Matchday Memories: On This Day 2005 – CCFC’s CBJ Scores To Secure Seagulls Stalemate
Sky Blue Manager Micky
On this day (17th September) in 2005 the Sky Blues under former CCFC defender (and now CCFPA member) Micky Adams were well into their Championship season and had only secured one league win in their first eight games (though had lost only once too)! Today they travelled to the south coast to take on a team a couple of places lower than CCFC’s seventeenth spot with some hope of grabbing at least a draw at Brighton. That’s what they duly achieved, a 2-2 stalemate!
Stephen Hughes in Sky Blue action
There was a crowd of only 6,529 present at a sunny Withdean (a gate that would prove to be the lowest of the season). Missed chances and poor defending cost Micky’s men a victory they deserved and badly needed. Things began well for City when six minutes before half-time the Seagull’s defender Paul McShane turned a cross from (now CCFPA member) Stephen Hughes into the Brighton net to give City the advantage at the interval. It only took five minutes of the second period for a Brighton equaliser from Leon Knight.
However, the Sky Blues quickly replied a minute later with a neat header from now Association member and former CCFPA committee member Claus Bech Jorgensen.
CBJ in the Sky Blues away strip
City’s 2-1 lead only lasted eight minutes, sadly, before Sky Blues’ ‘keeper Stephen Bywater failed to deal with a curling cross and Andy Whing also failed to clear allowing sub. Colin Kazim-Richards to net the Seagull’s second equaliser, and 2-2 it stayed despite ‘Dele Adebola and James Scowcroft (both now CCFPA members) squandering chances – two points lost rather than a point gained!
The graphic below sourced by former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson gives all the match facts and the BBC Sport’s contemporary match report which includes comments from both managers.
Dennis Wise in the Sky Blue
Early in February 2006 the Sky Blues did a better job at their new Ricoh home beating Brighton, who were in the relegation zone by then, by two clear goals both scored by Dennis Wise who was making a late career cameo for the Sky Blues at season’s end. The Seagulls slipped further and finished bottom of the Championship. They were relegated along with Crewe Alexandra and Millwall. The Sky Blues end of season push with three wins in the last four games was not enough to get them anywhere near the play-off places and Micky’s men had to settle for eighth spot!
CCFC 2005-06
Reading took the Championship title with a massive 106 points only losing twice all season. Runners up Sheffield United also accompanied them up to the Premier League along with third placed Watford via the playoffs.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for the images.
