September
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City stumbled to a much need win over Chesterfield at Ninian Park this afternoon. The fans expected an improvement after the surrender at Bury in midweek and for 45 minutes City had paid back the debt handsomly. After only 3 mins Earnie had put the Bluebirds 1 up. He was fouled in the box and stepped up to score from the spot kick. I can't really comment of the validity of the kick because I was still in Sloper Rd when the ball hit the back of the net.

It was all City as the Bluebirds appeared to have the run of the pitch. Chesterfield were the support act as City passed well, attacked well and created several chances. A second goal was fully deserved and it came from Leo. The tall striker headed home after Earnie mesmerised the Chesterfield left back and crossed perfectly for Leo to head past Abbey in the Chesterfield goal.

From there on City were going to rack up a cricket score. Earnie untypically has started to shoot early instead of racing in towrds the keeper, he fluffed one great chance to make it 3 - 0.

Just as the lure of a half time coffee and burger was pulling me out of my seat City shot themselves in the foot. Well, Leo failed to chase back and City were punished when David D'Auria scored the goal of the game. Chesterfield attacked down the left and a couple of crisp passes and a perfect cross later it was 2 - 1. D'Auria calmly volleyed across Alexander and with just about his first touch on 45 mins he was picking the ball out of the net.

The second half saw the same eleven City players run onto the pitch but they were a completely different team. They were nervous and playeed with lethargic tendancies and were at times hanging on.

Chesterfield were more dangerous and David Reeves hit the post to scare the lives out of over 9,500 fans, a superb crowd considering the result in midweek and the fact we were head to head against the rugby in the Millennium Stadium.

Chesterfield were a threat right until the end. Injury time corners and free kicks to the Spirites were causing near heart attacks to the fans who still remember Tranmere two weeks ago when we succumbed in injury time.

Today though the referee blew his whistle and the three points were ours.

The win has put City up 8th in the table and kept us in touch with the top. The next game against Colchester on Nov 20th at Ninian Park is a real 6 pointer. The U's are only a point behind us and with a division as tight as this one a defeat could see us drop 7 places. A win on the other hand could lift us as high as 5th.

Today the points were important. The performance second half was poor and that must be addressed. Alan Cork must consider himself a very lucky manager. If the team were to have failed today he would have been under immense pressure, especially after Bury, but he has got the win he needed to keep everyone happy and keep us going in the right direction.