And it was the former Team Bath man who almost got on the end of City first promising move after six minutes, just failing to reach Wyatt's cross. He then turned provider himself, a excellent run finishing with a cross that was taken off the head of an incoming Milsom. This was in the 20th minute and it was all City at this point, with what little threat Weymouth could produce easily dealt with by Kemp and Thorne at the heart of City's defence. Gosling, Thomas and Milsom all fired in shots that were comfortably gathered by home keeper Potter, before ten minutes before the interval City had their clearest opening. Gosling began the move, spreading the ball out wide to Wyatt on the right flank. He found space for the cross and picked out Gosling but, despite no Weymouth defender within three yards of him, he could not direct his header on target. On the stroke of half time City had a strong penalty appeal turned when Powell was felled by Rawlinson but the break came with the sides still level.

The home team made a change at the interval, Phillips replacing J Rowbotham, and for the opening twenty minutes of the second half they final began to look like a side who finished in fifth place last season. Twice before the half was ten minutes old Thorne and Towler produced stunning last ditch tackles, as City's midfield was made to sit deeper and deeper. However, during this period Hervin was not forced into anything move difficult than claiming a couple of crosses. Pridham brough on Allison for Wyatt to try to give City an attacking boost and slowly they began to create further openings. Powell saw his well directed shot charged down and Crandon forced Potter into a fine block after Gosling had put him in with a neat lay-off. Allison then fired a shot into the side netting as City continued to look the likelier to grab a winner. Weymouth's fustration at their inability to break City down was clearly builing and with six minutes to go it finally boiled over. A challenge between Thorne and D Rowbotham saw the referee award a goal kick, much to the anger of the Terra's forward. He first comment earned him a yellow card and two minutes later, as he continued his tirade toward the official, he received his marching orders. As he left the pitch he had time for one final act of petulance, hurling his shirt into the home dugout. Despite having little time to make their numerical advantage tell City appeared to have done just that a minute later. Zabek outpaced his marker in the Weymouth box only to be tripped by the desperate defender. It looked a clear cut penalty but, to the amazement of City's 100 travelling fans, the referee saw nothing wrong with the challenge and waved play on. This was the final incident of the game but the reaction of the players and fans alike at the final whistle showed that it was another step forward and more to build on for the long season ahead.