And so it could go on and on with the feline anecdotes.
They used to call the Chelsea keeper of yesteryear,Peter Bonetti,The Cat,and our two cats,Sam R first half and captain Will A second half certainly stepped up to that level.
Reflecting on the Man of the Match award,this was designated a Men of the Match award simply because the whole team performance was outstanding.
Due to some unavoidable absentees it was a City side that had to adapt to a 4-3-1 formation with usual striker Alfie W back in the heart of the defence.
From the moment the teams strode on (a missed opportunity to hear the old Al Stewart number*) to the halftime whistle the contest was closely and keenly played.Some great goalkicking kept the ball in Alphingtons’ half as much as in ours and City pressed forward with several corners and a freekick sailing over.
A pinball pattern on the Panthers goal just would not break
City’s way and just before halftime the home side broke the deadlock moving swiftly from defence to unleash a shot only partially parried.
The manager had seen enough to have the confidence to change to a 3-4-1 set up which gave City more attacking options whilst maintaining discipline at the back.
When a typically searching Will P corner was headed out,Alfie W,who had drifted forward,steadied with one touch and delivered a bending thunderbolt of a shot to level the score.
With some nerves creeping into the Panthers’ game City secured the win when Dan was alert to follow up from a freekick that was sent at pace into a crowded wall and penalty area.
City then dug deep with every player stepping up to the plate and needing several defensive headers to keep the Panthers at bay including one from Tom who had just previously put the ball in the net at the other end,sadly offside.
So a great start to the season continued with the pleasant fine weather a bonus because this was a game to be savoured in any conditions.
*Al Stewart “Year of the cat”.We will probably return to the issue of songs that teams come out to in future reports
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