Aldershot Town 2-1 York City (24/09/05)

[Match Reports]

_________________ Aldershot 2-1 York City
____________________-_Crittenden 20___-Donaldson 64
_______________-______Barnard 88

_______________ __________Attendance: 2,470
_______________________-_

City produced by far their poorest display of the season so far to leave struggling Aldershot without a point. The Minstermen were especially dire in the first half, with their Hampshire opponents looking better than their league position suggests, and several City players being very out of form.

Ultimately, City would have left with a point but for another incompetent refereeing decision by yet another buffoon of a referee. The useless moron decided Dunning had climbed on an Aldershot midfielder just outside the penalty area, allowing Barnard to curl the free kick into the corner of the net. From the second the kick was given plenty of City fans knew what the outcome would be.

City threw back the clock to try to recreate their finest performances of last season for the first half. You could have almost been watching the performances at Northwich, Tamworth, Scarborough, Carlisle etc. such was the display. They barely managed an effort on target. Their opponents generally controlled the game but didn't create many clear opportunities until they opened the scoring. Dudgeon was adjudged to have committed a foul around 25 yards out, the resulting free kick deflected behind for a corner but the referee somehow ruled it should be retaken despite protests from both sides (Aldershot were happy to take the corner). The second effort was curled around the wall, a superbly classy attempt that found the corner of the net and beat the keeper at his near post.

After half time the game became scrappy, with City slowly getting back into it but still second best. Then, in a gamble to get something, City boss McEwan switched to a 4-2-4 with stewart introduced on the left and O'Neill moved to the right. The move paid dividends minutes after as Donaldson was put clean through, stylishly dribbled round the keeper and finished from a difficult angle into the corner of the net for his fourth goal for City, and his second in two games.

The game was suddenly transformed - City had once again become a bright, attacking side and Aldershot were struggling to restrict them. Then City had two chances in minutes to win the match - stewart again dribbled through, but saw his goalbound effort stopped by England XI keeper Bull. The second chance was from a tighter angle, with the same player putting his chance wide.

Aldershot then had a rare second half attack, and a high ball on the edge of the area produced the free kick previously described, which sent City to a deserved but disappointing defeat.

Player Ratings

Chris PORTER 5.5:
Flapped at a few crosses in the first half and suspect positioning for the first goal.

Jamie PRICE 5.5:
Wayward distribution at times, also struggled with their winger.

David MERRIS 6:
Covered well in defence in the second half. Still managed a fair few clearances over the stand though and needs to work on distribution.

James DUDGEON 6 (Sub'ed 90mins):
Not the commanding display of former weeks. Looks a bit lacking for pace but wins most headers.

David McGURK 6.5:
Didn't do much wrong.

Mark CONVERY 5.5 (Sub'ed 59mins):
Didn't really notice him in the match, very disappointing.

Emmanuel PANTHER 5:
Lethargic and gave the ball away by dwelling on it far too often.

Darren DUNNING 5.5:
Typical Dunning - battles well but lacks that bit of quality in the final third.

Andy BISHOP 5.5:
Better as the match went on but a bit off the pace.

Joe O’NEILL 5:
Poor touch on the wing in the second half and anonymous as a striker.

Clayton DONALDSON 7 MotM:
Man of the Match - Looked the only City player up for it. Excellent goal with his only real chance of the game. All City's best attacks were through this bloke.

Substitutes:

Bryan STEWART 6.5 (On 59mins):
Added a natural left footed option which gave balance to the team. Should have scored one of the two chances.

Jermaine PALMERN/A (On 90mins):
Introduced on 90 mins in a last effort to get an eqauliser.

Un-Used: Afandiyev, Hotte, Yalcin.

The Referee

F GRAHAM 4 (Essex):
Another incompetent referee, the third of such City have faced away from home this season. This fool seemed to give in to a number of noisy Burberry - clad Aldershot fans behind the goal to give the free kick for their winner and missed a number of fouls by the home team throughout.

Overall Verdict & City's Stats

A huge disappointment. City didn't take advantage of their chances and could have taken 3 points in a game in which they should have had 0 based on their performance. Their opponents didn't look a struggling side and should be well clear of the bottom of the league. And as for the referee, what is there to say?

Tamworth will provide another long ball test, hoepfully the pace of City's forwards will help against a very physical (and well built) Tamworth defence.

Booked: Convery (19) Dudgeon (53).
City Stats: 4 Shots, 3 On Target, 1 Off Target, 17 Fouls, 7 Corners.

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