Pressure Points!

No home wins and failing in the FA Cup results in pressure on both the management team and the playing staff. Gerry Luckza as stated on the clubs website that he believes those experienced players still at the club will help the cause as will those needing more experience playing for other clubs. A statement that will relieve or add more pressure to a long season. With only three siting on the bench and no keeper named as sub. Fitness , luck and every ounce of experience will be needed. Lancaster host the Radcliffe team on the back of a good away win and a steady start to the season. A full bench will support them in gaining any home advantage. The Dolly Blues kick off and quickly find some rhythm with a four man move that sees Reid get a shot away and shows City mean business. Heffernan fouls Mark Jones in the centre circle with the resulting free kick being flicked on by Dawson who gains a corner. The corner is cleared long and Unsworth is alert to stem the danger.
A lively opening 5 with both Lancaster wingers showing good pace and touches. Sampson and Hill will need full concentration. Both teams are giving signs of attacking football with flow only broken by free kicks that are not productive.
Time for the assistant to help his man in the middle when Griff Jones is up ended in or on the line of the box , the assistant being closest to the incident allows the ref to give a free kick. Hill steps up to power over and high. City force some defending with a shot from Foster who cant hit home. The clearance finds Griff Jones up alone as he hits a poor effort , but is then given offside.
The game swings again with the dangerous Lee Dodgson outstrips the Radcliffe right flank and delivers well to see Unsworth clear his lines , the corner gives a shooting chance to City but sees Oates working hard in his box to block. With half an hour gone the Boro midfield is holding well and waiting for opportunity with Jones and Forrest combining well. A good insight into how well youth and experience work well together. Hill takes the free kick won by Griff Jones demanding the Blues captain clears wisely with Dawson waiting. Dawson is back in action from the corner as he fires narrowly wide as the cornered cross is scrambled to him. Oates continues to defend from the front and is using the strong support of Jones and Forrest well.

20 minutes in and a peach of a pass by Hill across field to Griff Jones who just cant take in his stride falls well for Mark Jones to fire in , just wide!

Radcliffe are looking comfortable in this competitive first half limiting the home team playing in front of the back line . Reid and Dodgson are the likely threat but are marshaled well by the strong play of Hill and Sampsons awareness.
The pace of the impressive City fullback Uberschar finally breaks the barrier as he gets past Forrest then Hill who fouls but advantage is won and lost as Forrest recovers. The ref pulls it back for the free kick that is wasted with an hopeful long shot. Ubershar features again with a good cross met by Jackson who can only loop his header over and wide of Priestleys goal.

The two city wingers switch sides proving Hill and Sampson have won the early battle. Hill shows his strength again as Foster and Dodgson push forward, chance ends. The two Unibond outfits show some good short passing moves in and around the centre of the park with both sets of players matching each other. The balance is tipped in Boro's favour on 40 minutes when Griff Jones and Chappell link well to allow Mark Jones to set his sights and produce a text book finish across the City keeper who's next touch will be picking the ball from the net! Fantastic!

As the fleeting half is closing Griff Jones runs hard to get on the end of a long ball he lofts a shot that Oates chases he collides with the keeper a touch late but he as to challenge. The ref as a word, after he blows his whistle and walks to the tunnel Barrie Stimpson the City manger as strong words mainly in frustration, a good sign for Boro to capitalise on.

Brookes is introduced for Chappell as the 2nd half starts , Oats starts in support just behind the front pair with Brookes starting in a centre forward role. Griff Jones takes the left .
Phil Priestley is in action first and makes a flap at a cross that could have been worse. Lancaster keep playing a good passing game but have yet to open up Boro enough to capitalise. Hill and Brookes line up a free kick on 25 yards , Hill balloons it over. Lancaster are looking for an equaliser and the Uberschar is driving on the flanks trying to include his forwards more and more. Griff Jones flicks a great pass into the path of Oates as he advances down the right he is bundled off the ball on the line by the defender and pleads for the corner the assistant denies him.
Boro are now only using the forwards as an outlet from defensive duties. Boro begin to fight hard as Griff Jones is lucky the ref did not see his little afters when he was fouled on half way. The next 25 minutes largely sees the ball in the Boro's half as city introduce Entwistle & Helliwell for Ward & Marshall. They slot fresh legs in midfield for Forrest and Jones to combat. The Dolly Blues push hard with some real pressured football. The Boro defence is holding well with the experienced Unsworth conducting whilst Kelly and Dawson defend with real quality.
Quality defending is needed when again city demonstrate some good short play and passing around the edge of the box, they are now finding the target area more with chances stacking up.

The best chance arrives to equalise on 78 when great football between the City forwards sees the ball struck hard against the post and away from danger, the chances are increasing. Forrest and Brookes with help from Griff Jones relieve the pressure by holding and running when required.

The game should have been over when Brookes and Griff Jones find themselves with acres to run into after good work by Forrest , G Jones fires across tamely , Brookes picks up and beats the keeper but not the defender. The home crowd are getting frustrated and Citys play becomes rushed but are still owning all the possession. Two corners in quick succession needs Dawson to be strong assisted with Kelly he closes the threat after Reid fluffs his chance. Uberschar is replaced by Fildes as they continue to attack. Best chances fall to Fildes in the last ten that he can not convert.
Boro remain intact as they manage to give the defensive line short breathers whilst Brookes, Oates and G Jones feed on scraps. The City sub Fildes is the only name in the book as he contests a decision when he clearly wanted a free kick for another challenge by Forrest. Forrest keeps the challenges going and his late on the far side in front of the dug outs, the City bench errupts , free kick is given . The 2 minutes extra is given for more Lancaster pressure.

As the whistle goes a draw would have been good for the pressure endured in the second half, all three is fantastic and well won for the efforts of all in a Boro shirt. Lady luck played its part as did the tireless running of the midfield , experience as clearly rubbed off on a defensive line that was never going to lie down.

Pressure,what pressure?