A three nil defeat and a sending off summed up City's exit from the FA Trophy. They rarely troubled Bastock in the Rushden goal as the brighter football came from the home side and left the Grecians to concentrate on the league.

Injury, suspension, players being rested and others given a start meant City were not at full strength. They lined up Jones, Tully, Richardson, Friend, Edwards, Carlisle, Gill, Cozic, Moxey, Logan, Stansfield.

City started brightly, Stansfield forcing a first minute corner and he would be a willing runner all afternoon. He soon won a free kick in a good position after being alert for a quick throw but City couldn't profit. On 6 minutes Edwards went on a nose bleed inducing run high up the pitch. Exchanging passes with Gill and Logan he found himself in space bearing down on the area. However, he failed to compose himself in time and defenders scrambled to block his effort for a corner. In between these bright moments though, the home side had threatened. Michael Rankine, who would give the back four a tough afternoon, flicked a header wide and former Oxford player Burgess volleyed over. Rankine soon got in behind the back four but Friend and Edwards recovered to get the ball away.

As the game settled Rushden started to gain the advantage. After Cozic for City, and Woodhouse for Rushden, were booked for fouls they started to push City back. Jones was called into action to save a header from a corner and Rushden then had a goal disallowed. In truth, it was a slick move that saw a ball played in behind Tully. When the cross came in it was cleared to the edge of the box where it was struck back in and hit the unfortunate Jackson lying in an offside position. He had the presence of mind to poke the ball home but the flag had already been raised. Jackson was soon in the action again as a punt from Bastock dropped to him 20 yards out but he could only drag his shot wide.

City did get forward a little but there was no fluency to their play. Carlisle was denied at the near post after Stansfield crossed and Gill sent a shot well wide but it was little surprise when Rushden opened the scoring just before the half hour. As players battled for the ball in midfield it was Lee Hales who picked up the loose ball. As he advanced he struck from 30 yards and, despite Jones flying to his left and getting a hand to the ball, could only help it on it's way into the top corner. A fine strike.

It soon could have been two. Woodhouse crossed from the right and a scramble at the near post eventually saw the ball pop up for Jones to smother. City did not seem to have an answer to Rushden's play, the defence was getting little protection and City weren't holding on to the ball when they had it. Jones flapped at a corner which Carlisle then mopped up and cleared but it was little respite as Burgess made it 2-0 before half time. It seemed City had chances to clear on the edge of their area but didn't. Burgess found the ball at his feet 20 yards out centrally and rifled a left foot drive beyond Jones' left hand to put the hosts in control.

In the final 5 minutes of the half City did try to create chances. Cozic shot over from distance and then harried well to force a corner. He was then fouled near the edge of the area but Carlisle's free kick sailed impotently over. As added time expired Rushden raided one more time. After Tully had missed a challenge on the edge of the home side's area they swept down the vacant right hand side but couldn't find the killer ball to truly settle the game.

The 147 away fans, amongst the 1098 hardy souls who braved the cold, saw City make one change at half time. Logan had been well contained by the Rushden centre halves and was replaced by Basham as City tried to salvage the game. The change had little impact as the play lacked any seeming urgency and pace from either side. Neither keeper was called into real action and the first notable thing to happen from a City viewpoint was the introduction just after the hour of Ryan Harley for his debut, replacing Moxey.

At the midway point in the half Stansfield and Gill combined to win another corner on the right. Moxey swung it in but Richardson, rising at the far post could only steer his header wide. Rushden then made their first change with the dangerous Tomlin being replaced by Kelly, and City then made their last switch with Sercombe coming on for Cozic.

As the game stretched a little it was tailor made for Rushden's top scorer Jackson to use his pace and find space. It was little surprise that he found this in the space that Tomlin had found much joy in on the left hand side. He set up Kelly who could only shoot straight at Jones and with 10 minutes to go was the central figure in City being reduced to ten men. As the ball broke across the field he nicked it through ahead of Richardson. Richardson's challenge was clearly for the ball but unfortunately only caught the man. Jackson would have been clean through with no cover in behind and referee Rushton gave Richardson his marching orders.

City moved to 3 at the back but never really got any where near getting back into the game. With three minutes remaining their abject afternoon was complete as Kelly, finding space in the penalty area, cut inside Tully and shot under Jones to complete the scoring. Rushden made their final changes to run the clock down including bringing on former Grecian Challinor, and City's final chance came courtesy of a well struck, but ultimately easily saved, Edwards free kick.

So, just a bad day at the office? Too many changes and lack of match action for some players to generate any fluency? Or did the performance show that we do not have the strength in depth to cope with injury and suspension? On the whole City seemed ineffectual going forward and light at the back. These shortcomings combined to give the home side the victory they deserved.

But it's back to the bread and butter of league action next weekend in a televised Sunday night game at home to Oxford. Seaborne will be available after suspension and should return, as will Andy Taylor, rested today which should provide some more steel. Blue Square player of the month for December, Jamie Mackie should also be there to receive his award. City need to forget this performance and move on as they face a tough set of games in the second half of the month which could see them gain ground on their play off contenders. As I said, it starts next Sunday and know you'll want to be there to se it happen.