Sunday 2 November 2003 - Cossham Street - kick off 3.00pm Dr Martens Premier Division

The spell that preceded Ewards moment of madness just backed up the pre-match view that this was going to be a close match. City began the game with the same line-up as finished last Saturday’s defeat against Weymouth – Mitch Counsell and Russell Milton restored to the midfield and Dan Cleverley paired with Steve Tweddle up front. Counsell headed an early Alfie Carter over whilst Missiato stabbed a chance wide for the home side. This was as near as they got – it was nearly another 80 minutes before they managed another effort on goal – as once Edwards was back in the changing rooms City took control. With the slope and wind in their favour as well as the numerical advantage the game was played almost exclusively in the United half. On 20 minutes City should have been awarded a penalty, Warren clearly handling Carter’s corner, but it only took another two minutes for the opening goal to arrive. A deflected Milton shot won a corner and the City midfielder picked out Gary Owers perfectly. His downward header gave Malessa no chance. Counsell headed another great Carter cross over after 25 minutes before Dan Cleverley was twice denied by smart stops from Malessa. He could do nothing though to prevent City going two-up in the 34th minute. Carter collected the ball wide left and ended a weaving run with a stunning 20 yard strike into the top corner of the net. Five minutes before the interval City did suffer a setback with flu-victim and top scorer Steve Tweddle being substituted for Jason Eaton. Counsell should have made it three-nil in first half stoppage time. A 50-yard cross field pass that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the Premiership from Milton picked him out but he drilled a shot wide when a cross would have given Cleverley a tap-in.

City must have been slightly worried that these wasted chances would be costly as the second half began with the home side benefiting from the conditions. However, within minutes it was clear that this was going to have little effect on the pattern of the game. Malessa was again called to action to turn Milton’s shot away and Missiato had to clear Coupe’s header off the line. With ten minutes gone the third goal finally arrived. In an almost carbon copy of the opening goal Owers met Milton’s corner perfectly to power a header home. A surging run by Frankie Bennett after 72 minutes brought another excellent stop out of Malessa as City searched for a fourth. The home side finally produced a second effort on goal on 80 minutes when Turner fired over and with four minutes remaining they grabbed a consolation goal. Former City midfielder Loyden’s well-struck 25-yard shot was tipped onto the bar by Mark Bryant and Sims reacted first to scramble the ball over the line. Even after this Cleverley, Eaton and Steve Bridges wasted further chances to put a truer reflection on the scoreline but after their recent league struggles the 3-1 result was more than satisfactorily.