Deal Town 1 City 0
City unluckily ended 2011 in defeat after falling to a late Jordan Miller winner at Deal Town today. They were forced to play almost the entire match with just ten players after Macauley Murray was sent off in just the second minute for a tackle that the referee obviously thought was far worse than many others did.
City were on the back foot right from the word go with Murray’s sending off, for a tackle that didn’t look particularly bad, but the referee deemed it serious enough to show a straight red card. It could have ended the match as a contest right then, but City battled away refusing to let Deal take any real advantage from their extra man and were seconds away from holding out before Miller’s ninetieth minute winner.
First goalmouth action for Deal came on five minutes when Aaron Robinson had a header well tipped over the bar by City keeper David Woodward. For the visitors it was on eleven minutes, when a free kick from Sam Baker flew through the home box with a City head just inches away from diverting it past Deal keeper Chris Waymark.
The early chances fell to City as Deal firstly scrambled away a free kick that had been nodded on by Michael Smisson, had Waymark save a shot from Jake Gess and then a Grant Bagley header from a corner was almost forced over the line by Smissen. A Renford Tenyue run and cross bobbled across the Deal box wide of the goal and a Chris Elliott volley was comfortably saved by Waymark.
Deal came more in to the match during the latter part of the first half forcing several corners and another athletic tip over from Woodward. Grant Bagley headed a Deal corner out of the box, but the ball was returned by a clever overhead kick from Jordan Miller, who was unlucky to see Woodward at his best to tip the ball over the cross bar. This was the first of four corners in quick succession for Deal, the last ended with a combination of keeper and two defenders clearing the ball off the City line.
City dominated the remainder of the half though. Smissen just poked a Jake Marsh pass past the Deal upright, Tenyue chipped a super little ball to the far post but out of the reach of a City shirt and Sam Frost almost sneaked a ball in from a very tight angle down by the Deal left post. Three minutes into stoppage time, Deal were extremely fortunate when a clearance from Waymark cannoned off Gess who was closing the keeper down and the ball went out for a goal kick when it could just have easily gone the other side of the post and into the net.
Half time, City 0 Deal 0.
City had the stronger start of the second half continuing from where they had left off. At times it was difficult to see just who had the ten players and who had the eleven. Smissen had a shot blocked before Waymark fumbled a ball going out and gave away a soft corner to the visitors. The keeper pretty soon redeemed himself however superbly turning over the bar a goal bound Tenyue shot that looked certain to give City the lead.
It was City making all the running and Waymark pulled off another excellent save diving to block a Smissen effort as City looked favourites again to take the lead. Smissen then muscled his way through shortly after only to see his effort hit the side netting and Waymark spilled a City free kick but was quick to gather in the ball as Smissen, in there again, lurked with intent.
As the match went into it’s last quarter, it was the home side, not surprisingly who finished the better. City substitute Sam Staunton had only been on for a few minutes, having replaced Frost, when he was in the right place to clear a Deal effort off the line to safety. Although Tenyue had a shot saved by Waymark, that was a brief respite as Deal piled on the pressure.
Baker made two important clearances, before Woodward pulled off another superb save this time down low thwarting Jamie Marriott, who in the clear for Deal, probably should have scored. Moments later City were in danger again as a ball zipped across the their box going just wide. Robinson then also found himself in space with just Woodward to beat but failed to test the keeper and shot wide. Elliott cleared under pressure in the box for City and another Deal effort was wastefully skied over the bar.
As the clock ticked towards the ninety it looked as if City had done enough, but a disputed corner was swung across and having looked like he had made another excellent save, Woodward could do nothing to prevent the ball being forced home by Miller to give Deal the lead and ultimately the points.
City pressed forward into four minutes of stoppage time with a snap shot by Tenyue saved by Waymark, but they could not find a goal to gain them what would have been a very deserved share of the points.
Final score: Canterbury City 0 Deal Town 1.
City; David Woodward, Michael Scott, Chris Elliott (Glenn Johnson), Sam Baker, Grant Bagley, Renford Tenyue, Macauley Murray, Jake Gess, Michel Smissen, Sam Frost (Sam Staunton), Jake Marsh. Unused sub; Shannon Harris.