City and Seagulls share the points in dour Somerset Derby

City and Weston Super Mare shared the points in a goalless draw this evening at Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park. The visitors were reduced to ten men in the closing stages but City couldn’t make their numerical advantage count.

The Seagulls enjoyed the majority of possession during a scrappy opening 45 minutes but failed to convert this into clear goalscoring opportunities. Pecover fired an early half chance over the bar which set the tone for the game. With both keepers largely spectators it took until the 37th minute for either side to threaten an opening goal, Jaiden Putman producing a great block to deny Coulson. Into stoppage time City saw their best chance when Danny Greenslade’s free-kick was diverted toward goal but ex-City player Luke Spokes was well placed to clear the danger.

The second half was a more even affair as City finally began to impose themselves on the game. Luke Russe dragged an early shot wide then City should have been awarded a 57th minute penalty when Owen Windsor was tripped by Ellison as he raced toward goal but the referee just awarded a corner. An understandably incensed Windsor was booked for his reaction to the official’s mistake. City were beginning to look the more likely side to break the deadlock but another former Roman, keeper Max Harris, continued to be largely untroubled in the Weston goal. With ten minutes remaining a strong but fair tackle by Joe Raynes saw Robesten react by headbutting the full-back and he deservedly received a straight red card. However, despite a number of free-kicks in the Weston half City couldn’t take advantage of their extra-man and had to settle for a point.