Tuesday 16 July 2002 - Hunts Copse - kick off 7.30pm
Friendly

half-time: 1-0

result: W3-0

attendance: n/a

team:	Hervin, Lancaster (Gillard 45), Horgan (Smith 45), Minturn (Kemp 45), Trought (Hughes 45), Harrison (Williams 45), Rollo, Cozic (Gosling 45), Rossiter (Eaton 45), Birkby (Sheppard 45), Bennett (Rossiter 67).
man of the match:	Bertrand Cozic
scorers:	Cozic (27), Gosling (84,86)
bookings:	none
officials:	not known

league position: n/a

form: -----W

next match: Orient (H)

The pre-season began for City with the short journey to Wiltshire to face Dr Martens Western Division side Swindon Supermarine at their neat Hunts Copse ground. And in a similar outcome to the previous seasons friendly two late strikes saw City run out comfortable winners by three goals to nil. With Paul Milsom, Iain Harvey, Jason Drysdale, Adrian Foster and Gary Thorne all missing through injury it was an unfamiliar City line-up that started the game, with just keeper Mark Hervin at the club last season. Amongst the various trialists were two new signings Frankie Bennett and Jim Rollo.

Despite the unfamilair composition of City's line-up they began well with Rollo and Bennett looking good, and French midfielder Bertrand Cozic the pick of the trialists. A strong run by Cozic was halted illegally after 20 minutes. Rollo seeing his free-kick beat former City keeper Liam Bull but strike his right hand post and rebound to safety. City only had to wait another seven minutes before another chance arrived and this one ended up in the back of the net. Cozic collected a poor clearance 20 yards out and fired the ball past a diving Bull. The half ended with Supermarine coming desperately close to levelling the game - Davis's looping cross coming back of the bar.

City made eight changes at half time, amongst them the more familiar faces of Jamie Gosling, Andy Williams and Gary Kemp. Hervin had to be alert within ten minutes of the restart, blocking Macklin's close range effort. The changes understandably affected City's rhythm and for a period they struggled to threaten the home side. As the game reached its closing stages Gosling stamped his class on the game with two goals in as many minutes. The first came after Williams pass had sent him clear on goal, lifting his shot over the keeper, and then a stunning strike from 25 yard out completed the scoring. Overall it was an encouraging opening performance by City and a solid preperation for tougher tasks ahead.