Cup run ends at the penultimate hurdle

City strode out at Amory Park,Tiverton,home of Twyford Spartans,for the first of two consecutive visits.Next week is a return to league action,this,the semi final of the Cup. On a cold,bright day,the pitch had survived an inspection,being described the day before as 50/50 playable.If anything,the surface did not stop the movement of the ball and City returned to a passing game,finding players often from distance,and competing at an altogether higher level that last weeks mauling.But remembering the keenly contested draw at KGV,earlier in the season,this was never going to be anything but a close call. Opening exchanges saw both sides making offensive moves with the City defence holding strong and adopting no risks,playing the ball into touch where necessary and regrouping with discipline.There were though,few attempts on goal and it was the defenders from both sides,who were continually in play.Ewan and Sam P started to enjoy some runs down the left hand side,at one point linking well with Tom,before Dan got a rare City shot away.Charlie was called upon for some proficient defensive cover,Sam R made two excellent saves,but the visitors eventually fell a goal behind following a quick Twyford move.City did not drop their heads,nor indeed so at any point of the match.Cameron captained the troops,restoring morale with a trademark freekick leveller,the halftime score 1-1. The second half saw more of the same,perhaps with more urgency from City.Another Cam freekick,one of several,severely tested the Spartans’ keeper but a follow up just did not break.The deadlock was broken by the tale of two penalties.In a mismatched 18 yard box for the size of pitch,an award for a foul was first sent over Sam R’s goal into the carpark.A less obvious collision with Sam R was despatched giving him no chance.City made every attempt to provide onslaught on to the Twyford goal as the minutes,and the place in the final,eventually ebbed away.But,in another first for the club,that is by far and away the furthest in the cup competition that the group has ever progressed over their history (this current Central side in 5 years). Charlies’ defensive acuity was once again pleasingly apparent,to the guest Man of the Match selector,George,Will A’s cousin.