CITY 3 Watford 1
Football League Division 2
12th November 1988
Attendance 21,142
Scorers
CityMoulden(59), Biggins(65 & 82)
Watford Porter(41)
Ref John Watson
City Dibble, Seagraves, Hinchcliffe, Gayle, Brightwell, Redmond, White, Moulden, Morley, McNab, Biggins – subs Beckford(unused), Bradshaw(unused)
Watford Coton, Gibbs, Falconer, Jackett, Miller, McClelland, Hodges, Wilkinson, Bamber, Porter, Holden – subs Sherwood, Sherwood(79), Holdsworth(83)
WAYNE BIGGINS SCORES A BRACE
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS PINK FINAL 12TH NOVEMBER 1988
Leading scorer Paul Moulden’s eighth goal of the season dragged Manchester City back into an explosive Maine Road Second Division summit meeting today.
Moulden’s goal, the first by a City striker in seven League games, wiped out the 41st minute lead Gary Porter had given Watford with a controversial free kick.
It was no more than the battling Blues deserved as they put up a constant bombardment. But trouble loomed for classy left back Andy Hinchcliffe, whose 43rd minute booking, his sixth of the season, means an automatic three match ban.
… But Wayne Biggins brought a smile back to City faces with a goal in the 65th minute.
City, standing by the side that drew at Leicester, built up impressively from the start.
Gayle’s clearance found Morley, Biggins took over and his pass provided space for White to cut in from the right and finish with a low shot straight at Coton.
Watford hit back and when Redmond lost possession Gayle cleared After Wilkinson Had driven the ball In from the left. But with nine minutes gone City carved out the clearest chance So far.
McNab’s determination saw him Win possession on the edge of the Watford area and He intelligently sent his pass wide to the left. Brightwell drove a cross in low But moulden failed to connect on the edge of the six yard box and Miller hastily cleared.
City maintained their superiority And Coton Was again called into action to field a tantalising high cross by Brightwell.
The 20th minute saw yet another swift City raid with McNab and Biggins linking up before Hinchcliffe took over on the left. The fullback crossed to the near post and Moulden rose majestically to put a header narrowly over the bar.
Most of the city danger was emerging from the left with Hinchcliffe again doing the damage as he dragged the ball back with Jacket clearing anxiously
Moulden and the lively Morley traded passes and Coton again had to leap to Watford’s rescue.
Watford came under more pressure from a series of corners as rampant City dominated the game.
It seemed City must take the lead as Watford continued to hang on grimly.
The Blues went agonisingly close in the 28th minute when Gayle again providing the inspiration following the pass from defence Moulden and White exchanged passes on the right and the winger’s cross fell to Brightwell but, somehow, Coton smothered the attempt.
The Watford keeper made an even more incredible save in the 24th minute. McNab’s free kick found Hinchcliffe unmarked in space, the left back drove in a wicked pile-driver that Coton somehow parried at the foot of the post.
White, watched by England under-21 manager Dave Sexton, was having a fine match and he again put the visitors under pressure. Somehow, Watford struck back to take the lead with Porter driving in a free kick after White had fouled Holden on the edge of the penalty area.
City’s problems did not end there, Biggins was booked for advancing on the free kick and three minutes before half time there were even bigger problems with Hinchcliffe given the yellow card, a caution that takes him over 21 points to face a three match suspension a fortnight from today.
Watford’s Hodges was booked in the same incident with the referee threatening to lose control of a potentially explosive match.
Half-time: City 0 Watford 1
City’s torment continued in the second half when Moulden, from an excellent position shot straight at Coton in the 46th minute.
60 seconds later a fierce Hinchcliffe cross was headed over his own bar by Falconer and from the corner Hinchcliffe provided further problems for Watford. His menacing inswinger found the head of Morley and his superb effort saw Coton make a flying leap to his left to save.
However, City finally achieved the breakthrough with an equaliser in the 59th minute, McNab’s short free kick saw Hinchcliffe follow through with a thundering low drive, Moulden got the vital deflection to beat Coton.
City finally took the lead in the 65th minute. It was richly deserved reward for a breathtaking buildup and clinical finish. McNab swept the ball wide to the right, White outpaced Falconer and inches from the line crossed accurately for Biggins to arch himself majestically and score with a soaring header in this classy and enthralling match.
However, a further booking for City put a damper on the party with Morley given a yellow card after elbowing Miller.
City had certainly made a spirited comeback to grasp the lead in a bitter and bad tempered match not helped by inconsistent refereeing.
In the 79th minute, Watford tried to Pep up their challenge, bringing on Sherwood for Jackett But eight minutes from the end City wrapped up the points with a goal that was a carbon copy of the second. White romped down the wing and from the line crossed to the near post where Biggins again, got up superbly to beat Coton with a delicate, glancing header…