2015 drawing to a close!

Hi everyone,

Sadly the match planned for Saturday 19^th December has had to be postponed due to Barton fields being water logged and both of the pitches at KGV being allocated to Under 14’s.  This is a shame and will mean that our next football training will be on Wednesday 6^thJanuary and our next match will be a home fixture against Cullompton. 

It has been a great 2015 and like you I am sure I have many happy memories of the year and being part of a special group of players and parents.  John and I would like to thank you all for the bags of goodies and to know that it is really appreciated.

Well done to Dan who won the ‘shoot the hoop’ competition on Wednesday and wins two tickets to see Star Wars!! 

So, on behalf of John and I, we wish you all a very happy festive break and every best wish for 2016.  I am confident and hopeful that it will be a good one for Central City!

Ho, Ho, Ho!!

Mark & John

Stuck in the mud!

Stealers Wheel were “ Stuck in the middle with you" back in the 1970‘s and City seemed to be stuck in the muddy conditions at Sidford.With cup tie fever gripping the City, this reference can go full circle in line with the heavy,well played on pitch against Sidmouth.

A slightly later start than usual did not allow for any drying of the boggy surface despite some prevailing wind.A City call to arms drew on all 14 available players and a tactical left balance defence,with right side attack, initially gave City the best of the exchanges.A strong Cameron led defence supported by Charlie and Josh,with Man of the Match Will P dropping deep from a midfield role,led to three positive efforts on goal from Dan,Alfie and Tom D,each time the competant home keeper in the right place.

As City switched the play,Dan to Ewan and Sam P on the left,there did not seem to be any problem with the football flowing.As the match went on though,it was City whose footing suffered most.Sidmouth went close following a slight defensive mix up,an open goal shot wide,to relief and good fortune.City rallied to force two corners before Charlie was unable to continue following a head injury and the team were required to restructure, Joe coming on and Ewan dropping to right back.Despite good touches, Will A and Alfie were outnumbered in attack and at halftime City trailed 1-0 following a penalty award for handball.

The second half saw more frustration as it was difficult to connect cleanly with the ball and pass and shoot with any purpose.In this half,fresh legs were introduced,Tom O then Oner joining the Managers rallying calls.The team spirit kicked in,an Alfie corner forced a good save from Dan,Tom D combined with Alfie whose shot somehow stayed out and then finally,Dan took a short corner that Sam P boxed and as the ball stayed in the air,Tom D levelled with a clean volley.

The cup tie atmosphere continued to the end and City clung on,good fortune again with a missed attempt and then due to astonishing bravery as Noah came out to thwart a one on one attempt getting both the ball and a chest full of studs.

So,a draw was taken in the end.Judging by the cup clip below,it seems the Sidford pitch was pretty good.Aspire to a Ronnie Radford moment and consider how many refs would allow that tackle before it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHZWyMFgM80

Let's finish 2015 in style!!

Hello everyone,

Hope that you are all well.

A really positive training session last night, and was good to have John back with us after his trip down under!

Was also good to talk tactics and focus a bit on positional play, these are such important points and will hopefully make us an even stronger team.

So we have two matches left in 2015.  The match on Saturday 12th is away against Sidmouth.  They have requested a 11:15am kick off and I hope that this is okay with everyone.  They play this year at Sidford Playing Fields, Sidford, Sidmouth EX10 9QX.

We will take a strong 14 man squad with us, with only Dylan still out of action due to injury.  Cameron has been handed the captains arm band for the next two matches, setting consistently high standards in training and on match days so well done Cameron. 

We then have training on the 18th December before our final match against West Exe, again away, on the 19th December.  We will then have a break from playing and training until we re-group to work off the excesses of the festive period on Wednesday 6th January.

As always any problem please let me know, if not I will look forward to seeing you all on Saturday.

Regards

Mark

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City blown away!!

City were never at the races in their home fixture to Bideford Blues.It wasn’t just the gale force wind,howling across and from side to side that made the conditions difficult.So difficult in fact that you could be forgiven for thinking that the earlier team photo that currently adorns the City FC homepage was taken on the same day,with the Mums Dartmoor rescue team looking lost in the background.

It is of course,the Blues,a thorough test at any level.No need to dwell on the ballwatching,it was two in the first half and a further three in the second half.Still,we like to come back down to earth once a season:This is a St Martins moment from Flowerpot lane playing fields last year.Not that City played like Flowerpot men.The close isobars kept a first half effort out and when pressing forward there were hints of the usual City.But add in a few unlucky injuries to the point where it looked like a 10 player team would have to see out the match,and it was never going to be a photo finish.

Still,the council kept us amused by cutting only the grass on the white line markings which to be fair,were very clear.Also,helpfully keeping the grass short inside the goal-quite novel.And a bit of magic consistently throughout the game from Man of the Match Noah,no sleight of hand needed there,keeping the score,on a City offday,to at least half of what it could have been.

Andrew Worth