ALMOST LEGENDARY but MOST INFURIATING OPEN GOAL MISSES of ALL TIME Number one in a series of one: Mickey Moore at Bath - 20 September 1980
Twerton Park, home of that most emotive of teams, Bath City (and Bristol Rovers), can hardly go down as one of our happiest hunting grounds in the Alliance. Another defeat was gained there on 20 September 1980, but it could have been oh so much different if it hadn't been for the ability (sic) of one man. Mickey Moore wasn't a bad bloke, in fact he was quite personable. He also had this incredible knack of being first at the bar after a game. He used to get there even before us (mere supporters) had walked round the ground to the club. Somehow that really impressed me; I was rather impressionable then though. So back to the game. It had been quite a close game and in fact we had taken the lead just on half-time with a Royston (what a name, what a player) Taylor goal. As usual at away games the inevitable happened and Bath eventually took a 2-1 lead. We were 2-1 down with about three minutes to go with a free kick just inside their half. The twenty of us behind the goal were fast losing hope. The kick was punted to the edge of the box, up rose God magnificently outjumping the defence (he could then) to head brilliantly goalwards. The rest was pure farce. With the keeper well beaten it hit one post and rolled along the line. "Someone please tap it in!" Then it hit the other post. "Someone please!" It then came back off this post to about a yard away from the goal line, in rushes our man Mickey Moore. We're already cheering the goal - even Graham Gill couldn't have missed this - but Mickey Moore could and he did. We couldn't believe it, still can't. How could he have missed? Phil McMenemy Issue 003 - May 1990