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City 1 Phoenix Sports 2

- 31/10/2009

For every step that City seem to be making to improve their position and confidence, there is always another that brings disappointment. Much as some of their football at Hersden today was encouraging, in the end they were falling back on long balls to strikers of no great height and counting the cost of failing to keep possession.

Having brought in the experienced goalkeeper Paul Hyde, it was felt that the defence would be under his influence and perhaps overcome some of the uncertainty seen in recent games. Without a doubt Hyde himself lived up to a big reputation, but ahead of him the now familiar problem of defence, midfield and attack having no thread linking them together was again evident.

Phoenix had beaten City early last month and this time they were rewarded for again being the more mature, better organised and, in the end, more determined side. They worked well for each other and scored a fine first half winning goal that should have left City ample time to respond.

The most frustrating aspect of City's game was that despite the fact that yet again there were several changes, for some time they actually played like a team but failed to make it count. Ian Hossick returned to captain the side in the absence through suspension of Luke Lockhart. Joe Smith made his first appearance. But Phoenix didn't just play like the better team...they made it count.

City were fortunate not to concede a sixth minute goal when the referee spotted some shirt pulling but Phoenix's penalty clouted the post and rebounded out.

New 'keeper Hyde was called on to make a brave save at the feet of a Phoenix striker. City attacked. Phoenix had to head off the line from a corner but put some pressure on. Then a long free-kick into the City penalty area found Harris who took Phoenix into the lead, which lasted only two minutes. A header from Dave Read was handled almost on the goalline. The referee immediately awarded a penalty and Hossick slammed in the equaliser.

City's midfield work justified some optimism about the possible final outcome. Scott Lawford curled a shot narrowly wide, but after half an hour Phoenix built a sweeping move all through the City half, finishing with Websdale comfortably side footing in the winning goal.

The second half brought some early hope for City. Lawford's long shot was tipped over the bar. Phoenix hit back by forcing two corners that City managed to defend before, on the hour, a neat twist and run by Adam Woollcott and an accurate cross ended disappointingly as Gough was blocked by defenders as he tried to turn the ball towards the Phoenix goal.

Hyde showed his strength in turning away a shot that looked destined for the far corner of the net to keep City in the running for getting a share of the points. It might have happened if Gough's shot had been a few inches lower. Read was pushed forward to help the strikers but in the end Phoenix played out time to add to City's frustration. Afterwards the City bench complained about not being given a penalty for what seemed like a blatant handling offence that stopped the ball crossing the line. Perhaps City did deserve a draw but no more.

CITY: Hyde; Searle (Jackson), Lingham, Hossick, Seagar (Bowler), J.Smith, Rook, Read, Smith, Gough, Woollcott.