Citys’ second fixture of the 2015-2016 campaign and their opening away game took place at Speed Meadow,a different location but once again against last seasons very first opponents,Cullompton Rangers,that marked the baptism of fire in Division One.
As John (Robbie) Braddick summed up in the post match analysis,entertain us City certainly did.Last season City netted four times in a memorable 4-3 away victory.It was pleasing to see City net four times again and especially so after being held 0-0 against West Exe two weeks previously but as the home side matched that score another exciting draw was the result.
A fine,very warm dewy morning started with sad reflection,both teams and coaches lining the circumference of the centre circle in a minutes silence for Bradninch football fan Oliver,a colleague of many of the Rangers team.The match that followed was a spirited competition and given that City had many players missing and were having to deal with illness and running off knocks sustained during the game,the match was a great tribute to fitness and resolve.Gamesmanship and flattened molehills were additional hurdles.Half time saw the home side two up but City were not two goals inferior,had lost Charlie temporarily to injury,had a blatant handball penalty denied and a great move and goal by Will A ruled offside.
The second half saw superb performances from the whole team,11 Alan Balls in the ‘66 World Cup Final,11 players who never stopped running.Man of the Match Alfie W opened the City scoring,right foot,left top corner and added a second from the other side of goal in reply to Rangers’ third.With Josh and Charlie holding the back lines and Will P dropping deep as cover for Cam,Oner playing slightly behind midfield when asked,City stuck to a passing game using width with Dan increasingly marshalling the midfield to find Tom and Joe opportunities to press forward.Reward came as Alfie W crossed for Will A to get on the end of the move with Tom behind to have made certain if needed.Despite Cullompton scrambling a fourth,City dug deep and Cameron came off the bench to step up to the plate with a freekick whipped straight in.
4-4.
5 minutes of extra time played in draining conditions.A victory in all but scoreline,fantastic teamwork.
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