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Reserves keep title hopes alive

- 04/04/2010

City Reserves 2 Bearsted Reserves 1

City Reserves came into this fixture against table toppers Bearsted knowing that nothing less than three points would be good enough if they wanted to hold on to their fading title aspirations. The good news for City was that the fixture marked the return of a number of key players who had been missing due to injury in previous weeks.

Dave Silman, who had been out for over a month with knee problems, was a constant menace with his direct running down the right wing, winning a number of corners and free kicks that City failed to capitalize from. Justin MacVicar, who had been absent for three weeks because of ankle trouble, added a physical presence to the attack that City had been missing in previous weeks and almost muscled his way through on goal in the opening exchanges before a last ditch tackle from a Bearsted defender.

The first half however was void of any clear cut goal scoring chances, with City’s defence, marshalled by the impressive Chris Wallis, rarely threatened.

In the second half the game started to open up and City took the lead on the hour mark when a ball over the top from the back found MacVicar homing in on goal. A Bearsted defender was perhaps favourite to win the race for the bouncing ball but scuffed his attempted volleyed clearance, allowing MacVicar to poke the ball over the keeper into the roof of the net.

City were then thankful for the sharp reactions of Ade Gower between the sticks for keeping them in the game. A Bearsted attacker was provided with the away team’s first real chance of the match when played through on goal but ‘The Cat’ stuck out a right leg to divert the ball behind for a corner.

Bearsted were starting to push more men forward and equalized on seventy minutes when a corner wasn’t properly cleared, allowing a Bearsted attacker to ram a shot against the crossbar, only for the rebound to fall nicely for another Bearsted attacker to place the ball into the unguarded net.

City’s heads could easily have dropped at this point but they were inspired by some dogged work in midfield by the ever impressive Ashley Tuite who drove the team forward.

With ten minutes remaining City regained the lead. After pushing a number of players forward, a corner wasn’t properly cleared and after the ball had bounced to the far post Rob Gutsell hit a shot on the half volley that nestled into the net.

City were then forced to defend for their lives, with Bob Vidler adjusting his formation from 4-4-2 to 4-5-1 to crowd the midfield. City dealt with the onslaught, with Luke Read, Paul Grant, Tom O’Riley and Wallis outstanding at the back. Relief could be heard around the Bridge ground as the referee blew the final whistle to indicate three points for City, which keeps their title aspirations well and truly alive