Vince makes Jordan wince

BRISTOL City's promotion charge went off the rails amid controversy at Meadow Lane yesterday.

Vinny Arkins scrambled home County's first goal midway through the second half but the City camp were adamant the ball didn't cross the line.

Defender Darren Barnard was booked for arguing with a linesman, as City boss Joe Jordan protested to the referee.

Phil Robinson added to City's misery when he skipped around Stuart Naylor to seal the points 16 minutes from time.

The Robins were still reeling from the first goal when Steve Finnan's corner was headed on by Gary Strodder and Arkins poached his first goal of the season.

County had been ripped to shreds at Ashton Gate last month as City rampaged to a 4-0 success.

On that occasion, all the goals came in the first half but Jordan's men struggled to get out of the starting blocks yesterday.

They weren't helped by the absence of ace marksman Shaun Goater, loan star Clayton Blackmore and key defender Shaun Taylor.

It got worse as Welsh under-21 ace Rob Edwards limped out of the action midway through the first half.

Kevin Nugent, drafted in for injured Goater, fired inches wide five minutes after half-time.

At the other end, Peter Kennedy forced a fingertip save out of Taylor with a header.

Then City's Greg Goodridge saw his header come back off the bar.

That was the closest City came as County recorded their first League win in four games.

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