Page 34 - Bath City v Billericay Town - Saturday 10 October - VNLS

LOOKING BACK 1989/90 CONTINUED

change to the team that had lost at Cambridge, Jeff
Meacham, who had come on as substitute for Andy
Black, replacing him in the starting line-up with Andy
dropping to the bench.
The visitors almost took the lead as early as the 12th
minute before Jeff Meacham had a goal disallowed
nine minutes later for a foul on the goalkeeper. City
then had a number of chances to take the lead
before Alvechurch almost made them pay for their
wastefulness on the half hour when Jim Preston was
forced into a full length save after visiting defender
Owen was left unmarked at a corner.
City eventually took the lead seven minutes before half-
time when Gary Smart’s shot was only cleared as far
as Paul Randall who made no mistake from 10 yards
for his first goal of many that season.
City were well on top in the second half, but struggled
to find the elusive goal that should make the game safe
until they were awarded a rather fortunate penalty
15 minutes from the end. Paul Randall tussled with an
Alvechurch defender in the box and when he went
down the referee pointed to the spot. Paul dusted
himself off and made no mistake from 12 yards to
secure a 2-0 win in front of a disappointing crowd of
: The team line ups listed on the back of the Cambridge City Match Programme for the
first game of the 1989/90 season. 438.
The following Saturday saw City at Twerton Park again
The 1989/90 Beazer Homes League season saw when they fielded an unchanged team against Corby,
the George Rooney era start with a visit to old rivals who got caught up in Bank Holiday traffic, delaying
Cambridge City. the kick off by 20 minutes. They took the field almost
Hopes that City would get the season off to a straightaway with no time to warm up and City took
successful start took a blow as early as the 12th full advantage of their misfortune going 2-0 up in the
minute, when a mistake by Andy Black in the box first 19 minutes.
allowed Wilkin, who had scored 30 goals for the The opening goal came after Gary Smart’s corner
home side the previous season, to put them ahead was flicked on by Tony Ricketts to Paul Randall who
from close range. They almost extended their lead 20 scored from close range, and he then doubled his and
minutes later, a chip over Jim Preston only just clearing City’s tally with a cheeky backheel. A combination of
the bar, before John Freegard equalised for City nine excellent goalkeeping and poor finishing prevented
minutes before the interval. He had already forced City from extending their lead before Corby scored
the Cambridge keeper into a one-handed save before totally against the run of play three minutes before the
Gary Smart’s free-kick was headed back across goal break following a counter attack.
by Tony Ricketts to give him a simple tap in. The second half was one-way traffic towards the Corby
Both sides had chances to take the lead early in the goal. Paul Randall had a goal disallowed five minutes
second half, but the increasing pressure from the after the restart for a foul on the goalkeeper before
home side eventually paid off in the 66th minute when setting up Jeff Meacham for City’s third ten minutes
Sprigg outpaced the City defence and lobbed the ball later. As in the first half, only the heroic efforts of the
over Jim Preston. Corby goalkeeper and some poor finishing prevented
City brought on Dave Singleton and Jeff Meacham for City going further ahead, but the points rarely looked
the last 10 minutes in search of a second equaliser but in doubt and the City fans in the again disappointing
the home side held firm and they came home pointless. crowd of 476 went home happy.
The team for that opening game was: Preston, LES BINGHAM
Stevens, Palmer, Ricketts, Banks, Brown, Smith, Smart,
Freegard, Randall, Black. Subs: Meacham (on for
Randall), Singleton (on for Black).
City didn’t have to wait long to put things right, as
three days later they opened their home campaign
with a visit from Alvechurch. They made one
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