Two for the price of one!

Mixed fortunes as league games continue. April 2016 

Two match reports for the price of one as City continued their league campaign with a midweek Wednesday evening fixture at home to Sidmouth followed by a conventional Saturday morning encounter away vs West Exe.

Wednesday evening, dry and pleasant, saw City 0-4 down at half time to a well organised, quick and physical Sidmouth side. The pattern of the game was set out early when Tom D needed to execute a goal line clearance and Cameron put in a telling tackle in order to keep the away side at bay. Despite City putting a few passes together and a notable Will P screamer just going wide, the visitors opened the scoring with a rapid left wing break.

City capitulated in the 5 minutes before half time when Sidmouth netted a further 3 goals and a deflated home team needed a rousing team talk from the manager and coach over the orange slices.

What followed was a completely different second half as City stepped up several gears to more than match their opponents. Despite only scoring once, a great effort from Alfie from the left hand side over the competant goalkeeper, there were plenty of goalmouth scrambles where City could have added to their tally another day. A fine Josh free kick near the end was well saved.

City continued in this fine spirit at Barton Fields against West Exe on Saturday morning. Despite the perceived handicap of exactly eleven players available for selection, this if anything, acted as a catalyst for the performance of the season so far ( confirmed in the post match de-brief by coach John B).

On level dry ground City passed the ball with accuracy and confidence, playing a variable 3-5-2 formation where everyone stayed true to their position. Their reward was a hatful of goals starting with a brace from Alfie, Dan making it 3 when he ran on from a Cameron free kick. Alfie completed his hat trick just before half time following tenacious midfield play by Will P with a calm finish. 

The second half saw City complete the rout 0-5, a fourth for Man of the Match Alfie following midfield trickery by fellow Man of the Match, Dan. But all the players stepped up to the plate and were exceptional, particularly in the footsteps of Wednesdays disappointment.