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Saturday 27 September 2003 - Ironmould Lane - kick off 3.00pm FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round 
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| half-time: 1-0 | result: W2-0 | attendance: 516 |
| team: | Bryant, Coupe, Trought (c), Hendy, Howarth, Rollo, Shore, Counsell, Cleverley (Plummer 81), Salter (Eaton 74), Carter (Bennett 65). subs not used: Shuttlewood, Jeffries. |
| man of the match: | Danny Cleverley |
| scorers: | Cleverley (19), Salter (71) |
| bookings: | none |
| officials: | R Mitchell (Portland), L Hoskins, L Cox |
| league position: n/a | form: DWDWLW | next match: Merthyr (A) |
Seven days after the Worcester humiliation City returned to action to face another potential embarrassment against Western League Brislington in an FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round tie. Having gone out of various cup competitions in the previous two seasons to opposition from the same league City were desperate to avoid an unwanted hat-trick but with a record crowd crammed into the Bristol-based side’s Ironmould Road ground all the elements of a cup shock where there except one – the ‘bigger’ side prepared to roll over. City produced a performance that whilst never outstanding was professional enough to see off the challenge of Bristlington, with a goal in each half alongside a defensive show that could banish the seven-goal horrors of a week earlier.
City only made two changes to the starting line-up and both of these were enforced. With Forest Green Rovers refusing permission for on loan midfielder Alex Sykes to play Alfie Carter was called into to make his City debut and the injured Andy Williams made way for returning captain Mike Trought after his three game suspension. City were almost handed the perfect start when on three minutes Adam Howarth rose highest to head a Drew Shore corner just over the bar. The home side responded well to this early escape and went close to grabbing the lead nine minutes later, Claridge’s shot from a Miller corner clipping the City bar. However this was the closest they came during this spell and with 19 minutes gone City took the lead. Mitch Counsell found space down the right flank and his cross was headed home by Danny Cleverley. This clearly settled City and they could have had the game sealed up before the interval. Trought’s speculative 30-yard effort was pushed away by keeper Jones before Cleverley almost capitalised on a mix-up between former City defender Radford and Jones. His persistence gave him a clear shot at goal but, off balance, he could only find the side netting. On the stroke of half-time Jim Rollo’s well-struck shot flew straight at Jones.
The second period began with Cook shooting wide and Trought denying the same player with a well-time tackle. Brislington were beginning to see more possession now although it was still City who were creating the clearer openings. After 53 minutes Carter’s cross was flicked on by Mark Salter only for Cleverley to lose his footing at the vital moment. City threw on Frankie Bennett in the search for a second goal. His cross two minutes later saw Salter get in a shot that was blocked. Rollo’s follow-up flew narrowly wide. Just when it appeared City would be facing a nervous closing twenty minutes with their slender lead they found the important second goal. It came through another mistake in the Brislington defence. Again Jones and Radford appeared to have a long-ball forward under control only for Salter to nip in ahead of them. In contrast to Cleverley he kept his composure (and balance) to roll the ball into the unguarded net. City were now content to site back and soak up what little pressure Brislington produced. They did seem to have struck for a third time six minutes from time, Shore firing home after Jones had parried Counsell’s initial shot, only for a linesman’s flag to halt the celebrations. So, the match quietly reached it conclusion and after the events of the previous game no City fan could have been unhappy at that.