Everyone deals with grief in their own way and the sole topic of conversation in the clubhouse before tonight's match was of the unimaginable carnage in the U.S.A. today. Other things are put into perspective and it's good to be reminded that football is just a game.
Tonight we welcome Basingstoke Town. Town lost 0-1 to league leaders Billericay on Saturday and are in mid-table, 3 points behind Saints. Despite returning with 4 points from two away games, City will want to forget the second half performances against Woood and Sutton from the past week. It needs to be better tonight.
For tonight, The Dynamic Duo selected Wilmot in goal, 3 at the back: Evans, Brown (C) and Campbell; 5 in the midfield: Wraight, Fenton, Hyatt, Rattle and Smith; and up front Martin and Nabil. On the bench were Honeyball, Metcalf and Bignal. In the stand injured were Moran and Ansell.
Once again the great start of an early goal for City. Inside 2 minutes, a long throw from Hyatt into the box, the keeper came, flapped and missed, and left Martin the most straightforward free header into the empty goal. 1-0.
The visitors were stunned but for the next 25 minutes played very attractive, skillful, flowing football. The Saints defence and midfield sustained the pressure calmly and themselves looked threatening in attack. On the half hour, Wraight, who had a fine game tonight, swept a fierce cross into the area from the right which was stabbed past the keeper from 10 yards out by his own man. 2-0. The balance now swung in City's favour up front with Nabil looking very dangerous. Fenton was unlucky just before the break when his 25 yard free-kick thumped back off the right-hand post. H.T. 2-0.
Town could not get back into the game from the start of the second half. They seemed to leave their shape in the dressing-room and City were now comfortably in charge. Basingstoke lost even more shape midway though the half when their No 5, Wilkinson received a second yellow card, then red,
after a spat with Bignal who had just come on for the injured Nabil. Wilmot comfortably dealt with the rare Town attacks but the second half was all Saints, who created sufficient chances to add to the score but were frustrated by the visiting keeper more than once and the woodwork once again.
Late on, Metcalf replaced Fenton. It was good football in the second half. F.T. 2-0.
Basingstoke will be disappointed that they could not score in that first 30 minutes of the game after the early goal was conceded, but they lost it in the second half. City played good football tonight and they used the limited space on this narrow pitch to best advantage. The Safeway MotM was Campbell.
I hope that he gave a glass of the champagne to Wraight and half a glass to Nabil. A disappointing attendance of 230/240 or so with only half-a-dozen Town fans behind Wilmot's goal.
Entertainment 8/10. Atmosphere 5/10. Technical Merit 7/10. Referee 7/10.
Next up. At home again next Saturday against Championship favourites and F.A.Trophy holders, Canvey Island. They have had a stuttering start this term and will want to get their season back on track. A stiff test in store.
Report by Homer |