CITY RETURN TO ACTION WITH A WIN

CITY made a welcome return to action and bounced back from conceding within the first minute to win 4-2 at Westfields.
Our hosts burst straight out of the blocks and capitalised on some defensive hesitation straight from the kick-off to take the lead.
City were shell-shocked and an inviting corner shortly afterwards was well cleared by Jamie Smith.
After Lee Hughes had seen yellow, our first attack saw Brad Birch make progress before linking up with Nathan Hayward to create an opening for Dave Reynolds who saw his effort deflected wide.
Reynolds went close on 21 minutes when he did well to make room for a strike that flashed just wide of the target.
We managed to get back on level terms when Birch broke away before getting in a strike that was pushed away by the ‘keeper and into the path of Reynolds who made no mistake.
Our joy was short-lived, however, as we fell behind again on the half-hour mark when an error from Matt Gwynne saw the referee deem that the whole of the ball had crossed the line.
It was an unfortunate moment but we refused to let our heads drop and Reynolds went close with a deft header.
The scores were level again ten minutes from the break when a free-kick was pumped into the area where Birch was on hand to find the net with a diving header.
As the opening period came to a close, Matt Birley tried his luck from distance only for the ‘keeper to make the save.
Then Hughes did well out wide before finding Reynolds but he was unable to capitalise.
The second half started with City on top and Birley saw his strike well saved by the home ‘keeper who managed to get his fingertips to the ball.
We pressed hard to get in front for the first time in the game as the home side defended a series of corners whilst Birley saw another effort sail over.
An inviting cross into the danger zone from Birley caused problems and was almost turned into his own net by a home defender.
Despite looking the most likely side, we were almost caught out on the counter-attack on 64 minutes but thankfully the home player elected to shoot rather than pass and Gwynne was able to make the save without too many problems.
A towering header from Jordan Stoddart from yet another City corner went just over before Reynolds created a chance for Hughes who was denied by the ‘keeper.
As the clock ticked down there were calls for a penalty as Hughes went down under a heavy challenge but the referee waved away the protests.
At the other end, Hayward was brave to deny the home side who still fancied their chances of getting the win.
Some positive play from substitute James Baldwin ended with him finding Hughes with a neat pass and his shot on the turn flew over the crossbar.
It was looking like ending with honours even until Birch did well to keep the ball in and then cross for Hughes who made no mistake in front of goal to make it 3-2.
The goal knocked the stuffing out of our hosts and they were caught out in stoppage time when a City counter-attack ended with Hughes firing home with a low strike.
It rounded off what was a deserved victory in the end as we added three points to our tally.

CITY: Gwynne, Weir, J Smith, Stoddart, Thomas, Hayward, Birley (Tomkinson), Birch, Hughes, Reynolds (Baldwin), Forsyth. Subs not used: Danks, M Smith.
BOOKING(S): Hughes, Hayward, Thomas.
GOALS(S): Reynolds, Birch, Hughes (2).