November
Newsfile

Newsfile Archive

Dean Gordon scored his second direct free kick in consecutive games to earn City a well deserved point at league leaders Stoke City.

Gordon's strike 6 minutes from the end cancelled out a Daniel Gabbidon own goal some 9 minutes earlier.

The match was an excellent advert for Division 2 football and would have graced Division 1. Both teams were prepared to attack and there were many goal mouth chances.

Neil Alexander produced some superb saves but was powerless to stop Gabbidon's effort. Gordon's free kick was inch perfect, top right hand corner with the keeper well beaten.

The noticable thing at Stoke was the heart and committment in the players. They've been accussed of being big time charlies in the past but they are now playing as a team. They could have won the game but a draw was a good result for both teams.

Scott Young was subbed in the first half with an apparant knee injury, Rhys Weston came on and played probably his best game for City. He went close wtih two goalbound efforts in the first half and was positive in his attacking play and solid in defence.

Two players slightly off their game tonight were Gavin Gordon and Jason Bowen.

Not being too critical but Bowen just lacked the spark needed to unlock the Stoke defence and Gordon struggled to win quality ball and hold it it.

Leo was called for and it was his presence that won the free kick that City scored from.

All in all a great game of football.

Two sour things to note about the Stoke fans, on the whole a good turnout but twice the linesman had to call the referee over because of bottles being thrown onto the pitch. Two aimed at the linesman and one at Dean Gordon. Secondly when Stoke scored the nutters in the stand to our left started to break and throw up the seats of their own stadium. I hope Stoke had some CCTV of that and the club deal with it, especially the bottle throwing.

The policing before the game was fine, officers having a laugh and a joke as we went into the ground, it was a little tense at the end as we waited to leave the ground a few taunts but nothing of note. I parked near the ground and walked to and from the stadium with Stoke fans. Surely how it should be.