City rue the goal that never was

Instead he suffered a terrifying flashback as the spectre of missing out on the play-offs looms larger.

Good Friday? A flamin’ horrible one for City more like.

For 55 minutes it had gone so well. City were leading and cruising – and complaining bitterly that a second goal, from Peter Thorne, had been chalked off.

Then Morecambe – and lightning – struck twice. And by Monday, when Lincoln come to Valley Parade, City could be four points off that seventh spot if Chesterfield beat Darlington today.

City had settled into their stride straight away and were on top in the opening skirmishes.

Joe Colbeck, back on the right wing, was into the action from the off with two decent crosses. Graeme Lee nodded the first over and David Artell just managed to clear the second from the head of the waiting Peter Thorne.

Having struggled to get out of their half for ten minutes, Morecambe created a moment of discomfort. Rene Howe shrugged off Luke O’Brien too easily and his low cross at the near post was palmed out by Rhys Evans before Paul McLaren whacked clear.

Sammy McIlroy’s programme notes warned City not to expect any respect from his side. But there was a hunger and edge about the visitors’ early play; an approach summed up by Thorne’s ambitious chip from 30 yards out.

But you could see why Morecambe have kept so many clean sheets in recent games. Whenever City had the ball, the two wing-backs tucked in defensively to make up a five-man backline.

Morecambe had a half-hearted shout for hand ball when Lee blocked Stuart Drummond before the skipper got enough of a touch on Howe’s through ball aimed at Wayne Curtis to allow Matt Clarke to clear.

Colbeck was booked for a mistimed challenge before setting up Chris Brandon for an effort from the edge of the box that was deflected wide. Unfortunately, the standard of City’s corners in the first half hour let them down.

City, though, were still hoovering up the majority of loose balls in midfield and showing an extra zip in their game that was certainly not there in the last away outing at Chester.

It felt more like a City home game with the number of Bantams fans around the ramshackle ground, though a good proportion of them were getting wet in the appropriately-named Carwash stand.

They were nearly singing in the rain on the half hour as Mullin came within a whisker of his first goal for the club.

The on-loan targetman cleverly left Colbeck’s cross for Thorne to turn and latch on to his partner’s flick-on. Suddenly he had a sight of goal but keeper Barry Roche just got enough on his well-struck cross-shot to turn it past the far post.

Within seconds, City went close again as Thorne seized on an error by centre back Jim Bentley but whipped the loose ball wide from 12 yards.

Evans was forced into proper action for the first time on 32 minutes with a regulation catch from Garry Hunter’s header. But it was against the tide as City continued to ask questions – and got their answer five minutes later.

Roche conceded a cheap corner when he fumbled Colbeck’s sliced cross. And how City made him pay for the error.

Law’s dead-ball delivery was much better and Clarke met it with a decisive header into the bottom corner.

It was no more than City deserved, though no doubt a few minds were cast back to their last visit when another centre half, Mark Bower, had scored first before Morecambe hit back to snatch it at the death.

Their top scorer, Howe, tried to instigate some kind of response before half-time but, despite a few nice touches around the box, his attempted curler looped harmlessly into the mass of City fans behind the goal.

The supporters were certainly in great voice as the whistle sounded. They had witnessed the side’s most impressive 45 minutes away from home since Gillingham way back in January and it looked comfortable.

McCall, too, would have been pleased but knew the job was only half done. No doubt the message about what happened here 18 months earlier would have been rammed home in the dressing room.

O’Brien began the second half with a really forceful run down the left flank, working with Mullin to win City an immediate corner. And City were convinced they had a second goal from it.

Thorne met Law’s kick with a powerful low header which Roche fumbled on his line – and appeared to let the ball roll behind it.

The players and fans were certainly adamant that it had gone in and started to celebrate but referee Nigel Miller looked to his assistant to make sure and when no confirmation was forthcoming, he allowed play to go on.

A goal at that moment could have killed off Morecambe but City were not knocked out of their stride and another drive forward from O’Brien ended with a crude foul from David Artell, who was rightly booked.

Next it was Law’s turn to eat up yards and his deep cross was headed downwards by Mullin but this time Roche made a cleaner save.

Even Zesh Rehman got upfield, although Mullin could not get any direction on his header from Colbeck’s resulting cross.

But then, having hardly threatened, Morecambe hit back with a sucker punch after 56 minutes.

Danny Adams drilled a ball towards the far post where Stewart Drummond rose well to thump the ball beyond the stretching Evans.

It was harsh on City, especially considering the contentious “no goal” just before, and they faced a test of character to lift the game again.

The supporters were temporarily stunned as Morecambe started to come more into it, Neil Wainwright shooting wide after a decent move down the left.

Lee had to be alert to cut out a Howe cross before Evans carefully clutched a lob above his head. Howe went much closer when he sprung the offside trap, cut past Clarke and squeezed a shot towards the near post which Evans turned away with a strong hand.

It was a very different game since the equaliser. Morecambe had a spring in their step while City, totally in control up to the goal, were now defending for their lives.

Wainwright found himself in loads of room out wide but overhit his cross, then Michael Twiss whistled one a few inches over City’s bar. Colbeck delivered an inviting ball across the other goalmouth but nobody was in there to capitalise.

McCall made his first change with 18 minutes left as Michael Boulding replaced Thorne – a decision which was greeted with a few boos.

But before the sub had touched the ball, City found themselves behind to a stunning goal. Howe had not scored for two months but he ended his duck in spectacular fashion, City backing off to allow him to keep advancing and then let fly from 25 yards with a rocket that flew beyond Evans.

Now City had it all to do and McCall introduced Steve Jones for the quiet Brandon. Then Law made way for Lee Bullock.

The silence that descended over at least half the ground spoke volumes as City tried to come again.

They almost got an equaliser with four minutes left when a cross bounced up invitingly for Jones ghosting in at the far post. But his header was poor and he glanced wide – it was a gilt-edged chance gone begging.

City now need a big favour from Darlington at Saltergate.