City and Weston draw blank in competitive pre-season meeting

City headed to the coast this afternoon for their second pre-season outing where they played out a competitive goalless draw against Weston Super Mare. With the hosts considerably further along in their preparations for the 2020-21 season after Dan Ball headed an early Lloyd James cross just wide, they enjoyed the better of the rare goalscoring openings. Trialist keeper Will Henry twice did well to keep out shots from Laird and Griffiths, whilst Grubb narrowly cleared the bar with a well-struck shot. The pattern of the game changed little into second half, Henry still the busier of the two keepers with saves from Jones and Thomas. The game also saw a number of challenges from both sides that in the regular season may have seen the referee reach for his pocket. With around 10 minutes left City fashioned their first clear-cut chance, Callum Evans’ pass setting up Tom Richards. His shot was half-stopped by keeper Purnell but it looked like City’s no.8 would have a simple tap-in only for Jones’ great last ditch block to deny the trialist a goal. This sparked a late flurry from City as Tom Smith shot straight at Purnell and Callum Evans’ corner kick bounced on the top of the crossbar, although the last chance of the game fell to Weston when Hall’s shot looked certain to win the game only for substitute Land to produce a stunning block.