|
Saturday 23 August 2003 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm Dr Martens Premier Division 
|
| half-time: 0-0 | result: D0-0 | attendance: 618 |
| team: | Bryant, Coupe, Trought (c), Hendy, Howarth, Rollo, Bennett, Shore (Taylor 45), Cleverley (Milsom 80), Tweddle (Jefferies 89), Williams. subs not used: Bridges, Spring. |
| man of the match: | Andy Taylor |
| scorers: | none |
| bookings: | Williams (30), Tweddle (42), Coupe (53) |
| officials: | R Ganfield (Weston SM), T Frith (Melksham), M Rushton (Marlborough) |
| league position: 7th | form: ---dWd | next match: Dorchester (A) |
Just three games into the season an unexpected side effect of the major changes that non-league football will go through come May 2004 seems to becoming clear. City’s first outing of this important campaign should have given a clue. Despite being at home their opponents Chelmsford City fielded just one man up front. Such a negative approach showed how desperate they were to avoid defeat rather than actually try to win the game. The second match against Weston avoided a similar fate largely because City produced three goals of the highest quality but unfortunately for the 618 strong crowd this clash with Crawley had no such redeeming features. To be fair to both sides they were suffering from injury problems but even allowing for this it was clear that neither team were prepared to really take a chance and try to win the game.
It was no surprise then that the first fifteen minutes of the match were instantly forgettable. Finally, when a shot on goal arrived it failed to really test the keeper – Mark Bryant comfortably gathering Richardson’s 20-yard effort. Two minutes later City produced their first threat. Anyone who has watched Crawley in the last few seasons would not have been surprised that the source of this opening was shaky keeper Little. He produced a typical flap at Drew Shore’s corner but escaped the deserved punishment as Dan Cleverley failed to control the loose ball. That was about as good as it got for City in the first half with the visitors largely controlling proceedings. It still took them another 15 minutes to fashion another chance worthy of the name, Smith’s cross just eluding the incoming Pullen. City were resulting to long aimless punts out of defence that were causing the Crawley defence few problems. However, a couple of minutes before the break one such long clearance almost turned the game. Steve Tweddle was suddenly running clear. As he approached the area he was clearly tripped by Judge and sent sprawling. As the crowd waited for the free-kick and automatic red card they were stunned to see the referee instead brandish yellow at the City striker for a dive.
It had to improve for City in the second half and thankfully, with the introduction of new signing Andy Taylor for Shore, it did. He added a quality to the City midfield that had been sorely missing in the first half. And he almost broke the deadlock within just four minutes of his arrival, Little turning his well-struck free-kick away for a corner. Twice he combined with Tweddle only for the latter to fail to test Little. Midway through the half the keeper was up to his tricks again, spilling a ball over the top, only to show what he lacks in quality he makes up for in luck, collecting the loose ball before City could take advantage. As the game reached it closing minutes both sides had a great chance to steal the points. City arrived first on 86 minutes when Frankie Bennett lifted in a free-kick from the right. The ball flicked off the head of Forde and fell perfectly for substitute Paul Milsom but he could only put his shot a yard wide. Two minutes later Wilson-Dennis collected a pass on the edge of the City box before turning a firing a low shot that beat Bryant but also the post. So, the game got the goalless outcome that it deserved. Supporters of both sides will hope for much better as the season progresses.