Boxing Day damp squib as City slip to Seagulls defeat

City failed to build on their impressive pre-Christmas win at Chippenham Town this afternoon, slipping to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to Weston Super Mare. The visitors scored twice in eight minutes during the final quarter of the game and were good value for the win that lifted them above City on goal difference. The tone for City’s afternoon was set in the opening minutes when an over-hit backpass by George Rigg forced Luke Southwood into handling the ball. The resultant indirect free-kick was blocked but City’s first half performance was characterised by a series of misplaced passes and poor clearances. By contrast the Seagulls passed the ball around well on the wet surface and had City’s defence at full stretch on several occasions. However, they couldn’t take advantage of this dominance and, remarkably, it was City who came closest to scoring before the interval when Kevin Amankwaah diverted Jack Compton’s corner onto the crossbar. The second half continued in a similar manner before the introduction of Nick McCootie for Compton finally livened up the home side. Tom Smith and Opi Edwards had shooting chances but with 15 minutes left Weston broke forward following a City corner and Welch’s cross was slide past Southwood by Hill. McCootie should have levelled five minutes later, heading a Ryan Case cross the wrong side of the post, and with seven minutes left another Welch ball into the box was deflected into the net off Dan Ball to ensure the Seagulls would make the short journey back to the coast with the three points.

Listen to Jim Rollo’s post-match comments here