2011/12
Worcester City v Workington - Saturday 28th April 2012
With little to play for City could be forgiven for taking their foot off the gas in the final game of the season against a resurgent Workington team who needed a result to be assured of a place in the Blue Square North league next season. Perhaps this was the reason the visitors sneaked it by scoring the only goal of the game.
City's attack in recent weeks has been blunted by the absence of the lively Michael Taylor, and his presence was again missed as City's excellent build-up play went unrewarded.
So another season comes to an end with City finishing in seventh place - a very creditable performance considering their status of relegation candidates before the season started.
Gainsborough Trinity v Worcester City - Saturday 21st April 2012
Worcester cemented their hold on seventh place with a tremendous performance at high flying Trinity as they twice fought back from a goal down to gain a point. Although City's outside chance of making the play-offs went with the failure to win there was nothing wrong with their attitude and ability as they largely outplayed the hosts. City were twice undone by free kicks. The first had more than a slice of luck about it as Matt Sergeant saved the initial goal bound shot but the ball flew back to the striker who smashed it back into the net. Until then the game had been mostly played in midfield with neither side threatening to score. Despite the setback City were in no mood to sit back and stormed up the field for Greg Mills to strike a superb equaliser. City fell behind the second time when a free kick was headed home by an unmarked Trinity forward. The goal gave the home team a half time lead of two goals to one. Trinity really needed to win to cement a play-off place but they made the mistake of sitting back on the lead in the hope that their defence could hold firm. City though had other ideas and got better and better as the game wore on, led by superb performances from Greg Mills at the front and Jacob Rowe in defence. City got their reward five minutes from time when Danny Edwards was brought down in the box. Tom Thorley scored from the spot but time ran out before City could strike a winning blow.
Nuneaton Town v Worcester City - Monday 9th April 2012
Nuneaton Town produced a first half of stunningly good football that would have ripped apart any team in the league, and probably in the Conference Premier too, as they totally dominated one of the meanest defences on offer. From their superb opener in the third minute of the game right through to half time City were on the back foot as shots flew in from all angles. If one thing was certain to send an opposing centre forward into overdrive it was the boring mindless abuse directed towards him by a section of moronic so-called City supporters. It really was appalling behaviour and only abated once Danny Glover had scored the inevitable goal. Nuneaton added a third and also hit the post before half time.
City improved greatly in the second half as Nuneaton wilted badly. In the final 25 minutes of the game City had plenty of chances to reduce the arrears not least being when a woeful clearance flew straight to Danny Edwards who fired wide with only the keeper to beat. The afternoon was neatly summed up when Matt Burley's injury time penalty was brilliantly saved to leave a final score of Nuneaton 3 City 0.
Worcester City v Eastwood Town - Saturday 7th April 2012
At this stage of the season a win is a win however achieved and this one was more difficult than most. City fans endured a torrid afternoon of missed chance after missed chance against a very poor Eastwood Town side whose only interest was to prevent City from scoring. Aided by an inept performance from the referee they held out for three quarters of the game before Mike Symonds lashed the ball home with a fierce shot after good work from Kevin O'Connor. It was City's only shot on target in this desperately poor game - Eastwood never threatened the City goal after a brief flourish in the first five minutes.
As all of the other leading contenders won as well ,City's slim chance of making the play-offs carries forward to Nuneaton on Easter Monday.
Worcester City v Stalybridge Celtic - Saturday 24th March 2012
It was a frustrating afternoon for City fans as they failed to convert any of the numerous chances they created against a very poor Celtic side who came for and got a point. Celtic started the game with a 4-5-1 format that was certainly not designed to entertain the fans. Their ambition in the goal scoring department vanished shortly after half time when they withdrew their sole striker and adopted a weird 4-6 or even 6-4 format. That system did not last long as soon after they were rightly reduce to ten men after a straight red card was shown to Callum Warburton for a terrible tackle.
Stalybridge were a pale shadow of the side that tore apart allcomers, including City, in a fantastic start to the season. At that time it seemed that "Project Stalybridge", using fulltime youth players, would be a rampant success, but all that has fallen apart in spectacular fashion and it now just a bunch of petulant overgrown children who throw tantrums when unable to bully the referee to give decisions their way. Quite how long the venerable Jim Harvey will put up with it remains to be seen but he certainly was an unhappy manager at the final whistle. "Project Stalybridge" is a sad failure, as far from fielding a team of promising players looking to play at a higher level this lot would struggle to make an impact in the division below. Just as well they got some many points before Christmas as one win in the last fifteen games is bottom of the table form.
City huffed and puffed all afternoon and created several fine chances that they should have taken but didn't. A frustrating afternoon for City but it did have its funny moments such as possibly the first time in the history of soccer at the Lane that a goalkeeper has been treated for cramp.
Worcester City v Droylesden - Saturday 17th March 2012
Worcester's unbeaten run came to an end as they ran out of steam against a workmanlike Droylesden outfit who were well worthy of their fine win. City started brightly but once Tom Thorley went off with a hamstring injury the home team lacked the guile to break down a strong defence. A goal in each half sealed City's fate in a game best forgotten.
Worcester City v Gainsborough Trinity - Monday 12th March 2012
Worcester City's late surge towards the play-off zone gathered more momentum at St George's Lane on Monday night with a well deserved but had fought victory over a Gainborough team who are themselves genuine contenders for a top five place. For a long period though it looked like City's hopes would be dashed as Trinity took a first half lead with a goal on the break which ended with a low shot that beat the City keeper who had no chance to make a save. Aided by a woeful referee Gainsborough rode their luck throughout the first hour of the game, as it seemed that every time Taylor and Symonds got the ball they were wrestled to the ground but with no free kick being awarded. Indeed City had an obvious penalty rejected as early as the second minute. Both Taylor and Thorley should have scored before the break, the former heading narrowly wide whilst the latter blasted a simple volley wide of the far post.
Little was seen of the Gainsborough attack as the visitors pulled all bar one player back into their own half of the field to defend their lead. City though were on fire and time after time only the heroics of the visiting keeper kept City out. It looked like turning into a frustrating evening for City until a slice of sheer magic from Mike Symonds drew City level. With nothing much seeming on Symonds gained possession twelve yards out but facing away from goal, in a instant he turned a lashed in a dipping volley to the keeper's left that completely deceived him. Barely had the crowd had time to draw breath than Gary Mills swept in from the left to score an even better goal blasting the ball in from the end of the area to again give the keeper no chance.
After so long on defence Gainsborough found it hard to go after the equaliser and it was only some naive defending and two appalling decisions by the referee, who handed the visitors two free kicks in dangerous positions, that caused City any anxious moments as they held on to record a 2 - 1 victory.
Worcester City v Boston United - Saturday 3rd March 2012
A rampant City produced their best display of the season as they tore apart visiting Boston United. City won by three goals to nil and the only mystery is how the City failed to double that score. Boston were very poor in all departments - they even had half their team booked but amazingly ended with eleven players on the field.
Rob Elvins gave City an early lead which was doubled by Matt Burley before half time. City had two rock solid penalty shouts turned down before Michael Taylor was sent flying early in the second half. If proved to be third time lucky and Tom Thorley scored from the spot.
City were dominant in all departments but they found the Boston keeper in fine form denying City more goals with numerous superb saves. The keeper apart the rest of the Boston team failed to make any impression in any area of the field.
Worcester City v Blyth Spartans - Saturday 25th February 2012
Without a goal from open play in the last four games City's goal machine has certainly misfired badly in 2012. A rock solid defence has ensured three draws in a row but action was needed in the goal scoring department. It came against rock-bottom Blyth in the shape of a first start for Michael Taylor, one of City's summer signing. Taylor had the speed and determination needed to break down the massed ranks of visiting defenders. City were truly impressive for all except the last fifteen minutes, but by then the game should have been over as a contest: that it wasn't was largely down to luck. Taylor thought he had scored in the first half but was unlucky to be flagged offside when he converted a cross cum shot from Gary Mills. Mills was a real handful for the defenders and he setup Matt Burley to strike the opening goal from just inside the box.
City were on fire from the start of the second half and doubled their lead went Taylor burst through the defence and beat the keeper with a superb ground shot. Blyth's defence was all over the place and got nowhere near a fierce shot from Tom Thorley that crashed back off the crossbar or Michael Taylor's deft lob that also struck the bar.
With ten minutes left the referee handed Blyth a lifeline when he awarded the visitors a free kick a yard outside the penalty area. The kick was well struck and amazingly the visitors were back in the game, however their toothless offence failed to muster another shot on target to see City run out the winners by two goals to one.
Solihull Moors v Worcester City - Saturday 18th February 2012
Football resumed on a bitterly cold and bright day at a windswept Damson Lane as Worcester made the short trip for this tricky encounter. The Moors are flying high this season and this has been evidenced by recent home wins against Hyde United and Gainsborough Trinity so it was obvious that City would need to be at their best to come away with any reward. As expected City were pushed back into defence for large parts of the game but when they made occasional bursts forward the impressive Gary Mills proved a real handful for the Moors defence. City's defence had perhaps its best game of the season and most of the home side's attacks were thwarted without troubling Matt Sargeant in goal. The best chance of the game came early in the second half when a long range shot was well saved by Sargeant but rebounded across goal where a simple tap in would have won the game for the Moors but was instead blasted high over the bar. This effort apart City were rarely troubled and thus the game finished at nil nil.
Worcester City v Histon - Monday 30th January 2012
There was plenty of action to keep the crowd warm on a bitterly cold night at St George's Lane with things made worse by Histon's late arrival at the Lane which delayed the kick off by thirty minutes. There was little to choose between the teams in an entertaining first half. City thought that they had taken the lead with a Mike Symons header from a free kick but this was ruled out for offside whilst Histon came close when the ball was hacked clear from close to the goal line.
Things burst into life straight from the restart as Histon hit the City bar and then gained a fortuitous penalty when a pile driver struck a City player and the referee, who had a poor night, gave a penalty. City's protests were waived away and the resulting spot kick was smashed home with aplomb. It should have been the signal for the visitors to slow the game down and consolidate their lead but instead they wilted under heavy City pressure. The visitors game went completely to pieces as their players, who already appeared to be in a bad mood, resorted to petulant and childish tantrums as City piled forward. The equalising goal, scored by Tom Thorley from the penalty spot, came after Gary Mills was brought down. It looked a soft penalty but balanced up the one given at the other end. Worse though for Histon as dissent lead to a second yellow for a Histon defender and the visitors were down to ten men.
Histon's challenge faded away amidst a flurry of fouls, time wasting and bookings and the game ended on a sour note when the Histon officials confronted the City bench after the final whistle. Good fun all round for a large crowd of 916.
Worcester City v Colwyn Bay - Saturday 14th January 2012
Things seem to be going from bad to worse as despite fielding three new players City turned in perhaps their worst performance of the season against Colwyn Bay. The visitors were well worth their half time lead and easily brushed aside a feeble attempt at a second half comeback. City managed just one meaningful attack in the whole game and this ended with Tom Thorley's shot flashing inches past the far post. With four defeats in a row any possibility of a play-off place now seems a distant dream.
Vauxhall Motors v Worcester City - Saturday 7th January 2012
2012 has started with somewhat of a flop as City slumped to their second defeat in a row, this time a narrow 3-2 loss at a windswept Vauxhall Motors ground. Few spectators braved the bitter wind but those present were treated to a wonderful game of football between two sites determined to win the game. Once again it was poor defending that cost City dear as both the first and third goals were gives from unforced errors.
One of the most comical own goals ever seen was to City's advantage as an attempted clearance rebounded from the backside of one of Vauxhall's central defender and flashed into the net at high speed. The same player nearly doubled his score minutes later but his header was a inch or two away from a second own goal. Before long though City got caught one the break and found themselves chasing the game once again.
The second half was almost one way traffic towards the home goal but another breakaway handed Vauxhall a third goal. Even at this score City far from out of the game and Symons reduced the arrears and in the final minute a wonder save denied City a deserved equaliser.
Gloucester City v Worcester City - Sunday 1st December 2012
Worcester's hopes of a quick fire double were dashed by three serious defensive blunders on a afternoon that the City goalkeeper, James Dormand, will want to forget. Worcester were well on top when he dropped the ball from a routine corner and allowed Edwards the easiest of goals. More bad defending this time on the left hand of the City defence handed Edwards a second goal before City had got their breath back. Mike Symonds got one back before the break to give Worcester fans hope for the second half. Worcester created and missed three good chances in the second half before a breakaway saw a tame looking shot slip through the keeper's hands to give Gloucester an unlikely 3-1 victory before a disappointing crowd of barely 800 - most of them from Worcester.
Worcester City v Gloucester City - Monday 26th December 2011
For once fine weather allowed the Boxing Day fixture to go ahead (unlike the previous two years) and the supporters were rewarded by a truly memorable afternoon. The best crowd of the season, 1,501, was present to witness a spectacular game between two sides determined to entertain and to win. It was Gloucester who took the lead with a superb goal from Edwards who stormed half the length of the pitch before rounding the City keeper to score from an acute angle. Worcester came straight back into it but Simon Brown's blockbuster rebounded to safety from the crossbar. City had other half chances in the first half but the Gloucester defence stood firm.
The game turned in Worcester's favour when Michael Taylor joined the attack mid-way through the second half. Taylor's pace and drive ran the visiting defence ragged and by dint of sheer determination he forced a rare error from the Gloucester defence before slotting the ball home from close range. His goal celebration was certainly worth the entrance fee alone. There was no way he was settling for just one goal and was on hand to drive through a tiring defence after being put in by a lovely pass from Mike Symonds. A desperate lunging tackle from behind sent him flying for the most obvious of penalties. Simon Brown stepped up to score with aplomb to send most of the crowd home with a spring in their step and a final score being Worcester City 2 Gloucester City 1.
Worcester City v Hyde F.C. - Saturday 3rd December 2011
This was certainly a game that those present at a cold and blustery St George's Lane will remember for a long time as City took on the league leaders. Goalkeeper James Dormand had picked up an injury and was replaced by Matt Sargeant. City started brightly and put the visitors defence under pressure without creating a clear cut opportunity. When Hyde finally got into the match they took the City defence apart with a sweeping move down the wing that ended with a fine low shot that crept into the corner of the City net. Undaunted by this setback City kept pressing forward.
An incident in the City box saw Martin Naylor and Chris Worsley of Hyde shown red cards for what seemed a fairly innocent bust-up. There was little time to draw breath with play flowing from end to end at lightning speed. City soon gained a penalty when Mike Symonds broke into the Hyde box and was hacked to the ground from behind. It was an obvious penalty and another chance for the referee to add a name to his book: in this case a yellow for Hyde's Josh Brizell. Tom Thorley coolly slotted home the spot kick. Hyde soon regained the lead with fine header for a corner.
Hyde seemed to be holding City at bay until the introduction of Michael Taylor and Matt Burley made a decisive impact. Burley bossing the midfield whilst Taylor's extra speed caused havoc in the Hyde defence. As City pressed forward the game took a dramatic twist as Symonds burst through the defence and was again scythed to the deck - surely it really should not be beyond the intelligence of defenders to realise that if they make desperate lunges at forwards sprinting into the box it is likely to be a penalty. Before Tom Thorley could take the penalty all hell broke loose with Hyde players and manager totally losing their composure. Another Hyde player, David Birch, and their manager were both dismissed the field of play before a cool penalty take brought the games level.
City dominated the rest of the game but time ran out before City could grab the winner to leave a final score of 2-2.
Worcester City v Harrogate Town - Saturday 26th November 2011
Worcester City bowed out of this season's F.A. Trophy competition after a below-par performance against determined opponents. From the moment that a defensive aberration by City's keeper, Jimmy Dormand, who came but did not claim a corner kick floated to the near post, allowed Paul Grayson a easy finish City were on the back foot. The forward line seemed strangely quiet rarely troubling the Harrogate defence. Indeed it was the visitors who twice had shots find the crossbar at the City end. As the game went on it became increasingly obvious that Harrogate would win, aided by some inept decisions made by a poor official. Overall though this was a game best forgotten.
Worcester City v Altrincham - Saturday 12th November 2011
Following a 4-1 drubbing at Droylsden in midweek, City fans could be forgiven for expecting the worst against their high-flying opponents. However it was Altrincham who went home nursing a headache after a comprehensive defeat. City were on top from the start and the danger signs were there for the visitors long before Simon Brown fired City into the lead from the penalty spot. The penalty had come about after Brown ran the ball into the box and was bundled over from behind. City never looked back and a sweeping move down the left wing ended with Simon Brown squaring the ball to the unmarked Tom Thorley who drilled the ball across the keeper and into the net.
Altrincham's triple substitution at half time, which seemed to owe more to desperation than tactics, failed to inspire a fightback, indeed if anything it was City who got better. Tom Thorley capped easily his best game of the season by smashing Luke Corbett's pinpoint cross into the net as City dominated possession with James Dormand's goal firmly protected behind a defence in top form. There was no way back for Altrincham as City ran out easy winners by three goals to nil before a good crowd of 842.
Apologies for the absence of a report from the Guiseley home match (2-2 draw) but normal service is now resumed.
Stalybridge Celtic v Worcester City - Saturday 29th October 2011
Stalybridge is a grim place at the best of times but on a dark and dismal autumn afternoon it really does take on the appearance of a grim place to visit. Even the new stands at Bower Fold do not brighten up a place seeming on the edge of the world raked by storm force winds direct off the moors. It was always going to be a game dictated by the elemental forces with both the slope and the wind on the favour of the league leaders in the first half. As to be expected from such a free-scoring attack Stalybridge ripped into the City defence from the start, but City were a tower of strength throwing up an impenetrable barrier which reduced the leaders to peppering the goal with long range and largely ineffective volleys. There was little chance of staying down the other end of the field for long as even the slightest touch by a defender sent the ball flying away from danger. It seemed that City would keep a clean sheet until half time but were undone by a superb flowing move down the right-hand side ending with a unstoppable close-range shot.
The second half belonged to City who kept the home team under pressure and penned down in their own half for long periods. Luck however did not look kindly on the City as all their pressure come to nought. Tom Thorley, a general in the midfield, saw his superb dipping shot clawed to safety by the goalkeeper's fingertips. Simon Brown's goalbound shot beat the keeper and was headed like an arrow for the bottom corner of the net when it hit a defender's leg and flew inches the wrong side of the goal. Nwadike then rose unchallenged at the far post but his header rattled the woodwork and was cleared. It seemed inevitable that City would score but instead they were caught out by the classic break-away goal. It came from a free-kick that should have been, but wasn't, awarded to City. Instead it was Stalybridge was took the kick and a fine header gave Stalybridge more breathing space.
Even so City continued to dominate and it was again Simon Brown who stuck the post with another header. Perhaps as well it did not go into the net because the linesman, who did not have a good game, had been caught out of position by the speed of the attack and erroneously flagged for offside. Finally Tom Thorley had a glorious chance from six yards out but was only able to help the ball over the bar to leave a final score of Stalybridge 2 City 0.
City v Harrogate Town - Saturday 22nd October 2011
There was a distinctly subdued atmosphere in the opening 45 minutes of City's first home game since the disappointing FA cup defeat at Godalming. Neither side showed much potential but it was City who took the lead with a route one attack from goalkeeper to Symonds to Corbett who drove the ball home in fine style.
City were asleep after the restart as Harrogate equalised inside a minute. City finally work up on the hour and retook the lead after desperate defending by the visitors saw the ball hit the bar twice in succession before falling to Symonds to net from two yards out. City's lead was again short-lived as more poor defending, this time from City, handed Harrogate the equaliser. It was end to end football from then on with chances falling to both teams. Lee Smith picked out Mike Symonds who burst through the defence only to be brought down by the keeper. It was a penalty and an obvious red card. With no keeper on the bench the No.1 shirt was taken the visiting captain and he produced a superb save to keep out Luke Corbett's penalty. City were not to be denied and sheer determination from Matt Burley was rewarded with a fine shot from just inside the box to give City a hard-earned 3-2 win.
City v Bishop's Stortford - Saturday 24th September 2011
Just one week after the bad loss to Guiseley,City have got back on track with two home wins. The first half very much belonged to the City who scored with another goal from the prolific Mike Symons and a penalty from Simon Brown. The second half though was all down to the visitors and their inability to get the ball into the net. City should have been out of sight in the first half but could easily have lost the game but for poor finishing. The one goal the visitors got was far too late to have any effect.
City v Solihull Moors - Monday 19th September 2011
Just when supporters needed a boost following three heavy defeats the City delivered it in style. The first half belonged firmly to the home team who should have had the lead before Solihull had moved into top gear. The early chances went begging but City remained well in charge with Matt Burley and Simon Brown providing much needed width on the wings. What the game really needed was a goal going into the half time break and it came to City, not once but twice in the blink of an eye. Kevin O'Connor gleefully rammed home a fierce drive from the edge of the area and then Matt Birley slammed in a second with Solihull looking vainly for the offside flag.
The visitors came back strongly in the second half but found the City keeper in fine form with two first class saves. As the game wore on Solihull visibly tired and gaps appeared in their defence which Mike Symons gratefully accepted by running half the length of the pitch before slotting the ball home via the inside of the far post to send the home supporters away with a renewed confidence.
Altrincham v City - Saturday 10th September 2011
The final score of Alty 4 City 1 tells a true story of the balance of play in this game. City had a day to forget as they were pulled apart by a slick home side. The first half though was a very even affair and City looked comfortable until two duff decisions by the referee swung the balance. Firstly he awarded the Robins a free kick after Matt Burley had fairly won the ball. From the free kick Tom Thorley won the ball back and was flying forward towards the home goal when he was pole-axed to the ground. The referee who presumably did not have a good view of the incident played on and seconds later the ball was in the City net. It was rough justice and changed the style of play required by City in the second half. Alarmingly though time and again City's defence was ripped to shreds by a series of devastatingly ground passes. Three goals followed in a rapid sequence to leave the 25 or so visiting fans rubbing their eyes in disbelief. To their credit City did not give up and got some reward for the efforts when Mike Symons was floored in the box. He calmly put the spot kick away but it was scant consolation for what went before.
Kieran Mooney
I regret to advise the decease of long-term City supporter and helper, Koran Mooney. I couldn't understand why he was not at the game yesterday, but now we know. RIP (ACS).
City v Corby Town - Saturday 3rd September 2011
Although beaten by Corby, City were by no means outplayed against a very good visiting outfit. City contested every ball and kept going to the end but it always seemed as though the first goal would settle a close encounter. Corby's first goal was a superb header from a corner and was quickly followed by a second from a poorly defended free kick. City had chances to get back into the game wasting three good chances in the last quarter of an hour, none more so than a lame penalty kick that was easily saved by the Corby keeper.
So with one sixth of the season gone City have a good return of eleven points from seven points.
City v Nuneaton Town - Monday 29th August 2011
A battling performance by City saw them grab a late equaliser in a feisty Bank Holiday encounter at St George's Lane. The return of former City players Graham Ward and Danny Glover was always going to make for a lively afternoon and there were times when tempers flared and the match could have got out of control. Credit must therefore go to the referee whose faultless performance kept the lid on proceedings.
City were slow out of the blocks and it was no surprise when following several warning strikes the visitors took the lead after just eleven minutes. Jimmy Dormand kept out a blockbuster effort but was helpless to prevent the rebound from being slotted home to delight the visiting supporters who has the Canal End to themselves. City huffed and puffed but the attacks lacked momentum and what shots they had were mostly well off target.
The second half was a quite different game as City slipped into top gear. Like Halifax before them the visitors sat further and further back in defence using every opportunity to run down the clock. Danny Carey-Bertram, City's saviour against Halifax, headed over the bar when he really should have scored. City teams of the past would have few options on the bench but the team is much stronger this season and once again it was two adept substitutions that livened up the City. Matt Burley came on in midfield and took control of that part of the park whilst Michael Taylor added much needed bite up-front. Taylor looked to have scored with a superb ground shot but the Nuneaton keeper made a wonder save to turn the ball behind for a corner. Taylor though was not to be denied and as the clock ran out he was on hand to ram home a loose ball after the Nuneaton defence had failed to clear the ball to leave a final score of 1-1 before over 900 spectators.
City v FC Halifax Town - Saturday 20th August 2011
This highly entertaining game was also one of few chances with defences dominating throughout. Halifax drew first advantage with some sloppy defending involving several City players leading to a simple tap-in. The visitors failed to add to their advantage but they kept the referee busy with a string of robust challenges and pointless dissent that brought three bookings in the first half. Despite their domination of possession it was City who looked more likely to score, none more so than Luke Corbett who fluffed his lines when shooting weakly after being presented with an open goal chance. He nearly redeemed himself just before half time with a fierce close range shot that the visitors goalkeeper contrived to save the shot with his face and thus turned the ball onto the post. The rebound was sent goalwards but cleared off the line. The second half continued in much the same vein and stepped up a gear after Carl Heeley had thrown on Josh Emery, Marc McGregor and Danny Carey-Bertram. Halifax started to defend too far back in their own half and made the mistake of thinking they could run the clock out. A well struck free kick found McGregor who neatly chested the ball to Carey-Bertram who unleashed a pile-driver that flew into the net. City had further chances to win the game as Halifax ran out of steam but the score remained level to give both sides a point in front of over 900 fans.
City v Vauxhall Motors - Monday 15th August 2011
A healthy crowd of 620 supporters (an increase of over 100 on the last game of the 2010/11 season) turned up at St Georges Lane on a dull but dry night for the opening home league game of the season. Even though, following the defeat at Hyde on Saturday, this was only the second league game of the season fans were already muttering about the "must win" nature of a game between two teams whom the bookmakers suggest are likely relegation candidates. Out on the pitch though it looked a different proposition as there was skill and endeavour aplenty from the players, ever eager to cement a place in their respective teams.
City were quickly on the offensive launching swift attacks down both flanks, a rare event indeed to see a City team with width on both wings, and in Mike Symons they had an eager front-man to seek out. It was, though, Matt Burley who put the hosts ahead when a found acres of space inside the penalty area to accept a pass from Luke Corbett, before drilling a low shot into the net after only eight minutes. City has plenty more opportunities to increase their league as the visitors struggled to find momentum, but they were unlucky not to equalise when a fierce shot flew just wide of the City net. Vauxhall improved in the last ten minutes of the first half and the half time whistle brought little relief to a City defence that was becoming increasingly stretched. It needed a second goal to settle the nerves and it duly came after the City manager, Carl Heeley, had thrown Josh Emery into the fray. The injection of fresh legs had an instant impact as City started to dominate. Motors defender, Michael Jackson, was penalised for hand ball after throwing himself in the way of a goal-bound pile driver from the impressive Rob Elvins and City were awarded a penalty. After some debate Luke Corbett stepped up to power home the spot kick to leave a final score of City 2 Vauxhall Motors 0.
Archived 1/8/2012; updated 5/9/2013