Rewind two hours as these same fans headed through the various entrances to the ground, worry etched across their features. Not one would predict how the day would turn out - or which City side would they see - the one that so comprehensively beat todays oppoents Worcester City just four week earlier or the one that threw away a goal lead at woeful Newport IOW to leave their Premier Division future hanging on this single game. On paper the team showed one change from last weeks clash with Folkestone Invicta, Colin Towler returning after five weeks on the sidelines with an injured foot in place of Joe Collins. The return of City's skipper meant Iain Harvey moved forward into his more usual central midfield role alongside Danny Bailey and free-roaming Jamie Gosling.

The opening exchanges were never going to be pretty, especially from a City perspective, as they found out whether their opponents, with little to play for than pride, were prepared for the fight. To add to the level of anixety it initially appeared they were. McFarlane's eighth minute long-range drive forced Mark Hervin into a finger tip save and Gary Thorne made the first of numerous vital interceptions to deny Webster moments later. When City did finally manage to push into Worcester's half they found the most neverous player on the pitch was home keeper Wyatt. The shot-stopper produced a series of mis-hit clearances that on another day could have handed City the goal they so desperately wanted. The best (or worst) of these gifts came on 20 minutes. Cleverley was the recipient of the woeful kick but couldn't recover in time to send an effort toward the unguarded net. When he finally did get the ball under control his pass was sliced well side by Harvey. However, a minute later City broke the deadlock. Gosling gained possession down the left before laying it back to Jason Drysdale. He lifted it into the box first time where Foster sent a looping header toward Wyatt goal. The ball appeared to be in the air for an age but it finally dropped over the despairing keepers outstretched right hand and City were ahead. Repsonding to this blow the hosts still showed that they weren't going to hand the game to City without a fight. Another Middleton effort was blocked, this time by Bailey, and Webster headed Jukes free-kick over Hervin's bar. Before the break City had a great chance to make their supporters half time tea taste even sweeter. Cleverley's neat flick sent Foster racing clear but unusually for City's top scorer he appeared to be looking for support allowing Davies to get back and block.

The second half began in similar vein with Gosling almost firing home after Cleverley played him in. This time Shail blocked the goalbound effort. Soon afterwards news filtered through that Newport IOW were trailing to Hednesford Town but with both games so finely balanced City still couldn't relax. Worcester's efforts were given a big boost just before the hour mark with the arrival from the bench of top scorer Owen after six months out with a broken leg. He immediately lifted his team although the home supporters were still silenced by the almost non-stop vocal backing of City's followers. As the minutes continued to tick by every time the ball came into City's half the tension would increase. Time and time again, though, City's back line was rock solid. Every 50-50 ball was won by a yellow body, shots were charged down and the 90th minute crept ever closer. The heart of every City follower was in their mouth when a 70th minute challenge on Webster by Kemp saw the player crumple in a heap in the City box. However, the referee was rightly unimpressed and the danger passed. Owne then stabbed a chance straight at Hervin from six yards out. This turned out to be City's final close call. As the game went into stoppage time City gained possession and held it in the corner of the pitch. The fustration was clearly too much for former City star Jon Holloway as he incredibly escaped even a yellow card for crashing though the back of Foster. In the end he, and more importantly, all connected with City were put out of their misery and the celebrations could begin.