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Wednesday 24 July 2002 - Twerton Park - kick off 7.30pm Friendly 
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| half-time: 0-0 | result: W1-0 | attendance: 363 |
| team: | Hervin (c), Simeon Allison (Kemp 45), Minturn, Trought, Harvey, Honor (Rollo 45), Sorbara, Eaton (Birkby 45), Cleverley (Gosling 45), Sheppard (Williams 45), Horgan. |
| man of the match: | Iain Harvey |
| scorers: | Gosling (74) |
| bookings: | none |
| officials: | not known |
| league position: n/a | form: ---WLW | next match: Bashley (A) |
City's second home friendly against league opposition ended in a welcome victory, with Second Division Swindon Town sent back to Wiltshire on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline. Although it was largely a reserve Robins outfit, with only coach Neil Ruddock immediately recognisable to either sides supporters, it was another encouraging performance from City as the new signings and various trialists looked to impress. Most notable of these was Frome Town player Guiseppe Sorbara. The striker, who was a target of Alan Pridham last season and has been on trial with Bristol Rovers, played the whole 90 minutes and showed a couple of glimpses why is so highly rated. Still missing from the team were last season regulars Gary Thorne, Paul Milsom, Jason Drysdale and Adrian Foster, plus new signing Frankie Bennett was notably absent. As against Leyton Orient City lined up in a 3-5-2 formation with, at the start, youngster Simeon Allison occupying the right wing back role.
The first half saw City largely control proceedings with the Swindon back line struggling to cope with the lively front pairing of Jason Eaton and Sorbara. The latter should have done better after 30 minutes when Jamies Gosling's pass gave him a shooting chance but he lifted the effort over the bar. Five minutes before the interval Eaton was sent clear on goal from Allison's pass. He rounded keeper Farr only for the keeper to clip his heels. However, the referee waved away the penalty appeals and the game went into the break still goalless.
City made five changes at the break, with Andy Williams, Gary Kemp, Jamie Gosling, Dean Birkby and Jim Rollo all entering the proceedings. These changes did little to alter the pattern of the game as City's defensive line-up dealt well with whatever the visitors produced. Standing out particularly were Mike Trought, adding a height and presence that City's defence has lacked, and Iain Harvey producing a great performace at the heart of the midfield. The highlight of the the early stages of the second half came when Birkby almost scored from an acrobatic overhead kick. Reminiscent of one of the greatest goals scored at Twerton Park, the same players spectacular strike against Southport back in 1994, Birkby got onto the end of Williams's center only for the keeper to tip the ball over the bar. As the game reached it's closing 15 minutes it looked as if City would be made to pay for their failure to turn possession into clear chances when a Minturn challenge on Draycott was harshly viewed as a foul and Town were awarded a penalty. However, the same players weak effort from the spot was easily saved by Hervin and two minutes later City grabbed the winning goal. A mis-hit clearance by keeper Smith fell to Rollo and his shot was turned into the unguarded net by Gosling.