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City 2 Tonbridge Invicta 0

- 27/02/2010

Much of what City got wrong against Hollands & Blair the previous week they rectified against a Tonbridge Invicta side that had few answers to first half pressure but probably should have eased themselves back into the game when City themselves eased off in the second.

The long ball tactic that did them few favours against H&B was replaced, simply by having the midfield form a high line against a team that did not have H&B’s power. Into that middle area came Rob Storrie, a former Scotland Under 19 international who made an impressive debut, holding the ball confidently, distributing it accurately and even scoring the second goal.

The return of Scott Lawford to the attack greatly improved City’s options going forward, but it was the midfield players who, during the first half particularly, turned the game so firmly in City’s direction. Royston Gough, still alone as the central striker because of injuries to Wayne Fittall and Dave Read, was fed with passes that, unlike the week before, were controllable, usually on the ground and all the easier for him to gather pace with the ball at his feet. The only thing that his performance lacked was a goal.

Three minutes in and it was Gough who attempted an overhead kick from Lawford’s cross. Danny Berisiter, in the Tonbridge Invicta goal, turned the ball away for a corner and from then on he was to prove a stubborn barrier for City to overcome,

Storrie announced himself with a header just past the near post as the City midfield players quickly pushed forward. Gough then took the ball to the outskirts of the penalty area. The Tonbridge Invicta keeper came out and appeared to handle the ball. City’s appeals were loud and long but, seemingly, the referee had not had a clear sight of the incident, otherwise Tonbridge would probably have continued the game with ten men.

The rest of the half was almost entirely played in one direction. Lawford had taken City ahead in the 12th minute after Craig Southern sent the ball into the penalty area. It struck Lawford’s leg and went in off a post.

Although Invicta’s Dean Spenceley did strike a shot across the face of the City goal, the pressure remained firmly on their own. Gough drove a shot that seemed destined to go inside the near post but the Tonbridge keeper pushed it away for a corner.

Some clever approach work by Gough led to City taking their two goal lead. Storrie, who had moved forward quickly, collected the ball and, with a lot of self assurance, drove it in.

Before the first half ended Gough and Southern were both unlucky with shots but the second period became much different. It was not as if Invicta suddenly became more threatening, more that City became less so. Gough was again stopped in his tracks by the Invicta keeper and Nick Minshull hit the bar. Meanwhile the City goal became threatened, especially by Spenceley whose best shot was well parried by Hyde who also had to be alert to catch Spenceley’s overhead kick. Hyde was not best pleased about having to rescue City from a possible Invicta comeback that should never have been allowed to develop.

CITY: Hyde; Hossick, Lingham, Baker, Seager, Storrie, Lockhart, Southern (J. Smith) , Minshull (Whiting), Gough, Lawford (Tenyue).