took a cruel deflection. The goal came just as it looked as through City had got over the initial nerves. From then on though Weymouth started to look and play like a team who had missed not just one training session but a whole season's worth. City started to play with conviction and Alfie Carter had plenty of freedom down the left wing. From one cross City should have scored but Marc McGregor's woeful header was well over the bar. City pressed forward with conviction and got back on level terms in first half stoppage time. A perfectly flighted cross from a corner saw Marco Adaggio head the ball home via the inside of the far post.
The goal was just what the fans needed to calm the half time jitters. The second half belonged firmly to the home side who steadily grew in confidence as the half wore on. Indeed the visitors tired easily in the last fifteen minutes as space developed down both wings and in midfield. Adaggio's pace was too much for the weary defenders but Marc McGregor was left wondering just how he had missed a simple chance when his goalbound header bounced over the bar with the keeper nowhere to be seen. The visiting keeper kept his team in it with a superb save, tipping the ball on the bar and behind for a corner. The corner was directed to Tom Kemp who powered an unstoppable header into the roof of the net and then set off on a bizarre goal celebration to hug the City manager.
The icing on the cake followed straight away with a simple tap in from two yards for Adagio's second goal. All that then remained was a standing ovation for the players and full credit also to the Weymouth fans who kept urging their team on right to the end.
DRYDEN AXED - Monday 18th January 2010
The "Time for change" suggested in the story below came about rather more quickly than predicted as the City Chairman sacked manager Richard Dryden following last night's poor performance in the F.A. Trophy. The swift appointment of City Legend Carl Heeley as Manager for the rest of the season is welcomed. Whether or not City avoid relegation it seems obvious to most fans that the luxury of having both a Manager and an Assistant is top heavy for a team at this level. Better by far to spread what cash is available into tangible items that would help to improve the appeal of the club to paying spectators. The days when money is squandered on overpaid "Prima Donna" type players and large numbers of non playing staff are over. Perhaps now we can get back to the playing the game as it should be. Whilst the avoidance of relegation is important so too is the lack of anything approaching a local derby leaving many spectators unable to afford to follow the club to away games. Life in a lower division might bring unexpected rewards.
Andrew Smith
Worcester City v Carshalton Athletic - Monday 18th January 2010
Not even the prospect of a home tie against local rivals Kidderminster Harriers could liven up one of the dullest encounters seen at St George's Lane for many a long day. Perhaps it was the lack of match action in recent weeks but the whole game seemed more like a pre season friendly than a second round game in the F.A. Trophy.
The slow start by both teams could perhaps be written off as a natural reaction to the heavy energy-sapping nature of the pitch but the fare that followed provided little to enthuse a sparse crowd at what used to be a well attended and highly rated competition.
The first half was so poor that neither side really threatened to score and City had nothing even amounting to a half chance. The second half could only improve and it did but only at the margins. Marco Adaggio was one of few City players really giving it everything in the cause of the home team but even so his goal came about as a result of truly dreadful defending by the visitors. Firstly a defender headed an innocuous cross against his own crossbar, then a defender failed clear the ball before it was pushed through to Adaggio who was unmarked in the six yard box and could not miss. City started to play a bit better but were undone as a result of a lack of defence on their left wing. Three times the ball flew out to the wing to an unmarked attacker whose finally crossed the ball over where it was bundled home at the far post.
The only consolation for City fans witnessing their worst performance of the season was that Carshalton are no world beaters and a win for City in the reply should be well within reach.
Any repeat of this turgid performance this Saturday in a "must win" game at home to Weymouth will surely signal the time for change at City.
Worcester City v Grays - Saturday 12th December 2009
CITY REWARD FANS BY SLAYING THE "GIANT"
Conference Premier League strugglers Grays Athletic could not have been too impressed when the draw for the First Round Proper paired them with Worcester City at St George's Lane. The foggy weather dispersed to leave a cold and crisp December day - perfect weather for giant killing.
Grays though looked well up to the task as they took the game to City for the first ten minutes as City found themselves penned in their own half. Slowly the home team got into the game as the unusual pairing of Rob Elvins and Mark McGregor found life at the front to their liking. Alfie Carter roamed down the left wing at will - nearly scoring with a nice shot. A free kick from just outside the box saw a Craig Wilding shot glide inches wide of the goal. City were by now well on top and took the lead in their next attack. A Graham Ward corner was floated in to the near post where Rob Elvins neatly headed the ball into the far corner of the goal. The lead though was short lived as City conceded in bizarre fashion. A Grays free kick was deflected goalwards off Tom Kemp. The keeper saved the ball but sadly only after it had crossed the line.
Parity did not last long as almost straight away Alfie Carter found himself unmarked with only the keeper to beat. He seemed to mishit the shot on the volley but it was still good enough to wrong foot the keeper.
City were by now playing their best football of the season and could have increased their lead but Gary Walker's header struck the inside of the post and came clear.
The second half was one-way traffic towards the City goal for almost the entire 45 minutes as Grays Premier class at last started to show. Every City player gave 100% and somehow the ball stayed out of the City net. The groans that went up around the ground when four minutes of added time were indicated were almost as loud as the cheers that went up seconds later when Craig Wilding, who else, sealed it for City with a fierce free kick into the bottom corner to leave a final score of City 3 Grays 1.
A memorable victory as City make it only one defeat in the last six games.
Worcester City v Bishop's Stortford - Saturday 28th November 2009
If Bishop's Stortford's push for a play-off place is to continue then they really need to play with more conviction and discipline, particularly so when up against lowly teams desperate for points to avoid the drop down a division. Indeed had the game not been graced by a totally incompetent referee (plural!) they would surely have ended with less than a full team instead of just picking up four second half bookings.
City were first out of the starting blocks and but for outstanding saves would have been two up inside the first ten minutes. However the next thirty minutes belonged firmly to the visitors who surged forward with purpose. That said the only goal they scored in this period came from a very poor ball out of defence by Alfie Carter that went straight to a visiting player who swung the ball deep into the City box where the chance was gleefully accepted. For a time City looked like being swamped but they prevented any further goals and gradually fought their way back into the game despite playing at times against eleven visitors and the referee who left the pitch at half time to a chorus of boos.
It is a mystery to many fans as to why Rob Davies does not start more games for City but his introduction at half time made a real difference. City dominated the game with Matt Dinsmore creating three good openings that failed to lead to a decisive strike on goal.
Alfie Carter tried hard to make up for his first half mistake and it was his determination that led to a free kick for City just outside the visitors box. The impressive Craig Wilding drove an angled shot past the wall only to see the keeper make another fine save. The ball however rebounded towards Marco Adaggio who launched himself skywards to head the ball into the net.
The biggest cheer of the day though was reserved for the hapless referee who collapsed on the ground in a heap and had to hand over to one of his assistant's, his place being taken on the line by none other than City's Dave Boddy. What little work Boddy had to do was done well which is more than could be said for the "new" referee who if anything was less competent than his predecessor.
The final score then was City 1 Bishop's Stortford 1 and means City are unbeaten in four games for the first time in two years.
Worcester City v Burnham - Saturday 21st November 2009
The eyes of punters looking to find a potential giant killing act in the F.A. Trophy would have alighted on the tie between Blue Square South basement boys, Worcester City and Burnham, Southern League Midlands Division unbeaten high flyers. Perhaps not surprising when set against the backcloth of City's poor home record last season with only four wins all season coupled with recent home defeats to Chelmsford and Welling United.
The game was played in heavy rain making for very difficult playing conditions. The visitors had a game plan and stuck to it rigidly throughout a first half despite mounting evidence that the strategy of playing a back eight with two lines of four defenders and only two in the midfield and forward line was doomed. City were given far too much room which allowed the impressive trio of Matt Burley, Gary Wright and Craig Wilding to set up a host of golden chances for the forward line. Amazingly though somehow the ball stayed out of the visitors net through a combination of good keeping, poor shooting and bad luck.
The visitors used the half time interval to adopt a new strategy and as a result they were much more impressive and it became easier to see why they were unbeaten in their league. Indeed City were fast asleep at a free kick as a Burnham defender was given the freedom of City's six yard box to score with ease. Burnham's players celebrated for the best part of a minute but they would have been better served focusing on holding on to the lead as within thirty seconds of the restart Matt Birley had driven home the equaliser with a sweet low shot from the right hand edge of the box.
Those expecting the visitors to capitulate tamely were rudely awakened and only two fine saves by Jake Meredith kept the scores level. City though had a new momentum behind them and they duly won the game with a move of sublime beauty. Matt Dinsmore laid the ball off to Wayne Daniel who found Marco Adaggio in the box. The city striker turned and fired in a unstoppable shot that thudded into the base of the post before rebounding to the unmarked Craig Wilding. As the crowd held their breath he held his nerve and stroked the ball into the unguarded net to send the very wet sparse crowd home in a better frame of mind than they had been when Burnham took the lead.
Worcester City v Chelmsford - Monday 9th November 2009
Although City ultimately went home pointless this was an altogether different performance from the abject display only 48 hours previously. City were like a team revitalised with the return of Dinsmore, Daniel, Walker and Adaggio. City attacked for the whole of the 90 minutes and had more shots in the first ten minutes than in the whole 90 on Saturday. One shot whistled just inches wide of the post with the keeper well beaten whilst another was brilliantly tipped over the bar only for the inept referee to give a goal kick. This was fairly typical from an official clearly not of the required standard - he later denied City a cast iron penalty just before half time. Chelmsford though were a very impressive outfit who were capable of turning defence into attack in a flash. The visitors took the lead after City failed to clear their lines but a fine more was finished off by Rob Davies to see the scores level at half time. City created numerous chances after half time but somehow the visitors goal bore a charmed life and it came as no surprise that Chelmsford scored the winner with their only shot on target in the second half.
City v Welling United - Saturday 7th November 2009
This was perhaps the most disappointing home performance at the season as City slumped to a 1-0 home loss against another team struggling in the lower reaches of the league. City never got going on a bitterly cold day with a strong wind making any aerial play difficult. Although the visitors scored only one goal they could and should have added more against an overworked City defence in which Shabir Khan was supreme. Others who had good games included Kevin Spencer and Craig Wilding but most of the rest were well out of touch. City managed just two wild shots in the first half and two more that were well saved in the second. A poor game.
Worcester City v Weston-super-Mare - Monday 26th October 2009
On a dark and dismal October evening St George's Lane does not often appear to be the most hospitable place on the planet but perhaps boosted by recent improvements an extra 200 supporters came through the gates. Or maybe is was the added attraction of seeing if the ex Weston new boy, Mark McGregor, could give the sports writers their "old boy returns to haunt" etc type of headline. However on paper a clash between two of the struggling sides held little attraction especially given that Maidenhead United had failed to score against the visitors in 90 minutes last Saturday. But then they did not have Mark McGregor in their team, a man who seemed on a mission to prove that the No.9 shirt still means "Centre Forward".
The dream headline was realised early on as McGregor headed the ball with power towards the bottom right hand corner of the Weston net. The visiting keeper who had perhaps spent rather too long at the seasider's burger bars could only watch as the ball powered its way into the net. "Low, hard and to the keeper's right" became a bit of a theme as the game wore on because barely had the announcer found his team sheet than Craig Wilding drove in an unstoppable pile driver of a shot that hit the base of the right hand upright and flew into the net. Two up then inside the first fifteen minutes of the game was not what the visiting manager would have wanted and although they did get the ball into the City net twice in the first half both efforts were ruled out for offside.
A more determined approach from Weston characterised the start of the second half but their already fragile defence was left hopelessly exposed as Rob Elvins stormed in on goal. He seemed unable to decide when to shot and the chance looked lost as he became entangled in defender's legs but he eventually got off a short low to the keeper's right. The ball flew into the net although as the ball took a slight deflection off a Weston defender the chance of the keeper saving it was pretty minimal.
As the rain came down Weston's discipline deserted them during a brief spell that saw the referee lose control amid a flurry of poor decisions. At this point Wayne Daniel rose high to head in a left wing cross and make the game safe for City.
Weston pulled one back through Ben Joyce late on but City should have added several more, notably when Rob Elvins completely missed the ball when facing an open goal five minutes from time.
The final score of City 4 Weston-super-Mare 1 was then a fair reflection on proceedings before a crowd of 823.
Worcester City v Bourne Town - Saturday 26th September 2009
After several years of very tough opening games in the F.A.Cup City finally got a tie against a lower graded team that on paper looked no more than a stroll in the sun. That is proved anything but is as much a tribute to the excellent performance of Bourne Town as it is a reflection on City's current inability to get the ball into the back of the net. City should have wrapped this game up in a first half of near total domination but only a close range strike from the excellent Louis Bridges separated the teams at the interval. City had numerous excellent chances in the first 45 minutes but as usual poor finishing including at least one astonishing miss from within the six yard box let them down. The goal that was scored was a result of a superb cross from Kevin Spencer.
City continued in much the same vein for the first third of the second half with more chances going begging including a close range shot that hit the base of the post. The longer the game went on the more jittery became the fans and it even seemed to spook the management who inexplicably substituted Craig Wilding with the result that City surrendered the midfield that he had controlled expertly prior to his substitution. Bourne spurned a wonderful chance to equalise before other substitutes, Rob Davies and Marco Adaggio, wrapped up the game with a pair of superb goals - a crisp ground shot and stunning header respectively to leave a final score of City 3 Bourne Town 0
PHOTO GALLERY
Worcester City v Bourne Town - Saturday 26th September 2009
City v Dorchester Town - Saturday 5th September 2009
Often when two teams at the wrong end of the table meet each other the match peters out to a bore draw, but just occasionally the unexpected happens and so it proved when Dorchester provided the opposition at St George's Lane.
City who were kicking towards the Canal End were swiftly into their stride and won a free kick near to the touch line and level with the Director's Box. With a very strong wind in his favour Alfie Carter shot the ball in the direction of goal. As it approached the visiting goalkeeper, Ryan Northmore, the wind assisted the ball's progress and the only real option was to punch the ball over the bar for a corner. Inexplicably the keeper chose to catch the ball but the momentum on the ball forced him backwards and over the goalline. Despite his protestations the goal was awarded leaving the rest of the visitor's players holding their heads in disbelief. Worse followed in City's next attack that saw Matt Dinsmore, returning to the side after his visit to the USA, shoot the ball into the net from well outside the area. With barely five minutes gone it was game over as far as the points were concerned.
The Dorchester defence folded like a pack of cards allowing Matt Dinsmore free rein to score his second on twenty five and Rob Elvins to roll in a fourth before the interval.
Perhaps not without reason a new goalkeeper took the jersey for Dorchester in the second along with former City defender Ollie Barnes. The latter being assigned to mark Marco Adaggio, who had come on as substitute for an injured Wayne Daniel. Ollie's first contribution to the game should have been his last laying out Marco with a flying elbow that amazingly earned him only a yellow card.
City strolled all over the pitch and what little Dorchester showed was ended by two yellow cards awarded in quick time to Ian Selley.
A fully justified standing ovation followed at the full time whistle and at least the long suffering fans have something to savour with a final amazing scoreline of City 4 Dorchester 0.
City v Staines Town - Saturday 29th August 2009
Matt Dinsmore's City career appears to be at an end as the winger left for the USA in midweek but his replacement in the No.11 shirt, Louis Bridges, looks more than capable of filling in on the wing. Indeed the player was three times within inches of converting inviting crosses into goals but each time he was not able to connect. It just about summed up City's afternoon as they failed to convert their obvious superiority into that elusive first win of the season. Four times the Staines keeper saved his team with breathtaking efficiency, one save so good it fooled the inept referee into awarding a goal kick after the keeper had finger-tipped behind a goal bound shot. The keeper was though fortunate not to concede a penalty when he made a howler of a clearance that went straight to a City player deep inside the box. The keeper's ham fisted attempt to recover the ball saw him bring the City forward to the deck but the referee who was miles away from the player awarded a free kick to Staines. Just one of a dozen howlers the referee made in the first half an hour of the game. From one of these a wrongly awarded free kick was blasted against the City post but in essence this was the only time the City goal was troubled with the defence looking rock solid for a change.
City therefore must take comfort from gaining a point in a "winning draw" that surely augers well for the rest of the season.
City v Basingstoke Town - Monday 17 th August 2009
The green shoots evident in last Saturday's home defeat were reinforced in this top v bottom of the table clash at St George's Lane. Illness and injury forced more changes. Alfie Carter, a new signing at the weekend, came in for his debut at left back and looked to be a really useful addition to the side. There was a surprise change at goalkeeper too with the experienced Ben Hinchliffe taking over the gloves. City's approach work looked good in the first half but they failed to take any of the half chances that came their way. Basingstoke were resolute in defence with Joe Dolan, the former Millwall man, a tower of strength. Basingstoke though failing to muster a worthwhile shot on goal in the first thirty minutes took the lead with a lucky strike. The City keeper, who produced a faultless display, had a low drive well covered when the ball hit another attacker on the legs and flew into the opposite corner of the goal. It was cruel luck on the City and temporarily knocked them back a bit.
The second half saw City produce their best football of 2009 as wave after wave of Blue & White attackers bore down on the visitors goal. Shots rained in from all angles and quite how the ball stayed out of the net was almost unbelievable. The irrepressible Joe Dolan twice cleared the ball off the line after shots had beaten the Basingstoke keeper, once with an almost unbelievable overhead kick.
City's defence spent most of the half camped in the visitors territory as every Basingstoke player retreated towards his own goal. Craig Wilding, by some measure the best player on view, eventually righted the score powering in a far post header with time running out. Pick of the City forwards was probably Aaron Moses-Garvey with Matt Dinsmore doing a fair impression of Steven Gerrard causing constant problems with his mazy runs.
So after three blanks, the season has finally started. Basingstoke go top but City move up three places away from the bottom.
City v Bromley; Saturday 8th August 2009
A new season; a new hope; same end result. Not much changes for the better then at St George's Lane. Well, up to a point that is true as this was a much improved City team from the one that turned out so often last season.
City took the lead with their first attack of the season; the ball was headed out to Rob Elvins on the edge of the penalty area who blasted an unstoppable shot back past a bemused Bromley keeper. This though turned out to be the only bright spot in a dismal first half dominated by the visitors who equalised after half an hour and ought to have been in the lead by the interval.
The visitors faded badly in the second half and City were well on top as they showed plenty of spirit and seemed much fitter than their opponents. The visitors became more desperate as the game went on and some of their tackling was totally beyond the pail. This constant fouling continued even after l'Anson was shown a straight red for a disgraceful foul on Mark Clyde. City has plenty of possession but were unable to find the net and the visitors grabbed a win with a breakaway goal in the 5 th minute of added time
Archived 26/9/2009; updated 3/9/2013