City bounce back in style

City bounced back in fine style yesterday with a convincing 4-1 demolition of an in-form Shepshed Dynamo Side.

Returning to the side was Jake Battersby at left back and although Joe Hood is not quite 100% he made the bench and is likely to appear very soon. Also returning from FA Cup duty were our CUFC U18 duo, Pat Staszewski and Liam Chadwick while Mikey Davies was unavailable for selection. Alex Kerr held onto his place at right back having impressed in the 2-1 defeat at Coleshill

With the rain lashing down, the first half was evenly contested with both sides playing some nice attacking football, The first opportunity fell to City after Scott Bridges made a great run down the left touchline, the Shepshed defender shoved him in the back resulting in a free kick in a dangerous position. Daniel Cotton whipped in the cross and it was Taylor Parr who rose highest heading the ball inches over the bar.

While the game was even it was City who were carving out the better chances. After some nice passing play out from the back, Alex Kerr found space and fired in a brilliant shot from range, beating the keeper but unfortunately also just over the bar.

City weren't having it all their own way and the pace of Kieron Cummings was causing problems, as he cut in the from the fired but scuffed his effort wide.

Liam Chadwick had a good attempt from 25 years that missed the target before Shepshed's Sean Ruzvidzo equally missed from a distance.

It was Dynamo that opened the scoring though, in the 32nd minute, a long ball over the top released fullback Jack Lynch down the left, his cross was met by striker James Shaw who was charging into the box in acres of space for an easy tap in passed keeper Welch. There was debate about Shaws starting position as he was clearly in an offside position from the initial ball over the top but since he didn't receive the pass the Assistant Referee's flag stayed down.

Shaw could have had a second when he found himself through one-on-one with Joe Welch but the City stopper was equal to it, coming out and blocking his effort.

Disappointing to go in 1 down at halftime but whatever was said in the dressing room at half time certainly made the difference, City came out fired up for the second half and it wasn't long before they were on level terms. On 52 mins, an assist for Taylor Parr who was up from a corner, his square ball just outside the box found Daniel Cotton who steered his effort into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.

Nothing more than City deserved and it was pretty much one way traffic from then on. Scott Bridges almost put the Lilywhites ahead after some excellent passing play released Alex Kerr down the right who cut the ball back to Bridges, the skipper fired a powerful shot across goal only to see his effort rebound off the far post.

Moments later and Jake Battersby put through Broccoli but the number 10 couldn't get enough power in the shot and Dynamo's keeper Brendon Ganley saved well, it wasn't long before Ganley was called into action again saving a goal bound free kick from Daniel Cotton after Brad Rolt had been hauled down on the edge of the box.

City did take the lead on 66 mins after a good cross from Alex Kerr, Broccoli got ahead of his man and whipped in a shot across the keeper into the far corner and it was game on. City continued to stream forward. Brad Rolt was brought down again, this time inside the box and Scott Bridges stepped up to smash the ball into the net from the spot.

The icing on the cake came when the impressive Alex Kerr stole the ball in midfield, the fullback pushed forward to the edge of the box before slipping in Broccoli whose shot across the keeper found the far corner again to make it 4-1.

A thoroughly professional, quality performance and the perfect response to being robbed last time out. There were good arguments for every player out there to be named Man of the match but a short survey in the bar concluded that Scott Bridges would be awarded the bubbly.

We travel to Sporting Khalsa in midweek looking to capitalise on the confidence gained from this impressive win against a good Shepshed team before being on the road again against Boldmere next week. Based on the evidence of today's there is no reason why we won't be looking to to string a few wins together and get us back in contention.