Southport 1-2 City

[michael]

cracking result. what was the game like?

[oldboyblue]

Home Match Worcester 2-1 southport.

Fighting spirit, not a penalty. I was virtually in line Patrice got the ball. Bad ref call (one of many)
The ref failed to calm the challanges, it could have led to sending off or broken leg

Smudger my MOM

[mossysboots]

I thought it was a decent game and would have been reasonably happy with a point before the t**t of a referee game Southport a pen for what looked like a good tackle from Patrice. For a full-time club and third in the league, I don't think they looked any better than City. Clarke's goal was an absolute cracker and deserved to win any game.
Hopefully we can take this and push on with the season, which had gone a bit limp with a blank weekend and being knocked out of the FA Cup, and not playing at home for so long.

[fred titmus]

Well done City.

Made a so called decent Southport side look less than ordinary.

Ryan's goal was simply sublime, a goal that deserved to win any game.

Let's now see City marching on.

[niels]

I thought it was a tight enjoyable game. First half tentative and then more open in the second.
Preece must have thought he had done the most terrible substitution of all time when he took Doran (not a good performance) off and the first thing Rapinder Gill did was give them the ball, which lead to the penalty. Must say it looked stone wall but I was behind the other goal.
However great fightback with a terrific goal by man of the match Ryan Clarke.

[glevumblues]

A draw would probably have been a fair result, but we'll happily take the three points! The penalty was a joke and Ryan's goal was one of the best we'll see this season.

Now we need another three points at Hucknall

[gobby cow]

Well deserved win for City. The only thing that impressed me about southport was their support. Very poor for a full time team and I am struggling to remember one decent player on their team. Danny was hardly bothered and he only ever had to catch the ball.

The ref was a total twonk, as ever, that was never a penalty. Patrice clearly got the ball. However Webby did deserve his booking for that petty foul after her was wrongly judged offside by yet another visually challanged linesman!

I dont know what AP said to the lads at half time but it worked. I am still very unimpressed with Pete Doran's contribution to the game. He seems uninterested in being part of the team. Great to see Nick Colley back in the team and he worked hard as ever.

Paul Barratt was my man of the match. He is excellent, works hard, good distribution and totally focused.

If the lads keep that spirit, and AP drops Doran, play offs here we come.

[B*ue dragonstander]

An excellent show of character to come back from what was a clear error by a referee who'se inconsistency and lack of control threatened to ruin what was generally a good game.

Southport had energy, skill and most importantly width. This was a case where 5 at the back was a definite help. The whole defence (with one exception) played well despite being stretched contantly by 'Port's movement and willingness to attack.

City started brightly but were soon on the back foot and resorting to hopeful long balls forward to the fresh looking Webster and Wilding. Nick Colley's thirty yard dipper forced a really good tip over from Whiteside, Webby lashed over on the volley from 10 yards when well placed and Clegg's (?) low shot skidded narrowly wide with the keeper rooted to the spot and a toe-end would have converted a sliced effort from Clarke(?). At the other end resolute defending kept Southport's young guns quiet and they were restricted to a couple of decent long range efforts and some half chances wasted by a poor final ball.

The referee and linesman both gave the penalty as Liburd clearly won the ball in a fifty fifty challenge but in the end it did not matter (Danny Mac will think he should have saved the spot-kick as he guessed right and got a decent hand to the well placed - rather soft - spot kick) as Danks's introduction revived City and his close control and pace started to upset Southport. Wilding showed his poachers instinct from a corner to net a goal his non-stop running deserved and Clarke (who was already man of the match) sealed it with an absolute stunner that two goalies, let alone one, would not have kept out. It was a good 25 yards and probably travlled near to 30 by the time it nestled in the back of the top corner of the Canal End goal.

Southport captain Holland - who should have been yellow carded in the first half for a disgraceful late challenge - was given his yellow in the second after trying to grind a prone Wildthing into the turf (it should have been a straight red) as Southport (clearly unused to losing) lost the plot and the chance to recover by getting involved in unseemly scuffling at every opportunity after City took the lead.

City resorted to too much long ball for the liking of the Brookside afficionados and when they finally got the ball down looked a very useful outfit capable of out-playing anyone. Less neck ache please Mr Preece!

On the negative side our distribution from the back was very average and there was far too much space between the midfield and the forwards to allow possession to be retained to enable pressure to be built and chances created for much of the match.

All the players looked fresh as epitomised by Cleggy's 40 yard chase to regain possession after he was robbed in midfield (now that was a bit of a collector's item) and his excellent first half tackle in our own box to repel another 'Port raid. The effort was excellent from all the players. Once again Doran had a day to forget and - to this observer - appears completely out of his depth at this level. We were saved by Ryan Clarke doing the job's of two men at the back in a near faultless display capped by his glorious winner.

City still lack width going forward and this is almost a criminal offence given the aerial threat posed by Webby and Wilding. Wardy should revert to right wing-back and with the return of Nwadike into midfield City may have their strongest blend in the current formation. With Gill returning to fitness the option is to play Clarke at right back leaving Nick Colley or George Clegg to be rested if Ward plays.

Cit ratings? All get 10 (for effort and determination) except the unfortunate Doran who gets a first class train ticket back to Walsall.

It was very good to see Ad Burley going through his paces pre-match although a week or two's strict diet might be necessary if he is to get back to his playing weight!

[Mark]

Well done to the team yesterday for a hard earned three points. The winning goal was an absolute corker.

There's no way they should have had a penalty as Patrice clearly got the ball before any contact with the player.

Rapinder Gill looked far from comfortable when he came on if you ask me - lack of match practice maybe. A bad error by him letting them through for the incident which led to the penalty.

I'll give my vote for MOM to Craig who worked tirelessly all afternoon.

Very disappointing display by Peter Doran who has not really performed well since his first game for us IMHO.

[wh]

blue0dragonstander said:

Wardy should revert to right wing-back and with the return of Nwadike into midfield City may have their strongest blend in the current formation.

Great shout there BS, Ward hasn't looked as effective this season in midfield as he did at right wing back last season.
I just hope we don't throw Burley in too soon at the expense of Barratt.

[darrellbutler]

I said at half time that the first goal would win the game :rolleyes:
Thankfully, as usual, I was wrong. A sublime second goal followed what looked like a dead cert penalty from the opposite end, but the Brookside and the Southport fans said otherwise. However, the corner leading to our equaliser didn't cross the goal line either.

[Deleted]

Great report BDS.

[B*ue dragonstander]

wh said:

blue0dragonstander said:

Wardy should revert to right wing-back and with the return of Nwadike into midfield City may have their strongest blend in the current formation.

Great shout there BS, Ward hasn't looked as effective this season in midfield as he did at right wing back last season.
I just hope we don't throw Burley in too soon at the expense of Barratt.

Barrett is an excellent player. Wish we could keep him. He could play on the left of midfield in a four with Burlo behind him (pigs might etc..)

[salmon]

Where was Macca yesterday?

[gobby cow]

I am still on a high from saturday, the spirit the lads showed was amazing.

Everyone, except Doran, was really on the ball.

Rugby world cup, who cares, Lewis Hamilton - there is always next year. City playing with spirit - bloody fantastic!

[nickb303]

According to the EN Macca had work commitments.

[tim]

blue0dragonstander said:

wh said:

Great shout there BS, Ward hasn't looked as effective this season in midfield as he did at right wing back last season.
I just hope we don't throw Burley in too soon at the expense of Barratt.

Barrett is an excellent player. Wish we could keep him. He could play on the left of midfield in a four with Burlo behind him (pigs might etc..)

no reason why we shouldn't keep Barratt, he's not on loan

[B*ue dragonstander]

tim said:

blue0dragonstander said:

Barrett is an excellent player. Wish we could keep him. He could play on the left of midfield in a four with Burlo behind him (pigs might etc..)

no reason why we shouldn't keep Barratt, he's not on loan

here for work experience. I imagine that he will go to a full time club if Liverpool (isnt he on their books) dont keep him?

[suv]

Spoke to Paul Barratt on Saturday he was saying that at the moment he thinks he's here at Worcester till January.

[dorothy]

salmon said:

Where was Macca yesterday?

and on Tuesday.

[andy]

I believe Macca had to make a working visit to Hong Kong that led to him missing Saturday's game.

[Deleted]

Actually he bought my sat nav off me. Sorry.

[Tim Munslow]

Nice one Andy! How long can we keep that satnav joke going?

[suv]

If it's available could I borrow the satnav (15/11/07) as I'm going to Acton Town Hall,
Does it know how to get there?

[Deleted]

I know you're taking the piss suv because NO ONE goes to Acton Town Hall. Not without an armed guard anyway.

[suv]

I really am going to Acton Town Hall "Joe Strummer Tribute Night" featuring Billy Bragg, The Specials and Worcester's finest "Take the 5th" (Clash tribute band), organised by the London Fire brigade. It's the fifth anniversary of Strummer's last gig (which was in support of striking firemen @ ATH) before he died. ......Gonna be rough is it!!!!

[Deleted]

Rough? Have you ever seen Blackhawk Down? It'll be like that but with your car instead of the chopper.