CITY LOSE OUT ON PENALTIES

City went down to a third defeat in four of the opening League games after losing out at Sporting Khalsa after giving away two penalties which proved decisive.

In a game of two halves dominated by the wind City were under the cosh for the whole of the first half and were fortunate to go into the break 2-0 down. The second half proved to be the opposite with City dominating, pulling two goals back before a late penalty gave the hosts the win.

Khalsa were awarded a penalty after 10 minutes when Ryan Winwood blocked a cross with his arm which Jake Gosling tucked home. The hosts should have extended their lead minutes later when Josh McKenzie missed an open goal from just a yard out but minutes later he made amends when put clean through one on one with Dan Jezeph.

City's only chance of the first half came just before the break when a double chance ended with Liam Lockett shooting straight into the arms of the keeper from close range but City's woes were nearly added to when Lee Chilton should have scored but Luke English making his first start of the season hacked off the line.

The second half was a complete reverse with Sean Brain replacing Liam Lockett and City going immediately on the front foot with the wind behind them. Andy Nicol scored the first goal of the season in the League on 49 minutes then quickly followed it up with a second four minutes later with Jamie Smith having a hand in both. The first came from an out swinging cross from the left from Smith which found Luke English, but his shot was blocked falling straight to Nicol who finished from 10 yards out. The equaliser then quickly followed when keeper Arnold was unable to cling on to Smith's free kick from the edge of the box and Nicol nipped in to finish.

Dan Jezeph pulled off a one-handed save from Liam Armstrong’s driving shot then with three minutes left on the clock all of City's good work was undone when Armstrong was adjudged to have been held back by Nat Kelly and the second penalty was awarded which was again put away by Gosling to give the hosts a 3-2 win.