HONOURS EVEN IN THE APRIL SUNSHINE

CITY had to settle for a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Boldmere St. Michaels.
There were appeals for a penalty in the opening exchanges when Nick Turton went down but the decision ended up going against him.
Both sides created early half-chances as Usher-Shipway looked to cause problems for the hosts, whilst Jamie Smith linked up well with Joel Ambalu who was just beaten to it by the alert ‘keeper.
The home side were playing some neat football on their artificial surface and keeping both Jordan Stoddart and MarK Smith busy in the heart of our back-line.
As the half went on, it was the home side who were creating the better chances with Usher-Shipway looking particularly lively and bringing a couple of smart saves out of young ‘keeper Sean Dayus.
Having weathered something of a storm, we went close just before the break when Turton’s strike was blocked by the ‘keeper and as the loose ball found its way to Ethan Moran, his curling effort was well kept out by the home ‘keeper.
Right at the end of the first half, the home side dragged an effort just wide as we went in at the break goalless.
We came out of the blocks with purpose at the start of the second period with Nathan Hayward linking up well with Ambalu who cut inside before getting in a strike that was saved.
That proved to be a warning as we took the lead on 53 minutes when Hayward set Ambalu racing away as he beat the offside trap before coolly wrong-footing the advancing ‘keeper and slotting home.
The home side were back on level terms by the hour-mark when a cross from Usher-Shipway found Reid who guided the ball beyond the reach of Dayus to make it 1-1.
The game became rather scrappy with a number of bookings for both sides in quick succession.
We created a good chance late on when James Baldwin’s inviting ball picked out Robinson whose close-range effort was straight at the ‘keeper.
At the other end, Dayus had to be alert to clear a probing through-ball whilst a poor backpass let in Ambalu at the other end but his strike was blocked by the ‘keeper as Baldwin put the rebound wide.
In the end, it finished with honours even in the April sunshine.

CITY: Dayus, Birley, J. Smith, Stoddart, M. Smith, Hayward, Ambalu, Forsyth, Turton (Robinson), Moran (Baldwin), Tomkinson (Danks). Subs not used: Halil, Gomes.
BOOKING(S): Hayward
GOAL(S): Ambalu