Matchday Memories: On This Day 2013 – Mark’s Men Beat Blades At Bramall Thanks To Leon’s Brace
Leon celebrates
On this first day of February 2013 two goals from Sky Blue striker Leon Clarke gave the Sky Blues an invaluable three points against a promotion hopeful at Sheffield United‘s Bramall Lane ground in front of a crowd of 17,511.
CCFC’s ‘gafffer’ Mark Robins had made a couple of changes to the side that drew at Preston North End the previous weekend by returning both Gary McSheffrey and Stephen Elliott (both now CCFPA members) to the side at the expense of John Fleck and James Bailey and both returnees had useful games!
The first of Leon’s brace came after just fourteen minutes with a typical poacher’s finish. Although the Blades’ Dave Kitson levelled for the hosts with seventeen minutes of the game left the home team were left stunned with just three minutes to go when Leon completed his brace in the 87th minute to net his fifth goal in the last six games.
Carl Baker happy as the final whistle blows
The visitors had dominated the first half and it was two minutes before the hour before the home team made their first effort on goal thanks to sub. Jonathan Forte who’s effort was saved at the second attempt by City’s ‘keeper Joe Murphy.
The Blades got better as the second period progressed culminating in Kitson’s leveller after 73 minutes who powered a header past Joe from a Barry Robson corner. The big Blades striker spurned a good chance to win the game just before, with three minutes left, (now CCFPA member) Franck Moussa picked up a ball in the final third and fired goalbound from 25 yards. Long parried his effort straight into the grateful path of the Sky Blue striker who grabbed his winning second to send the 1,477 members of the Sky Blue Army, mostly seated behind the goal, into complete delerium.
City even had a couple of chances spurned by subs (now CCFPA member) Conor Thomas and Steven Jennings to make the winning margin more emphatic before the final whistle blew move the Sky Blues to within a point of the top six. A contemporary match report including comments from a disbelieving Blades’ ‘gaffer’ Danny Wilson can be found here.
Manager Mark
Mark’s Men lined up as follows (CCFPA members underlined):-
Michael Doyle CCFC skipper
George Long, Neill Collins, Jamie Murphy (sub. Barry Robson -71), Danny Higginbotham, Tony McMahon, Harry Maguire, Ryan Flynn, Michael Doyle (c), Chris Porter (sub. Jonathan Forte -55), Kevin McDonald and Dave Kitson Unused Subs: Darryl Westlake, Richard Cresswell, Joe Ironside, Diego De Giromalo and Danny Coyne (gk) Referee: Chris Sarginson
The Sky Blues finished in a reasonably comfortable below mid table position (fifteenth) despite having ten points deducted in March for going into administration. The deduction only cost them two places. The Blades finished in fifth within the play-off zone but failed to make progress this season.
CCFC 2012-13 (between Thorn & Robin
By the time the 2012-13 season had ended Mark Robins had left for Huddersfield Town and former Sky Blue (now CCFPA member) Steven Pressley had taken charge and it was his team that finished the season in thirteenth spot in Division One. However, as our ten point penalty was deducted at the end of March we slipped to fifteenth.
Doncaster Rovers (Champions), runners up Bournemouth and, after the playoffs, fourth placed Yeovil Town were all promoted.
The relegated quartet were (in descending order) Scunthorpe United, Bury, Hartlepool United and bottom club Portsmouth.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.
