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City out on penalities

- 06/02/2010

Lewisham Borough1 City 1 (Lewisham won 3-2 on pens)

Defeat by way of the lottery of penalties in the Bill Manklow Inter Regional Cup was disappointing for City but focusing on promotion now becomes the single priority.

Manager Dave Fairclough was not able to call on a full strength squad and when Wayne Fittall had to abandon the game with a recurrence of a groin strain after less than thirty minutes, Fairclough's strike force was left short of power and regretting that Dave Read was another striker missing through injury.

Lewisham had the better of the first half yet though they were defensively solid, up front they were unable to turn some bright football into a goal until shortly before half-time. Shades of City's match against Premier in the same competition only seven days before.

City's own defence showed several changes from the previous week, with Giga Zulmalashvikli starting in goal because Paul Hyde had not recovered from a leg injury. Tony Jackson joined Ian Hossick in the centre but they found themselves under pressure from the start. In fact City were fortunate when in only the second minute the new City keeper came out to intercept a Lewisham striker who just about had the ball under control when he was held back by his shirt. The referee let the game go on…definitely a 'phew' moment.

If Craig White was the most composed and reliable City player, Renford Tenyue was the most exciting. A deep cross from Scott Lawford in the fifth minute resulted in Tenyue volleying wide but he never stopped causing the Lewisham defence problems.

Lewisham continued to put City under pressure. Hossick hooked the ball off the line and Michael Seagar twice rescued City, blocking the ball almost as it was about to find its way to the net and tackling a Lewisham striker just as he was about to pull the trigger,

When Fittall went off Liam Whiting took his place. His first contribution was a shot that crept tantalisingly beyond the far post. Seagar then broke through the Lewisham defence but his accurate ball to Nick Minshull was blasted high. Gough had been caught offside several times but five minutes before half-time he finally broke clear without seeing a flag. Despite having drawn out the goalkeeper, he shot round.

Defensive uncertainty led to City conceding a 43rd minute goal from Dean Mitchell's low drive.

Seven minutes into the second half City built a promising move which finished with Gough being brought down in the area. There was a debate about whether the defender was the 'last man' and should have been sent off. The referee elected to produce nothing more than a yellow card. Hossick stepped up and blasted in the equaliser.

By giving away several free-kicks, City placed themselves in danger, but they also had probably the best chance of winning the match when Whiting had an almost clear opening. He lifted his shot over the top. But the effect was to keep City in a confident frame of mind. A fine curling shot from Minshull forced the Lewisham keeper to rescue his side with a punch that conced nothing worse than a corner.

Extra time looked inevitable and was. Lewisham were concerned when their keeper was hurt in a collision. He soldiered on, much to his team's delight because later he was to become their Man of the Match in the penalty shoot out.

Dave Fairclough made some more changes but the first half of extra time produced no real chances for either side.

The threat of penalties became ever more likely after City substitute Craig Southern headed over probably City’s only clear cut extra-time opportunity. Lewisham made a strong final attack and City managed to place a rank of bodies across their goalmouth.

Curiously, in the penalty shoot-out Lewisham missed their first two. Meantime Hossick had cracked in one for City. Luke Lockhart’s blast was saved before Lewisham scored again. Tenyue hit another one to the left side and again the Lewisham keeper saved.

After Lewisham hit in another, so did Whiting to bring it to 2-2. Finally, Lewisham scored again before Gough placed his shot within reach of the Lewisham keeper for a 3-2 defeat.

CITY: Zulmalashvili; White, I. Hossick, T. Jackson, Seager, Minshull (Southern). Lockhart, Lawford (Charlton), Gough, Fittall (Whiting), Tenyue.