Same old story, City score, they equalise

By Nathan Jackson
January 16 2005

City and Rovers drew 1-1 in a dull game in what is becoming a stereotypical game for the Imps these days. For the 8th time this season, the Imps went ahead but failed to win in what is becoming a very familiar feel for the Imps fans.

The game opened with Rovers kicking off and it's fair to say the opening events weren't exactly awe-inspiring. However, in the second minute, ex-Imp Lee Thorpe fouled McAuley much to the annoyance of City fans who are still pissed off at Thorpe sticking his fingers up at fans during the 2001/2 season. A few minutes later, a foul on Butcher allowed Ciaran Toner to send a free kick towards Green who shot was excellent saved by Clarke. The keeper also punched away Sandwith's corner.

An impressive one-two on the edge of the area saw GTF have a shot well saved. The referee started to come into play and every foul was given a warning, the game despite not being dirty in any way but the man in the middle blew for 44 fouls and almost every single one of them had a warning, if they'd done added on time properly we'd all still be in the ground waiting for the game to finish.

Then came a rather amusing incident, a foul on Ali Gibb saw him down for a fair amount of time before hobbling off, when he was asked to come back on the pitch, he limp-ran back onto the pitch before collapsing just second later and a substitution was quickly made. The half came to a close with very little worth reporting on.

The second half wasn't very full of action either. However, City did take the lead when a Toner free kick saw Thorpe miserably attempt to head it away before Bloomer crossed it back in and Green tapped the ball in the net.

Bristol suddenly woke up and started attacking the game for once and it eventually paid off. Another former Imps striker equalised minutes after City had taken the lead for a shot from the penalty area. However, during his celebrations, Agogo pointed towards the City bench and shouted "WANKER" and did the masterbating motion with the hand. He was subsequenetly sent off. Thorpe also received a yellow card for discent.

However, like many other City games these days, the players gave up when they had the time to try and get more out of the game. Keith can moan as much as he wants about refs, such as the Southend or Chester games, we had a whole half to correct things but instead the players just gave up.

However, there was a mini cause for celebration when teenager, Jack Hobbs came on in stoppage time to become the youngest ever player to appear in a league game for the Imps.