Review of Season 2008-09
by Ken Milgate

Unibond First Division North

August

City kicked off life in the Unibond with an away point at Skelmersdale United despite missing a penalty and inspired keeping by the hosts’ Ryan McMahon.
A midweek home win over Wakefield made it four points out of six when Steven Richardson finally beat yet another goalkeeper on top of his game, Andy Woods, with a low close-range shot.
There were chances galore in a goalless home fixture against Colwyn Bay, the assistant referee with the yellow flag adamant that Gavin Cogdon’s shot did not cross the line on 72minutes despite partisan claims to the contrary from behind the goal.
City again failed to find the back of the net at Halifax Town, but a makeshift City side with Lee Chapman and Jimmy Farrell up front were good value for their point in front of a thousand plus vociferous crowd.

September

City remained unbeaten and moved into sixth in the table with a 2-0 home victory against Trafford before running out comfortable 3-0 winners in a midweek fixture at Garforth Town, Gavin Cogdon crowning a five-minute cameo by holding off several defenders before thundering a shot past the hapless keeper.
The away game at Radcliffe Borough was abandoned after twenty minutes because a home player collapsed on the field and had to be rushed to hospital.
A John Toft goal secured a home win over Harrogate RA, the three points putting the Citizens one point behind leaders, Bamber Bridge, with a game in hand.

October

Cup commitments meant City played no League games this month.

November

City returned to League duty with a 3-1 away win at Chorley before an Adam Johnston hat-trick helped City complete the double over their guests, Garforth Town.
Two quality goals sealed an efficient victory at Warrington Town but at the price of an injury to Gavin Cogdon late in the game.

December

Trailing 4-0 at home to Mossley after half an hour, City were spared the humiliation of their first League defeat when referee, Paul Brown, abandoned the match five minutes before the break because of worsening icy conditions underfoot.
City beat Warrington Town 4-1 thanks largely to the midfield composure of David Duke and the silky ball skills of cold-victim Tommy English.
A home draw in the derby against Newcastle Blue Star (2-2) allowed City to remain unbeaten in the Unibond First Division North in 2008.

January

On New Year’s Day City surrendered a 2-0 half-time lead to share the points away to Newcastle Blue Star but triumphed 3-0 at home to Ossett Albion, an Adam Johnston brace helping City to stretch their unbeaten record in the League.
A scintillating display by City earned a 5-0 victory at Bamber Bridge, but it took a late Stephen Capper penalty to seal a January double at the home of Ossett Albion.
A slack City performance accounted for a 3-3 draw at Lancaster City, the result overshadowing a well-taken Mattie Moffat hat-trick.

February

Aiden Vout and Stewart Morris were the unlikely heroes in City’s 3-2 home win against Bamber Bridge, the former’s agility in goal and the latter’s sharp finishing bagging all three points in an otherwise ragged and disjointed City performance.
A Monday Night 3-1win at Clitheroe Town saw Mattie Moffat, Tommy English and Gavin Cogdon on the score sheet.
A stunning strike from Shaun Bell was enough to give City all three points at Salford before Chorley went down 3-1 at the Arnott Stadium as City extended their unbeaten run to twenty one League games.
A far from convincing 1-1 draw at Rossendale United and a late flourish to earn a 3-3 draw at Trafford pegged back a faltering City.

March

City finally surrendered their unbeaten Unibond First Division North record after seven months and twenty five games at Station View, the home of Harrogate RA before drawing 1-1 at home to fellow promotion-challengers, Colwyn Bay, largely thanks to Craig Turns and John Toft.
A 4-2 reverse at Radcliffe Borough further dented City’s promotion drive before a win against Salford and a goalless draw against Skelmersdale United saw City return to their early season form.
A Steven Richardson hat-trick hallmarked a comfortable win over Radcliffe Borough before two more points were lost at Wakefield.

April

City started the final month of the season with a 1-0 defeat at Curzon Ashton before a crackerjack performance by Lewis Dodds accounted for a 3-1win at home to Clitheroe.
A 6-0 rout of Lancaster City was followed by a 2-2 home draw with Curzon Ashton, Phil Edgehill equalizing in the third minute of stoppage time.
Another Steven Richardson hat-trick helped City to a superb five goal victory over Woodley Sports before a superb 2-0 win at Colwyn Bay set up a nail-biting last week of the season.
A Tommy English hat-trick completed City’s home fixtures with a 6-1 win over Mossley before City played their final game at Woodley Sports knowing a win would guarantee a second successive Championship.
Trailing 3-1 at half time, City staged a magnificent recovery with another Steven Richardson hat-trick to end the season as Division North Champions and in promotion to the Unibond Premier League.
Review of Season 2008-09
by Ken Milgate

Cup Competitions

Cleator Cup

City left it late courtesy of a Gavin Cogdon winner to win early silverware after John Alexander had given the Teessiders an early lead before Steven Richardson restored parity.

FA Cup

City ran out convincing 5-0 winners at West Auckland in the Preliminary Round, playing in the process quality free-flowing football with Lewis Dodds pulsating at the heart of midfield and Calvin Smith, Stewart Morris, Tommy English twice and David Tait finding the back of the net.

Ashington were to concede six at home to City in the First Qualifying Round, the home side succumbing to the slick passing skills and resolute defending of City in general and the intricate set-up play of Tommy English in particular as he tormented the Colliers all afternoon. Goals came via John Toft twice, Steven Richardson, Tommy English, Martin Houlahan and Stewart Morris.

City cruised into the Second Qualifying Round, effectively wrapping up a 4-0 victory against Rossendale United in just over half an hour with the pace of Steven Richardson and John Toft combined with the constant menace of Gavin Cogdon too much for the visitors. John Toft, Steven Richardson twice and Adam Johnston got their names on the score sheet.

City turned a fourth-minute reverse into a 6-0goal rout at Stalybridge Celtic’s, Bower Fold to record a famous victory and move one game nearer Round One of the competition. Gavin Cogdon scored a perfect hat-trick (a header and a goal with each foot), Steven Richardson twice and John Toft completing the scoring.

City left it until the last minute of normal playing time to gain a just reward for some excellent football when Calvin Smith flung himself at a John Toft right-wing cross to equalize with a flying header and earn a midweek trip to Histon and the chance to meet League opponents in the First Round Proper.

A rain-soaked Cambridgeshire pitch proved City’s downfall as the hosts adapted their play better to the conditions under foot and ran out 5-2 winners, Adam Johnston and Gavin Cogdon replying for City.

Victory would have seen City entertain Leeds United!

PC Unibond President’s Cup

Despite many playing out of position, City scraped a 2-1 home victory against Garforth Town through a combination of good fortune and gritty determination with goals from Steven Richardson and Tommy English.

City went out of the competition with a 4-2 defeat at home to Newcastle Blue Star with goals from John Toft and a visiting defender.
Unibond League Cup

Goals from John Toft and substitute Tommy English earned City a 2-0 First Round away win at Harrogate RA as Lee Collings chose to rest key players from his starting line-up.

Despite two late goals and a seemingly close score line (3-2), City deserved no less than exit at Sheffield FC from a Cup Competition that seemed to interest them little on the night until it was too late, goals from Adam Johnston and Tommy English accounting for City’s successes.

FA Carlsberg Trophy

A last minute equalizer by Michael Norton cancelled out Tommy English’s 32-minute opener in this Preliminary Round fixture, but City were successful on their travels in the replay with goals by Calvin Smith and Tommy English sealing a 2-1 victory.

City conceded two late goals in the First Qualifying Round at home to Halesowen Town in a 4-4 draw with Tommy English, Calvin Smith, Steven Richardson and Adam Johnston on target, but a single strike by Steven Richardson earned victory in the Midlands in the replay.

City defended bravely and resolutely in the closing ten minutes to defend their well-deserved lead at Marine and progress in the Competition, achieving a resounding victory against the side second in the League above. Adam Johnston and Gavin Cogdon were City’s marksmen.

City reached the First Round of the Trophy for only the third time when they pulled off a magnificent 2-1 win at Solihull Moors, two leagues above them in the pyramid system. Adam Johnston and Gavin Cogdon scored for City.

City made it through to the next round after a superb 2-0 victory over Conference North outfit Harrogate Town at the Arnott Stadium with resolute defending and luxurious skills on the ball, taking City into the last thirty two of the Competition. Michael Laws and Adam Johnston ensured the victory.

At home to Southport, City played some neat football in the first half, paid for a moment of slackness early in the second half, but rallied with an injection of pace to earn a replay with an Adam Johnston goal.

However, the Citizens bowed out to Southport’s long ball game in a 3-1 defeat with Ian Dixon replying for City.

Durham Challenge Cup

Wearside League Boldon CA were no match for City as they suffered a 10-0 defeat at the Arnott Stadium, Nathan Fisher scoring a hat-trick, both Adam Johnston and Gavin Cogdon notching a brace and Calvin Smith, John Toft and Stewart Morris scoring one a piece.

Darlington RA proved much tougher opponents in the next round, and with the lottery of a penalty shoot-out barely six minutes away, the match was finally settled when the hapless Max Ripley turned a Tommy English drive into his own net.

After two attempts to stage the tie had fallen victim to the weather, the game against Dunston Federation was switched to the Arnott Stadium, Adam Johnston scoring the only game with only four minutes of extra time remaining.

City reached the final with a 2-1 win at Consett’s Belle Vue Stadium with a late Steven Richardson goal in a forgettable game as far as entertainment value was concerned, a Curry own goal being City’s equalizer to Adam Emson’s opener.

Billingham Synthonia’s James Magowan ended City’s hopes of victory in what proved to be a contentious final in terms of venue and refereeing.

Unibond League Chairman’s Cup

In a highly entertaining game on a fast rain-swept playing surface, City marginally shaded the Unibond First Division South Champions, Retford United, to lift the cup thanks to goals by Tommy English and Lewis Dodds.

Peter Swales Memorial Challenge Shield

City went down 2-1 to Blue Square-bound Eastwood Town, an injury-time goal by Mattie Moffat the only consolation for a depleted City squad.