Thurs 13th Aug Zimmers v City

City needed just one point from this game to all but tie up the
League Championship.
Both sides were struggling with player availability and with the
rivalry always being fairly intense Zimmers are a far better side than
in previous seasons.

There has always been an old adage in football the two best
levellers of any two sides are a dodgy pitch or a dodgy ref. This
match was to throw up both.

This was the first time City had played on this pitch and to say it
was not conducive to good football was an understatement as both
midfields were constantly missed out as the long balls were left for
the forwards and defenders to fight for.

The game was played in a very good spirit with the ref having quite
an easy time of it. City should have taken the lead twice in the early
part of the game when both Armstrong and Eagling missed great
chances.

Eagling atoned for his miss minutes later when Milburn’s header
released him and he slotted home 0-1

With the home side reduced to long balls it was a surprise that they
equalised when their forward controlled well before turning and
beating two defenders and striking home from close range.

City’s defence for the first time in weeks looked vulnerable but
after a few brief moments they gathered their composure. With
Milburn’s aerial ability City tried on several occasions to take this
route but some rugged defending and a lenient referee allowed
Zimmers to finish the first half level.

Zimmers took the game to City in the second half but with a slight
reshuffle and the addition of Pilkington to City’s side they coped well
with all of Zimmers attacking attempts.

The long grass on the pitch was making it difficult for City to get
their passing game going and a sudden increase in the number of
decisions the ref was giving to Zimmers,added to City’s
frustration .With the game looked to be heading for a draw, a
sudden nice passing move allowed Eagling the time and space to
swivel on the edge of the box and fire home.1-2

Zimmers kicked off and sent a long ball forward into City’s area. The
ball was sliced high by a defender it seemed to be dropping
between a player from both sides who were both using their bodies
to try and meet the falling ball, suddenly the refs whistle went and
he had given a penalty to Zimmers. No one appealed, no one made
one cry for a foul All players from both sides looked on in
amazement as he tried to say that the City player had fouled the
other.
Zimmers scored from the pen and 4 mins later the game finished
with the scores 2-2.
This point means that Grasslot now have to win both their last 2
games(one against City) to secure 6 pts that would bring them level
with City on points, but as it stands at the moment City have 19
goals better goal difference so barring a miracle City should retain
their league title.