Report | Ten-man City hit by late blow

Ten-man City succumbed to a stoppage time goal to lose 4-3 at Uxbridge.

There was a strong challenge on Ed Williams within the opening seconds which left the City man in need of treatment and the home player booked.

Backed by a large travelling contingent, our first sight of goal saw Elis Watts feed Kane Simpson who fired over on his debut.

Within minutes Simpson had opened his City scoring account when he tapped home at the far post after King Baidoo showed great pace out wide before pulling the ball back from the by-line to set the chance up on a plate for the new boy.

After appeals for a penalty were waved away following a foul on Watts, a teasing cross from Baidoo found the head of Joe Hanks but he was unable to guide the ball goalwards.

The home side had threatened little until a misplaced header allowed them to break into the box where Michael O’Regan brought down Nnams Nwachuku to win a penalty for the hosts, which found the net from Frank Keita despite Jared Thompson diving the right way.

A neat move saw a chance open up for Harry Pinchard who curled just over the crossbar as we approached the half-hour mark.

An effort from Liam Prior-Tuck flashed wide for the hosts, shortly after Williams was forced out of the action for City having picked up a knock. He was replaced by Marcus Day.

There was a smart save from Thompson as the home side upped the pressure as half-time approached. As the ball stayed alive inside the area, it ended with Harry Rush going close.

We were able to regain the lead in the 37^th minute when Baidoo did well to win the ball back and then show quick feet before firing the ball home just under the crossbar with the aid of a slight deflection that took it away from the ‘keeper.

A late challenge from Ben Richards-Everton earned him a yellow card in the closing stages of the opening period as the hosts went close when Kai Hobbs put an inviting low ball across the face of goal and then Keita went close with a low effort.

In stoppage time at the end of the half, City were reduced to ten men when Richard-Everton picked up his second yellow card in conceding a penalty which Keita this time fired well over.

With Daniel Leadbitter on for Hanks for the second half, we had to soak up the pressure in the opening exchanges as the home side looked to make their extra man count in their quest to get back into the game.

As the rain lashed down, a sublime ball from Pinchard set Baidoo off in chase but he was unable to profit as his strike was saved by the ‘keeper.

Some alert defensive work from Leadbitter thwarted out hosts who then went on to win a free-kick in a promising position that Thompson was able to save without too many problems.

A break from Keita saw him work his way into the area but City were able to clear the danger as we continued to work hard and defend resolutely.

The home side eventually grabbed a leveller on 64 minutes as Hobbs set up Keita who made no mistake as the offside flag stayed down and he was able to fire home to give Thompson little chance.

In the wake of the goal, Joe Lawal went close with an effort as the hosts sensed a chance to go ahead.

With a number of decisions going against us, we were having to roll our sleeves up and battle even harder.

There were a couple of changes for City with 20 minutes to go as Watts and Simpson were replaced by Aaron Wildig and Sopuruchukwu Obieri, but within moments we fell behind for the first time in the afternoon as Nwachuku was able to turn the ball home after the home side seized upon a loose pass.

A free-kick in a good position from Pinchard was deflected inches wide of the target and then from the corner that followed, the home side were forced to scramble clear for another flag-kick, which came to nothing.

There was an opening for Obieri who went close with his strike as we entered the final 15 minutes, but the leveller did eventually arrive on 82 minutes when Pinchard found the net with a well-taken strike from around 25 yards out that went in off the post.

It was a bit of magic from Pinchard to make it 3-3 against opponents who went into the game having drawn seven of their 13 games.

Right at the death, Dylan Jones did well to set himself up from a strike at goal that went close, but the hosts went down the other end and snatched a dramatic winner as substitute, Ada Okorogheye, was allowed to cut inside and then get in a strike that went under Thompson to put the hosts ahead once more as they took all three points in dramatic fashion.

CITY | J. Thompson, Jones, Roberts, O’Regan, Williams (Day 28), Watts (Wildig 69), Hanks (Leadbitter 46), Richards-Everton, Pinchard (Spence 87), Baidoo, Simpson (Obieri 69). Subs not used: -

Goal(s): Simpson (8), Baidoo (37), Pinchard (82)