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Saturday 16 November 2002 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm
Dr Martens Premier Division
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| half-time: 2-1 |
result: D2-2 |
attendance: 595 |
| team: |
Bryant, Bennett, Trought (Honor 45), Thorne (c), Kemp, Rollo, Minturn, Milsom, Eaton (James 70),
Cleverley (Gosling 86), Williams. subs not used: Jefferies, Sam Allison. |
| man of the match: |
Andy Minturn |
| scorers: |
Cleverley (22), Eaton (40 pen) |
| bookings: |
none |
| officials: |
S Humphrey (Swindon), T Frith (Melksham), A Matthews (Melksham) |
| league position: 13th |
form: LLDDLD |
next match: Odd Down (A) |
After the disappointment of the defeat against Tiverton Town four days earlier City were again left fustrated as they were
denied victory by an 81st minute Hinckley United strike that saw the sides finish level with two goals apiece. As in the
previous weekends encounter with Hednesford Town City twice lead but fail to defend this advantage and this inability to hold
a lead is becoming increasingly worrying. Having said this City could have little complaint about sharing the spoils against
an improving Hinckley side who had more than their fair share of possession in a largely uninspiring game.
City's starting line-up saw Dan Cleverley restored up front with Paul Milsom dropping back to the midfield and Chris Honor having
to settle for a place on the bench. The 2nd minute saw Mark Bryant have to be alert to take the ball off the toes of Sadler
after Voice's neat pass. This was his only real worry in the early exchanges as City gained the upper hand. Cleverley blasted
a 10th minute shot high over the bar and Thorne's header two minutes later, from a Frankie Bennett cross, forced a fine save
out of United keeper Whittle. Voice and and Jackson both spurned chances for the Knitters, Bryant comfortably saving both efforts, and on
22 minutes City took the lead. Milsom, pushing forward regularly from his midfield spot, began the move with a strong run down
the right before laying the ball off to Bennett. His cross found Jason Eaton and although his shot was blocked the ball
fell kindly for Cleverley to smash it into the roof of the net. The tactic of allowing Milsom and Cleverley to rotate
alongside Eaton was allowing City to have their best spell of the game. Two minutes after the goal another excellent surge
by Milsom saw Mike Trought set up Bennett only for his shot to be deflected for a corner. Gary Thorne also tested Whittle
with a 20 yard free-kick but against the run of play Hinckley levelled on 32 minutes. A long ball forward found an unmarked
Dyer down the left and his low cross was converted at the far post by Voice. City responded well and five minutes before the
interval regained the lead. Eaton collected a wayward pass by Sadler and helped it onto Andy Williams. He carried it forward
into the box where he was tripped by Dakin. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Eaton did the rest to
record his tenth goal of the season.
The break saw Trought replaced by Chris Honor and City began to come under pressure from the Leicestershire side. Bryant
saved well from Voice after 48 minutes and was then grateful for Kemp's presence after he spilled a routine ball forward.
The overworked keeper was beaten after 60 minutes when Sadler pounced on a loose ball and rounded him only for Honor to
save the day with a goalline block. City attempted to shake life into their play with a reshuffle on 70 minutes. Stuart James
surprisingly replaced Eaton to allow Bennett and Milsom to move up front with Cleverley playing just behind the pair. However
this change had little effect and it was still the visitors who pressed forward. March's far post header flew wide after
75 minutes and two minutes later Cartwright tried his luck from 30 yards to little effect. The equaliser finally arrived
with nine minutes remaining. Doughty's cross from the right flew across the face of Bryant's goal and with his defenders
just watching Voice appeared to head home. Appearing to be content with the draw Hinckley were content to sit back for the
remaining time and they almost paid for this lack of adventure two minutes from time. Substitute Jamie Gosling had only been
on the pitch for a couple of minutes when Milsom and Williams combined to put him clear on goal. However, he couldn't
record a fairy tale return to league action after 10 weeks on the sidelines, lifting his shot high over the bar.
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