On the face of it a draw for our reserves against a non league team's second string is a very poor outcome, but there were mitigating circumstances behind the result.
Firstly, Weymouth fielded a side which contained a smattering of experienced ex Football leage players like Trevor Challis (ex Yeovil and Bristol Rovers), Jason Tindall (ex Bournemouth) and Richard Logan (ex Ipswich and Boston). Second, the City team and substitutes consisted of Kevin Copper and fifteen teenagers - in fact, apart from Cooper, Mark Howard, Joe Jacobson and, possibly, Jamal Easter everyone in the City squad could still be playing for the Academy Under 18 team!
The point about the age of the City squad was further emphasised by the fact that the three substitutes who came on (Sam Wade, Jon Brown and Aaron Ramsey) were all in the Wales team that won the Under 16 Victory Shield last season - Ramsey is eligible to play in that tournament this season as well. Although Wade should have scored with his first touch, all three of the substitutes showed up well in a match which had everything but goals.
Three days ago, I watched Wales play out a goalless draw in the Under 21 International with Turkey, that it was a good 0-0 draw with plenty of goalmouth action, well that description applied even more to this afternoon's game.
In the first half Corcoran headed just wide, Chunounsee missed a good chance, McCoubrey had a shot well saved and Blake had a goal dubiously ruled out for offside, but Weymouth were definitely the better team as they missed good chances, hit the woodwork and forced a fine point blank save from Howard.
If Weymouth's size and strength had helped them dominate the first half, then City's speed and superior stamina meant that they edged the second period - in saying that, the visitors hit the woodwork again, had a goal disallowed, forced some good saves out of Howard and there were some frantic scrambles in the City box. However City looked the more likely winners as the minutes went by with McCoubrey hitting the post, Wade being foiled by the keeper, Easter going close and some very close offside decisions going against them in the closing stages.
Defeat would have been harsh on Weymouth though and a draw was the right outcome in a well fought game in which there were no yellow cards shown.
On a personal note, although I have no complaints about the quality of football I have been watching this season, another 0-0 means that in the six games I have attended this season I have seen a grand total of eight goals scored - what odds do you think I could get on City beating Luton 4-3 in eleven days time?