Any Romance Stays in Leicester

Peter Gilbert 6.1.01

At half time we were cursing, it was cold, Birchie's penalty shoot out is an absolute bore and the only lively figure in sight was the York City mascot......a lion. What's happened to Filbert the Fox? He seems dull and listless these days. Is he all right or has Vicky upset him? Their romance and his lust for life seems like a thing of the past.

Ah romance.......tell me about it.

Well there is a certain amount of romance attached to football, and the romance of the FA Cup, especially in Round 3, is one of the things that makes the world go round. The York fans were seeking a romantic conclusion to this game but in the end they would have found more by staying home reading a Barbara Cartland novel. The 'Minster Men' however were there in force and for the third time this season Filbert Street was treated to a rendition of the song from those parts 'Yorkshire Yorkshire' that is the title the verses and the chorus all rolled into one.

As for Leicester City fans, well we were more concerned about banana skins than romance and the sight of Gerry Taggart driving away from the ground at 2.30 pm was not encouraging.........I would have thought he might have watched the game and offered some support to his team mates.....he obviously had another more pressing engagement.

Back to half time........it might have been dull, and cold but in the Leicester City dressing room you could smell the roasting that was taking place. Once again Leicester had not come flying out of the starting blocks (an under statement if I ever heard one) indeed it could or even should have been the visitors who were in the lead as they had spurned two gilt edged opportunities to take the lead, both after sloppy work in the Leicester midfield where Jones was guilty of several miscues.

At the start of the second half Oakes and Cresswell came on to replace Gilchrist and Akinbiyi and magically the game was transformed. In the first 45 mins. the visiting 'keeper had made a couple of leisurely saves and his defenders had cleared a few corners but nothing really ruffled them.

In the second half Oakes combined well with Guppy and tortured the opposition, Cresswell with a point to prove looked lively and went very close with a header follwing an Oakes cross. In truth he should have scored but somehow the writing was on the wall and it came as no surprise when Gary Rowett opened his goal account with a neat side footed effort that was placed meticulously through flailing legs on the goal line.

Minutes later Benjamin was upended for a penalty which Izzett converted with ease.

In between times Guppy had a goal disallowed for reasons that I don't know and the referee didn't spot as he was on his way back to the half way line when the York players pointed out the raised flag.

Great work by Savage and Impey down the right saw Cresswell dive at the ball and launch it into the back of the net. My forecast of 6-0 looked on the cards with 18 mins to play but it wasn't to be.

Leicester remained in total control and the York players found their game plan of 'get behind the ball' in tatters; an inevitability after our first goal. They played with spirit and verve in a manner that was befitting of the support that had accompanied them.

But in the twilight as we all walked back to our cars with thoughts of hot stew and dumplings on our minds the honours were with the Premiership side and the Minster Men must wait till next season before they can revisit their 'Pre-Cup Match Ritual' of training on the beach at Filey in the morning and enjoying a lunch of with fish and chips before travelling back.

Now.......what tasty treat will we have in store in Round 4 - I wonder?

Leicester City Player Analysis.

Royce: Did everything exactly right, made a number of good saves and was more commanding in the box.

Rowett: Capped a fine all round performance with an excellently taken goal.

Elliott: Immaculate

Gilchrist: Only subbed off because there was no defending for him to do.

Impey: Very good all afternoon, put in some great crosses.

Guppy: Taunted and teased the defence, this is more like it Gupps. Had a great goal disallowed.

Jones: He's not quite worked out what he should be doing, has a lot to learn, improved in second half.

Savage: Well done boyo.

Izzett: A class act who took them apart in the second half.

Akinbiyi: Ran about a lot to little effect.

Benjamin: As above.

Subs

Oakes: Changed the game when he came on.

Cresswell: A really good performance could have had a hat trick.

Delaney: Looked fine to me.

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