Guts shown amidst gusts

City battled high-flying North Somerset RTC in high winds and returned from Weston-super-Mare in reasonably high spirits despite a 0-3 defeat.

Only 12 players travelled to the West Country following a couple of late withdrawals due to illness and further injuries meant only 10 finished the game but all deserve huge credit for a battling and resilient display in a fixture that was definitely spoiled by the gale that blew throughout.

Things didn't start well though when some defensive hesitancy resulted in the home side taking the lead within the opening minutes.

Composure restored, City quickly regrouped and settled into the game as Harry Stone saw his free-kick pushed away to safety by the home keeper.

Visiting stopper Josh Reed-Jones made a brilliant block with his legs from point-blank range at the start of Q2 as North Somerset lashed the rebound over the bar.

Leading by example throughout the contest, captain Cian Sheehan forced a save followed by Jamie Neath shortly afterwards as City put their opponents under pressure - a pattern that continued in Q3 even with the wind now against them.

However with the visitors still very much in the game, they conceded a very disappointing second goal from a corner when they failed to pick up a North Somerset player at the back post who stroked home. Shortly afterwards, Reed-Jones reacted smartly to fist away a shot as the hosts exposed the City defence with a ball over the top.

Having lost Stone to a wrist injury in Q2, City were reduced to 10 men at the beginning of the final period when Archie Thurston was caught in the face accidentally and succumbed to a heavily bloodied nose.

With Sheehan and Guy Collett proving hard to contain and continuing to drive their team forward, City battled gamely to the final whistle and were perhaps unfortunate to let in a late third goal.

All things considered though, a decent performance that tested a very good North Somerset side and was certainly closer and much improved compared to the 0-7 home defeat against the same opposition earlier in the season.