So on a hugely frustrating Bank Holiday afternoon City are held to a goalless draw by ten man Weymouth in front of a disappointing - and disappointed - 4773 supporters (including a hefty 500 Terras fans) on a gloriously hot and sunny day at the Park. City lined up: Marriott; Friend, Edwards, Taylor; Moxey, Artus, Gill, Tully; Mackie, Logan Stansfield.
It was Weymouth who had the first real chance of the game inside a minute when Marriott had to be at his sharpest to parry a stinging volley from a looping cross in front of the Bastin Stand, but it was City who did most of the attacking from then on. In the second minute a ball was delivered to the far post where Deano sent a looping header back whence it came. The keeper - former City player Jason Matthews - did well to palm clear then his defence completed the job after a bit of a scramble.
After seven minutes some clever play from Mackie steered the ball round the corner for Stansfield to chase down the left. As he surged into the box, he couldn't direct his toe poke properly due to some intense defensive pressure and the shot went wide of the near post. A minute later Mackie again was involved down the left this time pulling the back to Artus whose clever chip from the edge of the box not only beat the keeper but unfortunately the bar as well as it nestled on top of the roof of the net.
It wasn't one way traffic though, and, it has to be said, against the run of play, some sloppy defensive work gifted Weymouth a glorious chance for the lead but their striker somehow contrived to butt wide when unmarked at the far post. It stung City into an immediate response and after some neat play in front of the Weymouth box Tully ended up laying the ball off for Artus to crash a 25 yard bomb just wide of the far post.
In the twentieth minute a Deano free kick just in from the players' tunnel was floated in where Taylor and Edwards rose to get in each others' way before Taylor lifted his eight yard header harmlessly over the bar. Sadly, that was pretty much all she wrote for the next twenty minutes as the game deteriorated into sloppy City passing, long ball hoofs from both sides and niggly fouling from Weymouth.
Things brightened a bit in the 40th minute when a sloppy Weymouth throw in was stabbed forward by Deano for Logan to chase, however once again the Weymouth defence proved resolute and under some intense pressure he could do little else other than offer a weak prod to the keeper from about eight yards. Two minutes later it was City fans' turn to panic as a Weymouth break resulted in the ball being stood to the far post that had Marriott back pedalling furiously to tip over from just under the bar. The final action of an ultimately disappointing half came after Gill, Artus and Tully spadework set up Gill to strike a good looking 25 yard drive, however looks aren't everything and the keeper had an easy collect.
Half time came and went, but not before one of the crossbar challenge contestants - you have to hit the crossbar from the half way line, although they do relent and move the ball forward - managed the feat to win himself a framed signed City shirt, and it was soon time to get back to the real action.
It took fully ten minutes for either team to fully digest their half time oranges, and as it was it was City that created that first chance; Mackie cutting in from the right before guiding the ball through to Gill who's 25 yard daisycutter was blocked at source. Two minutes later after good work down the left the ball was fed in to Mackie who let fly a ferocious 20 yard piledriver that the keeper gathered at the second attempt.
Then, on the hour, a real break for City. After a series of increasingly petulant fouls by Weymouth, the ref had had enough by the time Artus and Weymouth's Marcus Browning tangled just inside the City half. With Browning looking to attempt to clean Artus' teeth with the bottom of his boot, the referee's assistant pointed out the misdemeanour and Browning was off after collecting his second yellow of the game. Mysteriously Artus was booked too, although given the free kick was awarded in City's favour it's difficult to see why.
But despite being a man shy it was Weymouth who fashioned the next attempt on goal when a corner was only cleared to the edge of the box. The Weymouth attacker's first time snapshot had Marriott scrambling across his goal, but he had enough about him to palm the ball to safety around the post. From the resultant corner City immediately broke through Stansfield and Logan, however after feeding Mackie the ball was never really under control and the defence had a simple job of shepherding the ball to safety.
Midway through the half, with manager Tisdale sensing City dominating, Matt Taylor was sacrificed to bolster the attacking options with Elam slotting into midfield at the expense of Tully who dropped back to cover Taylor's vacant defensive position. Three minutes later City thought they had taken the lead: a sumptuous Gill cross saw Sansfield burst into the box to butt gloriously toward goal. The keeper reacted brilliantly, but only succeeded in palming straight back to Stansfield who nodded past Matthews into the back of the net. Alas it was ruled out - the linesman's flag had been held aloft long before Stans got his head on the ball.
With time running out, Tisdale opted for as change of tack, introducing the guile of Basham for the strength and aerial power of Logan. Basham was involved moments later when a surging Artus run saw the ball through to Bash who let loose a terrific drive that the keeper did well to punch clear.
A couple of minutes later Artus again tried his luck from range, but this time blasted his 25 yarder high into the City fans behind the Weymouth goal after good work from Stansfield and Tully to set him up. Bash showed his class by shielding the ball on the edge of the box before inviting Elam to burst through, but his low drive was well blocked. Seconds later prolonged City pressure created another chance for Elam, but he hurried his shot and watched in agony as it drifted inches wide.
Mackie was next up to try and break the deadlock, but only succeeded in blasting a 20 yard free kick high onto the Bank, then the second best chance of the game came immediately after. Stansfield scampered after a Deano ball down the left and crossed deliciously into the box. Bash came steaming in and crashed a bullet header on goal that somehow the keeper inexplicably managed to block from point blank range.
Artus' injury time drive after good Mackie work was deflected for a corner, then three minutes and fifty eight seconds into the four minutes of stoppage time the game winning chance was created when Mackie's quick break from an increasingly rare Weymouth foray into the City half saw the ball guided out to Deano on the left. He delivered an inch perfect ball in behind the defence where Elam had ghosted in unchaperoned. Almost as much through surprise as anything else, with the goal it his mercy Elam got himself tangled and horribly screwed his shot wide of the post when it seemed easier to score.
A couple of kicks later and that was that, game over. But talk about the 'F' word: frustration, that is, before you get any ideas. City created enough clear chances to win half a dozen games, but if you aren't clinical in front of goal it just ain't going to happen. Take nothing away from Weymouth though, they came with a plan to frustrate and hope for something from the scraps, and on one or two occasions could have made the perfect smash and grab raid, but despite the odd flurry, Marriott's goal didn't ever really look in that much danger.
As for the players, well Marriott had a much better game than of late, pulling off a couple of great stops and not wandering round his box leaving it for defenders to tidy up behind him. He looked calm and assured throughout, so well done to him for turning around recent mixed performance.
In front of him the back three looked fairly at ease by and large. I like the way - despite some sections of the crowd's displeasure - they are prepared to keep possession and knock it around amongst themselves until an opportunity arises. The ball doesn't need to be smashed up field at every opportunity, and all three are comfortable enough on the ball. All three were equally adept at keeping quiet pint sized one time City target Stuart Beavon, and on his performance today it's difficult to see how he'd hold down a place in the current City squad.
In midfield it was nice to see Matt Gill back after suspension, but he was overshadowed somewhat by the tireless work of Bristol City loanee Frankie Artus. On the flanks Deano was the busier of the two wide men, but then Tully had to drop back once Taylor was substituted.
Up front it just didn't quite click today. Logan won a fair share of ball in the air and although busy didn't really create as he has done recently. Neither did Stansfield or Mackie, both of whom ran relentlessly, but one of whom needs it pointing out that there were two teams on the pitch - one in stripes, one in purple - not three - one in stripes, one in purple, and him on his own. Jamie, please, I hate to criticise players individually, but I have to say this, pass the ball, eh?
Of the two subs both had a couple of real chances to win the game; Elam especially with two glorious opportunities that were both spurned wastefully. Bash looked quality though, and some of the little dinks and flicks at the business end of the pitch just oozed class and begged to be converted.
But that's something for Tis and the coaches to work on this week. Defensively we looked pretty sound today, it's just we could not convert our chances. On another day we might have had four or five, and hopefully on another day we won't come up against a keeper in as inspired form as Matthews was today. But we still should have it about us to finish the job off, and despite all those chances it was quite a sloppy performance all round. Too many passes drifting out of play, too many under hit and easily intercepted, and too much getting caught in possession. We must sharpen up if we are going to challenge properly this season, and game like today's are those we simply have to win if we are going to do so.
Hopefully, given our great start, and the fact that we're second only on goals scored, today is just a blip and normal service will be resumed at Kidderminster next weekend. We've a very tough series of matches coming up with Oxford following Kidderminster before we return to the Park in a fortnight for the visit of Cambridge, themselves the proud owners of an equally impressive start to the season. Also hopefully the crowds will continue to turn up to recognise the start we've made and if we can get to the Cambridge game four or even six points to the good then surely the bank manager will be smiling as much as we are.
So here's to Cambridge in a fortnight, and here's to you all turning up in numbers as you do each week. It's vital that we do, and vital that the team know we're behind them. Today was frustrating, of that there's no doubt, but it's still our team and we owe it to them to continue to support them on the pitch no matter what. See you then, I can't wait.
