A 5 goal salvo saw City canter to a second away win in 7 days against a Stafford side yet to win at home this season. Goals before the break from Wayne Carlisle and Matt Taylor, and after from Jamie Mackie, Taylor again and Steve Basham from the penalty spot eased them closer to the play off places. It wasn't as easy as City would have liked as they conspired to let Stafford back into the game before half time and then weathered the home side's efforts after the break. But, in truth, while City were caught napping on occasions, they were far too powerful and skilful going forward.
In one change to the side that progressed in the FA Cup at Ebbsfleet a week earlier Andy Marriott was recalled and Jones resumed his place on the bench. The full line up: Marriott, Richardson, Taylor, Edwards, Friend, Carlisle, Gill, Cozic, Moxey, Basham, Mackie. On the bench, Jones, Tully, Elam, Stansfield and Logan.
The opening exchanges were even but it was Stafford who had the first glimpse of goal. Gill was booked for a handball and subsequent protest. Marriott palmed away the initial free kick and then had to be alert to dive at Neil Grayson's feet as the ball was returned to the far post area. City cleared any danger and soon found themselves pushing the home side back. Gill, Basham and Mackie created a crossing opportunity for Moxey which was blocked for a corner. On 10 minutes a Mackie shot from 25 yards was easy for the keeper and 5 minutes later a Moxey drive was deflected wide after Carlisle had broken up a Stafford attack and released Mackie. Friend was the next City player to have an effort. His shot from 15 yards skied over after sustained pressure caused by Cozic first winning a free kick, then combining with Carlisle after Gill's long throw was only half cleared.
Midway through the half City's increasing dominance told. City won a free kick in their left back area and before Stafford could set up defensively the ball was launched over half way towards Mackie. Wayne Daniel was caught under the flight of the ball and Mackie raced in behind him towards goal. As he reached the edge of the box he shaped to slide the ball across the keeper to the far corner. But Loach managed to parry his effort only to see it roll into the path of the onrushing Carlisle who slotted into an empty net and wheeled away in delight at his first goal of the season. Within 5 minutes it was two.
Slick passing saw the ball go between Carlisle, Richardson, Mackie and Basham before Carlisle forced a corner. Moxey delivered the ball from the right perfectly for Matt Taylor to meet it as he ran across the area and plant a delicious header into the far corner. At this point, and after Stafford's drubbing by Cambridge in their FA Cup replay in midweek, most onlookers expected City to make short work of putting the game beyond doubt but lapses in concentration began to creep in and they eventually let Stafford back into the game before half time. City did have chances in this period though. Basham was denied at the near post after a quick throw from Gill and Carlisle curled a left foot shot over when well placed from swapping passes with Basham. Stafford also scrambled a free kick away after Mackie was fouled near the corner.
But in between times Richardson and Taylor had been caught only to see Mawene slice wide, then as Moxey dwelt on the ball it was pushed to Grayson who drove fiercely from 30 yards, but just wide. He then looped a header over which Marriott had covered but as the half ran into added time City paid for their lapses. Friend left a routine back pass hopelessly short. Marriott pulled off a superb one handed save.as the error was seized upon and Edwards picked up the loose ball. He cleared to Gill 25 yards out but he was quickly surrounded and dispossessed. The ball found its way to Kevin Street. He took one touch and slammed a rocket into Marriott's top right hand corner to halve the deficit. As the whistle went City's lead looked far more precarious than it had seemed it should.
The goal gave Stafford renewed purpose as both sides came out unchanged for the second half but City still gave as good as they got until re-establishing their two goal advantage a quarter of an hour in. Stafford's best efforts came from rangy efforts only, despite enjoying good chunks of possession. City, and Mackie in particular, seemed capable of opening up the defence as they wished. A half blocked cross was just deflected away from Basham to the keeper and after Moxey had darted in ahead of a dawdling defender his cross was glanced wide by Mackie. Minutes later a free kick was knocked down by Taylor to the frontman but he never got the ball under enough control and fired over from 15 yards. A delay was caused by an injury to one of the linesmen and when the game restarted City almost immediately scored. Cozic had already caused Loach to make a routine save when Basham won a free kick in the left back area. Quick as a flash Friend spotted Mackie running from the centre circle and fired a forty yard pass towards him. For all the world the defender looked favourite but Mackie hassled and harried and unsettled him to such an extent that he found himself in front of goal bearing down on the keeper. With the utmost composure he shrugged off the last desperate attempt to get him off the ball and slotted into the bottom right corner with his left foot.
Stafford immediately made a change with the ever dangerous McNiven replacing Flynn but it didn't change their fortunes much. Mawene did drive wide after City had once again been caught in possession but still were more incisive and dangerous up front. Mackie sliced a shot to the far side of Staffordshire, and Taylor butted a corner wide at the far post. Friend then got in on the act too. Picking up the ball on halfway he ran towards the box. A right to left run by Basham opened up the space in front of him but as he shaped to shoot he was off balance and Loach saved well. It was then Basham's turn to outmuscle one of the giant centre halves, whose afternoons were becoming increasingly hapless, but his shot was saved also.
The final 10 minutes was pretty much all City. From a throw on the left the ball was worked to Richardson, in space, on the right. His low, first time cross found Mackie at the near post and his flick was scrambled away by the keeper. The only sense of danger at Marriott's end came courtesy of Taylor's wild attempted clearance which was sliced behind for a corner.
With 3 minutes of normal time remaining City put the finish on a display that had promised goals. Basham won another free kick 35 yards out on the right. Once again, as happened twice at Ebbsfleet the previous week, Moxey floated the ball towards Taylor. He outjumped the defence and planted another header over the keeper for his third in two games. As Edwards was harshly booked challenging for a header in what seemed like a "make up the numbers booking," the officials revealed 6 minutes of added time. As the period started City got their fifth. Carlisle curled a gorgeous ball in from the right, too far out for the keeper to come and collect, and making the defenders run back in. As Basham rose centrally eight yards out a big central defender's paw appeared from nowhere and palmed the ball away. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and sending Wayne Daniel for a slightly early bath. He should have been sent off merely for destroying the aesthetically beautiful sight of a forward rising, unchallenged to billow the net with a bullet header. Basham was not to be denied though and crashed the penalty beyond the keeper.
With the game handsomely sewn up Tully was introduced for Gill, with Richardson moving into midfield and Logan for Basham who received a rousing send off from the 270 City faithful amongst the 914 present. The last few uneventful minutes were played out to the sounds of City singing and the home fans shuffling towards the exits.
So, an outstanding scoreline, goals from all areas and set pieces and a sixth unbeaten league and cup game since the reverse at Aldershot a month ago. If there were a failing on the performance then it was the sometime lapses in concentration that gifted Stafford the majority of their chances and their goal. That apart, which Marriott had little chance with he was comfortable, notably making an outstanding save moments before being beaten. The back four again showed great solidity and battled the war weary Grayson all day and were rarely second best. Moxey was not at his attacking best but was instrumental in helping Friend keep the pacy Humphry on the right quiet for long periods. Gill and Cozic worked well breaking and spreading play. Cozic should have a bit more confidence after his run in the side and played some neat passes around the penalty area. Carlisle did everything and more. He challenged for headers got dangerous crosses in, linked with the fromt men and got a goal, my man of the match. He was closely followed by Basham who won countless free kicks with his clever positional play and got just reward from the penalty spot. Mackie was as effervescent as ever and always had the Stafford back line thinking, which was too much for them on more than one occasion
City are now 4 points from the play off pack with the next league opponents Burton on November 17th and Histon away on the 24th, both sides within 4 points of the Grecians. But its Cup Day next Saturday and Stevenage visit with Peter Taylor newly at the helm. The promise of being one step away from a date with football's big boys is the tasty titbit that awaits the winners so get to the Park and cheer on the boys to FA Cup glory.
.
