City supporters crash to Trowbridge counterparts (30/4/99)
In a match that raised nearly £500 for Trowbridge Town their supporters were victorious as two first half strikes gave them a 2-0 victory over a City supporters side. Played on the hallowed turf of Twerton Park the win gave the Wiltshire side the Trickett Cup, which was presented to their captain, Kevin Williams, by City assistant manager Steve White. A return match at Trowbridge’s planned new home at Woodmarsh is set for August.
Three more City’s players have signed new contracts for next season. Youngsters Fidell Richards, Lee Vickerman and Peter Tisdale have all completed new one year deals. Ex-Yeovil player Lee Collier (left) has returned to fitness and will play for Larkhall tomorrow, but Paul Bodin has said he will still get his chance to earn a contract next season.
Wotton released as City receive £25,000 boost (28/4/99)
City fans were faced with a day of good news and bad news as the club received a financial boost but saw Garry Wotton released by Paul Bodin. The 24 year-old centre-back, who missed large parts of last season through injury, is the first City player to be released as Bodin continues his restructuring of the squad. These injuries troubles plus the fact that Wotton is based in London with the RAF have been put forward by Bodin as the reasons for the move, but it has still come as a surprise. The knee injury that saw Wotton miss the final 3 months of the campaign came, ironically, while playing for the RAF.
The financial boost came in the form of a £25,000 donation from a local media and marketing company. Part of the money is set to increase Bodin’s playing budget although the manager has ruled out any impluse buying. However, the money will be used as City look to bring in a couple of more experienced players.
Super six tied down for new promotion push (26/4/99)
Martin Paul, Graham Colbourne, Rob Skidmore, Colin Towler, Stauart James and Mark Harrington are the super six that have all signed new one year contracts. The six join Mike Davis, Scott Walker and the management team of Paul Bodin and Steve White, as City look to next season with renewed enthusiasm after their impressive performances against Boston and Tamworth. The remainder of the squad will know their fate by the middle of this week. Bodin’s plan is to bring in four or five more experienced players in an attempt to add a higher level of consistency to City’s play.
City complete Twerton Park campaign in style (24/4/99)
City’s home programme came to successful end as they produced another impressive performance to see off Tamworth in a 3-0 victory. A brace of goals from Martin Paul, his 27th and 28th of the season, and a great solo effort by Mike Davis (right) failed to truly represent how dominant City were, particularly in the second period. Their cause was helped by the visitors being reduced to 10 men in the first half after a foul on Graham Colbourne. Only twice did Tamworth come close to scoring as a free kick clipped the top of the bar and a scuffed shot came back of the post. City were cheered off by the 1181 crowd as recent performances finally gave hope for next season and a more consistent push for a place back in the Conference.
Before the match Mike Davis was deservedly named player of the season after his successful move from centre forward to a wing back role. The goal he then scored showed how right this decision was. Supporter of the season was named as Ken Sellick, head of the club shop crew.
Honours even in Cambridge test (23/4/99)
City came back down to earth with a gentle bump last night as they failed to repeat their goal scoring exploits of Tuesday night but came away from Cambridge City with a share of the points after a 1-1 draw. City’s goal came from the penalty spot after Martin Paul was fouled 10 minutes into the second half. Paul converted the spot kick to register his 26th goal of the season. Cambridge’s equaliser came shortly afterwards from a Thompson free header. Both sides had chances after that but a draw was a fair result, although one of little use to the home side.
City 8 (eight) Boston 0 (Says it all, really) (20/4/99)
City put their second half surrender at Boston on Saturday behind them as they hammered eight goals past the same opponents without reply at Twerton Park tonight. The rout began when Mike Davis headed a Martin Paul cross past ex-City keeper Paul Bastock. A Paul Bodin free-kick then beat everyone and crept in at the far post before Mark Harrington ran straight through a static defence and lifted the ball over Bastock. Paul then got in on the act, first from the spot after he was tripped when clean though, the Boston defender was sent off for the foul, and then converting a Colbourne cross. The scoring continued after the break as Paul completed his hat-trick after Harrington’s shot was parried by Bastock. Colbourne headed in Bodin’s corner to make it seven and Steve White completed the scoring, beating Bastock and placing his shot between two defenders on the line. This was the final act in a stunning performace that finally showed what City are capable of and, hopefully, this form will continue at Cambridge on Thursday.
Pilgrimage in vain as City fail to learn lesson (18/4/99)
If Paul Bodin hoped his after match on-pitch dressing down at Salisbury City two weeks ago had had any effect on his players he will now know better as City repeated their second half collapse, this time handing a Boston a 3-2 victory. When Curtis headed Boston back into the game after 52 minutes it was the beginning of three goals in eight minutes that allowed the Pilgrims the luxury of missing an injury time penalty and still collect all three points. Watts headed the home side level two minutes later and a Stanhope strike on the hour completed the comeback. There had been signs in the first half as Boston missed two great chances but City still went in two goals up as they twice beat United’s stifling offside trap. First, Bodin broke clear down the left and picked out Harrington to give City’s star player a simple tap-in, then Harrington found space on the right and his cross beat keeper Bastock allowing Paul to notch his 22nd goal of the season.
To add to City’s woes recent signing Lee Collier looks set to miss the rest of the season with a back injury. After making his debut against Rothwell last week, impressing Bodin in the process, he pulled up in training with a hamstring injury that has been linked to back problem and will see him struggling to make any of City’s four remaining games.
Rothwell made to pay a double penalty (10/4/99)
City finally returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Rothwell Town, but it was another stuttering performance against a relegation threatened side. Both goals came in the first 20 minutes from the penalty spot as first Mike Davis (very dodgy) and then Martin Paul (okay) were tripped in the box. Birdy converted both spot kicks to seal his return after injury with two goals, taking his tally to 21 for the season. A header onto the top of the bar almost gave Paul his hat-trick before half-time but in the second period City had to be thankful to man of the match Mark Hervin as he produced a string of excellent saves. Scott Walker and Mark Harrington almost increased the lead as City finished strongly but it was a far from convincing show. City also gave a debut to ex-green scum player Lee Collier who produced a reasonable performance in the heart of the midfield.
Chronicle extends sponsorship until 2001 (8/4/99)
City have signed a new sponsorship deal with The Bath Chronicle extending the arrangement until the end of the 2000/01 season. The move will see the paper’s name continue to adorn City’s kit and will pump vital money into the club, although the exact amount involved has not been released.
On the pitch City’s penultimate away trip of the season at Cambridge City has been brought forward to Thursday 22 April.
Another woeful show hands win to Dorchester (5/4/99)
After Saturday I truly believed it couldn’t get any worse but I was wrong, as City took the second half performance at Salisbury and managed to make it last the full 90 minutes. In a performance in which City looked as much relegation candidates as Dorchester a goal five minutes into the second half was enough to seal the points for the Dorset side. Only a blatent hand ball from a Davis corner briefly looked like giving City an equaliser but the referee, despite standing about six feet away, missed it completely. Though if the performance was anything to go by City would have missed the penalty anyway. With Paul Bodin dropping himself to watch the proceedings from the dug out City completely lacked any creativity and the end of the season can’t come soon eneough.
Bodin’s fury at second half shambles (4/4/99)
Having produced their worst first half performance of the season in the 5-3 home defeat against Salisbury City yesterday City completed an uneviable double with a second half collaspe, throwing away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to the Wiltshire side. The turn around led to Paul Bodin keeping his players on the pitch for 20 minutes after the final whistle, first sat in the centre circle recieving an animated talking to and then, running around the pitch. Things had looked so different 25 minutes into the game when two Steve White strikes had put City in control of the game. The first came after 4 minutes when he headed a Bodin corner home and the second a sharp finish from a Richards flick. Misses by White and Mike Davis prevented City extending their lead but, with Salisbury producing little up front, there was no sign of the collapse to come. However, when hesitation by Stuart James allowed Fearon to cross for Chalk to head past Hervin Salisbury were back in the game. Chalk then got his second, heading home after Hervin had tipped a long range effort onto the bar. After this there was only going to be one winner and it came 8 minutes from the end when Fearon stabbed home after a mistake by Hervin.
As City were getting the post game dressing down Nuneaton were celebrating (I imagine) at Athertone as their 2-0 win gave them the Dr Martens League title.