Appropriately enough two goals at the North Stand end saw Town to victory and condemned Manchester City to Division One. Exactly a year ago today Town were condemning Walsall to the Second Division while City beat Blackburn Rovers to make Town go through the anguish of the play-offs once more as they entered the Premier League.

It was by no means an easy game and City fans can at least say that their side went down fighting. Town lined up with Marcus Stewart missing out. His thigh injury had beaten him, although he is likely to return for the match at Derby.

It was Richard Wright who was first in action when he saved a shot from what looked to be Danny Tiatto. City's shirts with white numbering on a light grey background made it tricky to tell who was who. Expect even more than the usual number of errors throughout this report.

Jermaine Wright had an effort which was equally easy for Carlo Nash at the other end. Town were having most of the possession but most of it was in the middle of the pitch. Danny Tiatto made a strong run down the left and played the ball into Wanchope. The Costa Rican hit a shot but it was straight at Richard Wright.

Town 'won' an absurd corner when a City defender miskick horribly on the halfway line and sent the ball out for the corner. The kick failed to make up for the oddness. Reuser didn't even try to hit the crossbar.

John McGreal headed wide from another of Reuser's numerous corners before a moment of controversy. Hermann Hreidarsson rose to head a corner goalwards but he missed ther target. Few appealed for a penalty in the ground but TV coverage showed that the Icelander had been very clearly pushed by Paulo Wanchope and Town ought to have had a spot-kick.

A few minutes later Hermann and Titus Bramble exchanged passes well and Bramble had a shot deflected wide when perhaps a pass to Matt Holland might have been a better option. A minute or so later Bramble hit a a curling shot saved by Nash.

Paulo Wanchope annoyed Town fans when he went in two-footed on Jim Magilton. Referee Lodge saw nothing malicious in the challenge despite the lengthy treatment to Magilton's leg. The Town midfielder reportedly had both his shinpads destroyed by the tackle and had cuts to both shins. Fortunately he was OK to carry on.

Richard Wright saved from Laurent Charvet, then Matt Holland volleyed over from a pass over the top from Martijn Reuser. In injury time Nash saved from Alun Armstrong as he was put through on goal by a Bramble tackle. Armstrong tried to play the ball low under Nash, but the keeper got himself in the way. Town had had by far the better of the first half but couldn't score the goal to emphasise their superiority.

At half-time City replaced Tony Grant with Goater. The Bermudan joined Wanchope up front as City chased the goal that would save them from relegation. Goater's appearance did seem to make a bit of a difference with City looking sharper after the break. Richard Wright made a bit of a change at half-time, he swapped his grey short for a yellow one. The referee obviously felt his shirt clashed with City's colours.

Town were tending to over-elaborate, but Reuser came close to getting on the end of a Jim Magilton pass. John McGreal headed wide from another Town corner. City felt further changes were necessary and Kennedy replaced Dickov.

Paulo Wanchope went nearer than anyone to a goal when he hit and overhead kick against a post. It was an impressive effort and City fans would have been rueing their luck.

Bramble came close to scoring when he missed a Reuser corner as it swung across the goal. John McGreal hit a shot which was saved by Nash. Matt Holland shot wide when in space on the left of the area. It was Jermaine Wright's go to have a shot next and he hit his powerfully, but wide.

City served a warning for Town in the 73rd minute. Substitute Clapham and Richard Wright got themselves in a bit of a mess and the keeper failed to hold on to the ball on the edge of the area. The ball bobbled free for a moment before it was wellied clear by the keeper.

Two minutes later and City were ahead. Paulo Wanchope hit a shot from the edge of the area, Richard Wright saved it but couldn't hold on, as he couldn't on a number of occasions. Shaun Goater was the first man to react and he slipped the ball home as Wright came in from one side and Bramble from the other. The City striker was injured in scoring the goal and was given lengthy treatment. Eventually he came off and was replaced by a defender, Spencer Prior. Joe Royle was signalling his intentions for the rest of the game.

Town hadn't really deserved to go behind but hadn't been clinical enough up front. The North Stand had enjoyed the second half in particular with songs about City ("Blue Moon, you got promoted too soon, now you're going back down and Europe's coming to Town", "You're going down with the North Stand") as well as requests for waves from the usual sources and a celebration of North Stand identity. The goal got the singing back on a more serious vein and within two minutes Town were back on terms.

Substitute Richard Naylor flicked on a Scowcroft header after a Bramble long ball. Matt Holland, arriving in a John Wark manner, hit the ball past Nash. The North Stand rose as one of their heroes put Town back on terms. A few choice numbers were sung to the City faithful as they once again appeared to be on the brink of relegation.

Only a few minutes later it was all over for City. Alun Armstrong was found in space on the right. He was allowed time to pick his moment and sent a corss into the box with the side of his boot. In dived Martijn Reuser to score the winner. Who more appropriate than Reuser to score the last goal in front of the North Stand than the Dutchman? Exactly the type of player the North loves to watch and idolise.

Town had a few more chances as time ran out for City. Naylor and Bramble both went close to adding a second from a Reuser cross. Naylor missed it and Bramble put the ball wide.

The whistle went and City were down and Town were still in with a Champions' League chance. Jean Tigana and Graeme Souness might examine the difference in approaches of the two teams after promotion. Town kept largely with the side they already had while City tried to bring in some big names and this failed to do the trick.

As the City fans gradually disappeared Town fans stayed in their seats as the Town squad took a lap of honour. The whole squad appeared to be there with Matt Holland, Hermann Hreidarsson and Martijn Reuser lagging behind as they attempted to shake hands with everyone in the Cobbold and North Stands. Fabian Wilnis threw a shirt into the crowd and Titus Bramble sought to kick a ball into the North. Unfortunately he got his toe under it and it hit the scoreboard. Hermann attempted to re-enact his celebration of Mark Burchill's goal against Bradford, although he stopped short of an actual dive. Perhaps he was wary of another £1500 fine.

The players continued round to the Britannia Stand and the North Stand sung Hermann's song. The night had ended perfectly for the Blues and are still in with a chance of the Champions' League. We exited the North Stand for the last time ecstatic at the result, but slightly sad at the end of an era. A fine last appearance for the North with a highly vocal and entertaining second half. Let's hope the new model will help keep up the same standard.

Wright, Makin, Hreidarsson (Clapham 62), Bramble, McGreal, Holland, J Wright (Naylor 70), Magilton, Reuser, Scowcroft, Armstrong.

Photo: Action Images

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