FIRST STALEMATE OF THE SEASON

CITY’S busy schedule of matches continued as we played out a goalless draw with Boldmere St. Michaels.
An early raid saw Dave Reynolds link up well with Mark Danks whose inviting ball into the danger zone evaded everyone.
We were looking the most likely side in the opening exchanges and George Forsyth went close with a header on 19 minutes.
As our visitors started to get into their stride, Matt Gwynne almost got caught out as Boldmere went close.
We were failing to find the cutting edge that was so prominent in our previous game as a free-kick was cleared as far as Nathan Hayward whose strike flew off target the Forsyth saw a free-kick well saved.
The scoreline was locked at 0-0 going into the break with neither side able to find the necessary spark.
The second period started with Danks firing over before there were appeals for a penalty when Brad Birch went down inside the area but nothing was given.
There was an instant chance for substitute, Ben Robinson, as he latched onto an intelligent through-ball from Birch only to be thwarted by the alert ‘keeper.
With 15 minutes to go it was a heart in the mouth time for Gwynne as he kept the visitors out at the second attempt.
It was Boldmere who were finishing the game the stronger of the two teams and Gwynne did well to claim a corner under pressure whilst our back-line managed to get in a couple of timely interventions to halt our visitors’ progress.
On 84 minutes, Hayward broke out wide before feeding Birch whose strike was parried initially by the ‘keeper who managed to grab the loose ball.
As the clock ticked down, Robinson fired straight at the ‘keeper before a free-kick from Forsyth was headed wide by Jordan Stoddart under pressure from the ‘keeper.
In the end it finished goalless, our first stalemate of the season.

CITY: Gwynne, Forsyth, J. Smith, Stoddart, M. Smith, Hayward, Birley, Birch, Danks (Ambalu), Reynolds, Baldwin (Robinson). Subs not used: Hall, Przybek , Gomes.
BOOKING(S): Birley
ATTENDANCE: 318.