10:36am Monday 9th November 2009
CITY surrendered their second lead in two home Saturday league games, but still emerged from their encounter against Maidenhead United in the Blue Square South with a point, Ricky Holmes’ early strike and a 72nd-minute leveller from substitute Stafforde Palmer cancelling each other out.
Glenn Pennyfather’s side maintained their ninth-placed position in the table, though the City Head Coach was disappointed with the manner of the way they let another lead slip, stating: “We got our noses in front and played very well in the first 15 minutes but, for the next 60 or 65, were on the back foot.
"We didn’t close players down quick enough or win second balls in vital areas and when we did have the ball we passed it poorly.”
In a dour encounter, chances were at a premium and neither team could claim worthiness of a victory. Glenn continued: “There were too many balls coming into our box and, from the side, it looked like there was an acceptance and a fear we were waiting for them to equalise. You can’t play football like that.
"Maidenhead are a hard-working side like they all are in this division and it’s just that little bit of quality that sets the best teams apart.”
City welcomed Craig Holloway back between the sticks in goal after his spell out injured, replacing Ashley Harrison, while Simon Glover’s suspension for his red card against Stevenage Borough left a gap in the centre of midfield to be filled by Matthew Lock.
In Rob Edmans’ absence up-front, Holmes slotted in as a striker and youngster Ricky Modeste played wide in midfield, aiming to net his first ever Blue Square South goal.
Holmes made a quick impact as a makeshift forward, opening the scoring on just four minutes. A A clever chip over the back line from Anthony Cook gave Holmes a sight of goal and he was able to take a touch before slipping it wide of goalkeeper Chris Tardif from ten yards.
Cook sustained a knock to his knee in the build-up which led to him being substituted before half-time, but he played a vital part in City’s advantage.
Shortly afterwards Holmes was involved again, squaring the ball narrowly out of the reach of the well-positioned Danny Hockton in the goalmouth, though the Clarets didn’t get it all their own way and a brave block from grounded defender Mark Haines on 23 minutes absorbed Kieran St Aimie’s drilled effort from the edge of the box.
The 32nd minute brought about a lengthy delay, however, as United team mates Mark Nisbet and Bobby Behzadi clashed heads when jumping for the same aerial ball. Skipper Nisbet was instantly substituted upon clambering to his feet with a nasty cheek injury and the latter would only last the remainder of the first half before bowing-out.
Maidenhead offered little of serious note going forward, creeping a handful of headers narrowly over Holloway’s crossbar either side of the break.
For City, Hockton struck a free-kick narrowly wide on 48 minutes and later supplied Holmes after a deep ball bounced over the Magpies defence, the goal-scorer’s shot proving too weak on this occasion. Defensively, the hosts were becoming uncertain, and that proved crucial.
Holloway’s attempted clearance on 67 minutes could easily have caused embarrassment as it landed at the feet of Daniel Brown 45 yards out, though his venomous return bounced off the top of the crossbar, much to the hosts’ relief.
This was short-lived when a 72nd-minute Jack Bradshaw delivery from the right wasn’t cleared effectively and, with both feet off the floor, Palmer was able to help the ball into the top corner at the far post.
The Clarets looked lively with the final whistle edging closer, Modeste enjoying possession with purpose on the break several times, but it was to no avail.
Pennyfather was, therefore, focussing towards Monday night’s clash for his team’s next win, summarising: “I’m looking forward to going to Worcester as we’ve been doing better away from home recently.
"The positive thing is that it’s our longest unbeaten run of the season so far and we will be going all out for the three points on Monday.”
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