City Under 23's v Charlton Today

Cyncoedslumdog · Cyncoedslumdog Tue Sep 26, 2017 3:16 am

Just got home from one of the most exciting games I've seen for a long time.
City's team featured Camp for the first half and Patterson and Pilkington both played the full 90 minutes.
After a really fluent start, City were two up through a Pilkington goal from close range and a Mark Harris penalty. However, Harris was sent off shortly after for an off the ball incident and Charlton assumed control for the rest of the half and brought the game level by the interval despite one of their players being stretchered off with concussion.
Surprisingly City came out fired up and took control after half time and looked capable of going ahead again despite being a man down but Charlton took advantage of their numerical superiority and went ahead again by catching City short of numbers on the break. City were still undeterred and once again they took the game to the visitors resulting in a penalty being awarded which promised to give them the share of the spoils they deserved. Sadly, Pilkington's well struck kick was turned around the post by a brilliant save from the Charlton keeper. In a match providing excitement and an edge not normally seen at this level, City still kept up the tempo and a slightly deflected effort from Pilks gave them a deserved equaliser. Most watchers would have been happy with that but yet again Pilkington harassed the keeper into a mistake and netted from close range for his hat trick and a 4-3 lead. With so much happening, there was an extended injury period during which a City youngster (Ryan Reynolds?) sustained a nasty looking injury which necessitated a further 7 or 8 minutes delay before being carried off. There was time for a final Charlton free kick into the City area with their keeper up but the ball was cleared and the final whistle went on a hugely enjoyable afternoon - and all for free!
Paterson was looking much fitter and more effective (he also has a very long throw) but Pilkington deserved huge praise for his commitment all game when lots of players would have been simply going through the motions.

Slimfrog's Son™ · Slimfrog's Son™ Tue Sep 26, 2017 5:48 pm

Cyncoedslumdog wrote:Just got home from one of the most exciting games I've seen for a long time.
City's team featured Camp for the first half and Patterson and Pilkington both played the full 90 minutes.
After a really fluent start, City were two up through a Pilkington goal from close range and a Mark Harris penalty. However, Harris was sent off shortly after for an off the ball incident and Charlton assumed control for the rest of the half and brought the game level by the interval despite one of their players being stretchered off with concussion.
Surprisingly City came out fired up and took control after half time and looked capable of going ahead again despite being a man down but Charlton took advantage of their numerical superiority and went ahead again by catching City short of numbers on the break. City were still undeterred and once again they took the game to the visitors resulting in a penalty being awarded which promised to give them the share of the spoils they deserved. Sadly, Pilkington's well struck kick was turned around the post by a brilliant save from the Charlton keeper. In a match providing excitement and an edge not normally seen at this level, City still kept up the tempo and a slightly deflected effort from Pilks gave them a deserved equaliser. Most watchers would have been happy with that but yet again Pilkington harassed the keeper into a mistake and netted from close range for his hat trick and a 4-3 lead. With so much happening, there was an extended injury period during which a City youngster (Ryan Reynolds?) sustained a nasty looking injury which necessitated a further 7 or 8 minutes delay before being carried off. There was time for a final Charlton free kick into the City area with their keeper up but the ball was cleared and the final whistle went on a hugely enjoyable afternoon - and all for free!
Paterson was looking much fitter and more effective (he also has a very long throw) but Pilkington deserved huge praise for his commitment all game when lots of players would have been simply going through the motions.

Good to see Paterson close to some game time as I'm not a Peltier fan and Warnock isn't a Richards fan