Saturday 15 November 2003 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm Dr Martens Premier Division

Caretaker boss Gary Smart reverted to the 4-4-2 system that had been discarded earlier in the season and handed recalls to Mike Trought, Jim Rollo and Eaton. Within two minutes these changes almost paid dividends. Frankie Bennett’s cross picked out Eaton but he could not get his header on target, with Steve Tweddle just failing to reach the misdirected effort. This was as close as City came in the early stages as Borough gained a slight edge. Murphy almost latched onto Whittaker’s though ball and Mark Bryant had to push Scott’s looping header over after 15 minutes. Two minutes later Trought denied Collins with a great blocking tackle. Bennett was looking much more lively than recent games and he fired a shot straight at keeper Acton following a weaving run. City’s cause was not being helped by a weak refereeing performance from Mr Russell. He turned down a clear penalty for a push on Tweddle but time and again awarded free-kicks to both sides for similar challenges outside the box. Their best opening during the first half fell to Tweddle on the half hour mark when Steve Jenkins’ free-kick dropped kindly to City’s top scorer. He neatly turned and shot, only for Acton to brilliantly parry his well-struck effort. As in last weeks game at Hednesford City conceded a goal against the run of play, and once again it was from a set-piece. Whittaker lifted the ball into the box where Collins was given all the time and space he needed to plant a 38th minute header past Bryant.

A blow like this had on several occasions seen City collapse this season but to their credit they came out after the interval and began to push Nuneaton back with some of their best football for a while. A rare foray forward from Steve Jones saw him test Acton with a low shot and Bennett’s header from a Alfie Carter cross dropped just over the bar. Another penalty appeal was waved away after an hour when Gary Owers was wrestled to the ground by Lake. Man of the match Matt Coupe and Bennett combined down the right flank only for the latter’s dangerous looking centre to be scrambled away. However, with 68 minutes gone another move down that flank brought about the equaliser. Bennett flicked on a long ball forward to send Tweddle racing clear. His cross was perfect for the incoming Eaton who fired it home from six yards. Suddenly the game was there for the taking but even before City could fashion another chance they found themselves trailing again. This time the goal came from an unnecessarily conceded corner. Whittaker took it, Lake flicked it on and Collins again applied the finishing touch. Smart’s immediate response was to replace Jenkins with Danny Cleverley and switch to three up front but in their desperate search for an equaliser City twice almost gifted Nuneaton a third goal. Both times substitute Williams was allowed a clear run on goal only to waste the opportunity. Three minutes from time a strong run by Tweddle had the Borough defence on the retreat, but as he entered the box he collapsed in agony and had to be stretched off with a Achilles injury. The final blow for City came a minute later as further indecision at the back allowed Whittaker to get possession tight on the touchline and somehow his shot evaded Coupe to roll into the net.