CITY 2 HULL CITY 0
Full Members Cup Area Final 2nd Leg
11th December 1985
Attendance 10,180
Scorers Phillips(24), Melrose(90)
Ref K Baker
City Nixon, Reid, Power, Clements, McCarthy, Phillips, Lillis, May, Davies, Mcllroy, Simpson – Subs Melrose(67), Moulden(unused)
Hull Norman, Jobson, Swann, Doyle, Skipper, McEwan, Williams, Bunn, Saville, Askew, Roberts
DAVID PHILLIPS EQUALISES THE AGGREGATE SCORES
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PATRICK BARCLAY WRITING IN THE GUARDIAN 12TH DECEMBER 1985
A goal in the 90th minute by Manchester City’s substitute, Jim Melrose, gave the Maine Road club a place in the first Full Mernbers’ Cup final, probably against Chelsea and possibly at Wembley. Assuming that the Londoners preserve a lead of three goals against Oxford next week, negotiations will start with a view to hiring the twin towers on March 9.
The second leg of a onesided northern area final against Hull. who had beaten the First Division side 2-1 at Boothferry Park, was about to enter extra time when Davies, provider of the cross that had enabled Phillips handsomely to head Manchester City level on aggregate in the first half, pulled the ball across goal for the slithering Melrose to force it home,
If matches were decided by chances Manchester City would have settled this one by half-time. A small but enthusiastic crowd saw their side, spurred on by Phillips and the restored Mcllroy, overrun Hull from the start. But they suffered from patchy finishing and the excellence of the visiting goalkeeper, Norman, who made a marvellous diving save from May, touched over a cunning header from Davies, and made less orthodox stops from Davies and McCarthy.
Phillips gave Norman little chance in the 24th minute. thundering in at the far post to plant home a flying header. But the second half saw Manchester City become anxious at times and they flirted with danger when Williams was allowed through only to carry the ball almost into Nixon’s arms.
Suddenly, and for the first time, play began to flow in both directions. Phillips twice went close to Norman’s goal; Williams brought another save from Nixon, Only a few seconds remained when a cross from Lillis gave the ever eager Davies an opening and with Norman scrambling along his line Melrose, who had replaced Simpson midway through the second-half, arrived to finish the job.