City 2 Bishops Stortford 3

Litho Midweek Cup: 3rd February 2010

After the bitter disappointment of this match being called off at 9.00am in the morning at Milton Road, Newmarket Town (Kevin Grainger) stepped in and this game went ahead against Bishops Stortford.

It was the floodlit cup set up for teams who have access to lights within the Eastern Junior Alliance. The original game should have taken place in November, but had been called off for several reasons, but went ahead at City's new home Cricketfield Road.

To the match and City were without the influential Joey Nicholson who was injured in a school game last week. This would no doubt unbalance the side as the squad only contains two left footed players and with one out someone would have to play out of position.

We lined up as follows :
WRIGHT, YOUNGS, MARTIN, SPENCER (c), SAPSFORD, FLACK, BROWN, DRISCOLL, WYMAN, DARLING, POOLEY. subs : GUY, HOWARD, HAYNES, HOBSON, BRANDON.

The boys got off to the worst possible start when they fell behind after just 90 seconds. A long ball forward and a mistake at the back proving our downfall. The game settled down for the next ten minutes but WRIGHT in the home goal was the busier of the two keepers. The visitors were strong and were winning all the second balls. Our best move involving neat play between FLACK & YOUNGS saw POOLEY set up DARLING but his effort was well saved by the Stortford custodian. Twenty minutes in and we were two behind this time to a fine strike from the edge of the box. The lads had to dig deep and that they did as the game swung from end to end. Our threat being DARLING who went close twice and the visitors were always dangerous on the break with their quick front runners. On thirty minutes we made a change HOWARD coming on for POOLEY. This paid dividends straight away as DRISCOLL fed FLACK and his precise pass found DARLING who made no mistake firing into the corner of the net. The visitors nearly regained their two goal lead but for a superb header off the line by captain SPENCER. As the rain lashed down both teams found it difficult to play their passing game and half time came with just a goal in it.

H/T City 1 Bishops Stortford 2

GUY replaced WYMAN at the break.
We certainly stepped up a gear in the second half and totally dominated play. Early chances fell to DARLING, DRISCOLL & FLACK but the ball would not go in. At the back SAPSFORD was now in commanding form and winning everything in the air. Ten minutes into the half HOBSON replaced BROWN in central midfield. A fine run by YOUNGS saw him deliver and inviting cross but no one got on the end of it and HOWARD & HOBSON were both now stamping their authority on the game as we took total command. Our equaliser twenty minutes came fom an unlikely source. A quick corner saw YOUNGS find MARTIN and his cross/shot found the top corner. HAYNES then came on for DRISCOLL. We still pressed hard for the winner but it was Stortford who hit the post two minutes before time. We came back and when FLACK found HOBSON his shot was brilliantly saved.

F/T City 2 Bishops Stortford 2

So to extra time and YOUNGS was subbed for DRISCOLL. We again looked the more likely to win MARTIN starting yet another move that saw HAYNES set up DARLING but again the keeper save. A fine saving tackle by SPENCER saved the day for the home side and GUY also intercepted when the visitors looked threatening.

Into the second period and it was Stortford who snatched the lead as the forward sprinted clear and beat WRIGHT to the ball to score. Our final chance saw a great run by FLACK halted by an awful challenge on the edge of the box only for the referee to turn down City's appeals.

E/T City 2 Bishops Stortford 3

Our first competitive defeat this season had to come at somepoint and tonight it happened. Indiviual mistakes happen at all levels but its the reaction of the boys to these setbacks that is important. A highly entertaining game played in not the best of conditions was testament to both sides. The boys look forward to another game on Sunday this time in the league at Achillies. We beat them 3-2 at home earlier in the season so it should be another close game.

Finally a massive thank you to all at NTFC especially Kevin Grainger for stepping in at the last moment to stage the match.

Cambridge City Boys Section