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Bristol City Home, Won 2-0
Well, well,
well. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Ahem. I woke up to day not even considering getting
1 point. How wrong could I be?? This isn’t going to be a massive report since
I want to celebrate!
Bristol
City are sitting comfy in 2nd, County are languishing in 23rd.
Some people may have thought it was over before it started. By god it wasn’t.
About 10 minutes before the game started I saw Kennedy go down the tunnel to
give a team talk. Whatever he said it worked!! Or maybe it was drugs. Who
knows, and more importantly who cares!!!
The game
started off completely 50-50 in the first 5 minutes. Both teams were battling
in midfield and no chances were really being made. Our first good chance and
we scored a fantastic goal. Danny Adams got the ball on the left wing and put
an excellent first time cross into Alby. Maybe he didn’t win the header the
way he wanted, but the ball bobbled towards just outside the area. Alby did
well to hold off the defenders. Goodwin started to run fast towards the ball,
oh hell I thought, 3 points to Sale here we come. However, he connected sweet
as a nut and the ball flew past the Bristol keeper. The main stand exploded.
10 minutes gone and we were ahead. I didn’t fancy the idea of defending a lead
for the next 80 minutes.
Bristol
came straight back at us, and I could see an equaliser coming. County sat back
deep, something they definitely shouldn’t have done. We conceded a free kick
about 20 yards out, dead in the centre. Their player hit it low and hard and
it flew back off the post. Williams didn’t really look close to it. Again from
a free kick a ball was floated into the box. Lax marking allowed a Bristol
player to get a head on it and again hit the woodwork. At this point I started
to get very, very anxious.
The second
half started and I expected Bristol to come straight at us. It never happened.
County put on pressure and perhaps should have extended their lead. A good lob
from Jackman cut out the defender on the wing and allowed Barlow to put in a
good cross. It evaded every one. Now this is where my mind goes blank:P. I
can’t remember whether this was the same cross where Alby was unlucky not to
score from a bicycle kick, or whether it was another cross. However County
were creating more chances than Bristol.
The next
good chance fell to Barlow. A good short lob ball (does that make sense?) from
Alby set up Barlow in the box, but he was denied by an excellent last ditch
tackle. My Dad started to get nervous. “We’re going to regret it, you see, you
see!” Secretly, I agreed.
Bristol
then got back into the game and created some good chances from crosses.
Jackman was drifting a bit too far into the centre of the field and leaving us
exposed on the wing. However the County defence was equal to the pressure and
managed to clear the lines. This would set the pace for the rest of the half.
Bristol were putting on pressure, but the County defence limited them to very
few even half chances.
In about
the 87th minute, Sammy brought on Chrissy Williams for Barlow.
“What’s he doing bringing on an attacking player” I thought. LOL! About 30
seconds later he lobbed the keeper in the box to score with his first touch,
after a good old HOOF from Griffin. I. Went. Mental. So did the main stand who
to be truthful were very supportive and vocal in the second half. Pete started
to bounce manically in the Cheadle End.;) The Bristol fans began to leave
whilst we all rejoiced, by god this was our day. They didn’t threaten in the
remaining five minutes, and nothing could take away our deserved three points.
One word
for the back four today. Solid. It was very rare we were exposed in the final
third. When we did there was always somebody there to clear. We did win the
majority of the headers for once. Cartwright, Griffin and Adams especially
stood out today as making very well judged tackles in the area. This didn’t
stop the Bristol players trying to get penalties though, Lee Miller in
particular the diving bassah. All of their claims were waved away by the ref
without a second thought.
Midfield
today. Lambert was a bit out of sorts, and the revert back to 4 4 2 left us
with a big hole sometimes. However Goodwin played well and we were not
exploited. Attack today. Both Alby and Barlow played well, creating chances
for each other and holding the ball up well. Both looked extremely committed
as well, which is excellent to see. Not a whole wealth of chances was created,
but we took two of the ones which were created. That is the most important
thing.
It wasn’t
all positives though. There were times when we miscued clearances and left us
open to more pressure. Griffin and Walton main culprits. We also just hoofed
the ball up sometimes, when there was an opportunity for something more
creative. Mind you, Chrissys goal was from a HOOF!. Sometimes there was a big
hole in midfield and they had the chance to pick it up again and distribute it
to the wing. Our fullbacks were equal to the challenge and they got few
crosses in.
Williams.
6.5 – Yes he kept a clean sheet, but he looked decidedly dodgy today. He
seemed to be stuck in no mans land all the time, deciding to stay on his line,
or go and claim it. To be fair though, he did claim it well a few times.
Clare. 7 –
Not his best performance, but solid nonetheless. He still does the simple
things well.
Walton. 7 –
The same as Clare really, it’s just a shame he is so slow!
Griffin. 8
– Impressed me today. He was always fighting for the cause, and hardly cocked
up.
Adams. 8.5
– MOM – Excellent. He was strong and a good tackler, but he never dived in
unnecessary. Prevented a lot of chances for Bristol merely by shrugging the
forwards off the ball. He sort of set up our first goal as well.
Goodwin. 8
– A screamer of a goal, and a good all round performance.
Lambert.
6.5 – A bit disappointed today. Didn’t have that cutting edge we have seen in
recent games.
Cartwright.
7.5 – I would say his best game so far. He didn’t offer too much attacking
wise, but he was quite good defensively.
Jackman.
7.5 – The same as Cartwright although he perhaps drifted in a bit too much.
Alby. 7 –
Unlucky not to score, although he seemed a lot more committed than of recent
games
Barlow. 7.5
– He gets up well for a little bugger doesn’t he!! Created a good few chances,
but only had one real chance himself.
Subs:
Williams. 10. Well, what else can I give him if he comes on, scores, and
secures the game for us?!
To
conclude, this probably wasn’t the amazing performance I may have made it out
to be. It was very workman like. We defended as well as we needed to, and took
our chances well. By no stretch of imagination did they deserve to win, so
thank god they didn’t! The players were rightly applauded off the pitch as
they achieved everything they needed to today. Hopefully we can carry over the
confidence of a win over second to top, and a clean sheet to our next game. We
can get out of this mess, there IS light at the end of the tunnel. I am so
happy right now. :)
Thank you
for reading. NOW GO GET DRUNK AND CELEBRATE! :)
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