Bristol
City Vs. London Hibernian, Civil Service Sports Ground
Date:
Sunday 20th February 2000
John
Leslie (9) Scottish
Neil Hinty (9) - English Mark Grice (9.5) - Irish by birth Jim McPherson
(9.5) - Scottish Dave Lawlor (9) - � Irish
Vinnie Robinson - Scottish Adam Pomoro (9.75) - Anglo-Italian Russell
Stinson - Irish (9) Aidan McGettigan (9) - Irish
Gerry Saviour (9) - Scottish Mark Cran (9) - Scottish
Substitutes
Kevin Robertson (Vinnie Robinson) (8) - Scottish
I
really thought we were going to lose this game, 6 first team players either
oot the country, injured or malingering. Gricey provided one last minute
player and Vinnie Robinson filled the breech snugly. It is pretty much the
first time in our History that we have had as many non-English players, no
bad thing but quite astonishing.
The
referee was clearly blinded prior to the match by the powerful raise of his
own image, cos he couldn't see his way to giving us any decisions. With
quick introductions of Mark Cran (Glasgow and Partick Thistle) and Vinnie
Robinson (Edinburgh and a good Hibby) we began. They poured everything
through their front man with nothing coming down the flanks. Silly move
really, because either Jim stepped up and took the ball off his feet or
Gricey got up close and personal.
The
initial play came from Adam Pomoro twisting and turning like a depressive
lost in his own thoughts, opportunities fell to Neil Hinty twice and shaved
passed their right post. We funnelled a great deal of our effort down the
middle aided by a strong wind, eventually newcomer and Jags man Mark Cran
with the help of Aido scored an 18 yarder from a melee on the edge of the
box to make it 1-0. They had little opportunity and were easily mopped up by
our defence. David Lawlor was inspired and produced jinking efforts, losing
their player creating space and delivering close a couple of times.
Half
Time 0-1
Second
half, they had the wind advantage and used it foolishly again punting
it to their one playmaker, which was equally quashed by Jim and Gricey.
Gerry V in good Glaswegian company was razzling their defence like no-ones
business, in particular their centre back (who had 300 professional
appearances for Swindon Town, a-bloody-lledgedly) this culminated in GV
being levelled unceremoniously and being awarded a penalty. The Italian
stallion di-canioesque stepped up in a brazen fashion to take the penalty,
their players fulminating in a futile fashion. Our Anglo Italian stallion
stepped up and belted home for 2-0. Game over!
Toward
the end of the second half Mark Cran created room up-front and attempted a
beautiful lob, hitting the bar. (Clearly not happy with one goal on his
debut).
Vinnie,
playing his first game in three years look exhausted and came off for yours
truly to give an example of everything that should not be done in a football
game. Within seconds an unnecessary grim reaper of a challenge had secured
Bristol a free kick outside the box, this they fluffed. Strangely my major
contribution was as a psychological weapon. Basically the Bristol team spent
the last 15 minutes of the match abusing me and losing concentration on the
game (example: is that ball up your shirt or are you just a fat bastard, is
that just your arse or are you looking after your mates as well or there is
no point in trying to shoot you can hit that fat bastards mouth from
anywhere on the pitch). They did break through once more, with John pushing
on to the bar and dramatically parrying the follow up header.
Match
View:
It
is the ability of champions to grind out performances with only a backbone
of the team available. We can and did do this. Next week we face Kettering
Town without our Wheel of Fortune bound keeper. We should have everyone else
back and our second string goalkeeper cannot wait to get into the action and
mutley like secure his seasonal London Hibs medal.
Man
of the Match: Adam Pomoro for making tremendous runs, bossing the midfield
and being tirelessly enthusiastic.
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