Saturday 12 February 2005 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm Southern League Premier Division

With Matt Coupe suspended, Jim Rollo failing to recover from the groin strain he picked up against Chesham United and teenage defender Josh Brigham a late withdrawal due to illness, Gary Owers was forced to play himself at right-back, with Ben Cleverley coming into the midfield spot vacated by the player-manager. One further change saw Luke Corbett recalled to partner John Williams up front with Darren Hawkins dropping to the bench. The opening chance of the match fell to City, Jimmy Benefield shooting wide from Corbett’s flick, but this would turn out to false dawn as the visitors took control. It took them about 15 minutes to create their first opening when Defty’s lob beat Evans only to drop the wrong side of the post. The next chance fell to Angel following a neat build up involving Hay and Defty. He fired in a fierce shot that Evans managed to get a touch to and divert it against the bar. City responded to this narrow escape with a long range Sykes effort that Wilson comfortably saved. Midway through the first half an error by Steve Jones saw Bloomfield bring another excellent save out of Evans. On a bumpy pitch and with a swirling wind City were struggling to put any attacking moves together and even when Williams and then Sykes got into promising positions the final pass or shot was disappointing. Ten minutes before the interval Evans denied Angel but a minute later he was helpless to prevent Defty flicking the ball past him after a great pass by Bloomfield. This was no more than Lynn deserved although City did almost equalise just before the break when Jones returned a Sykes corner into the danger area and Sam Bailey saw his shot blocked on the line by Hammond.

With the elements in the favour after half time it should have signalled City coming back into the game but that was soon shown to be misleadingly optimistic as Evans was in action again, taking the ball of the toes of Hay after he raced clear of the City defence. This let-off was soon forgotten as on 58 minutes Lynn doubled their lead when a free-kick found an unmarked Defty just six yards out. He easily had the time and space to swivel and volley the ball past Evans. And six minutes later the game was over for City as Hay got on the end of a Bloomfield cross. His shot looked to be Evans’ ball but Power’s attempt to clear only succeeded in turning the ball into the net. After this City had little to play for but pride and within moments of the third goal Benefield brought the first difficult save out of Wilson with a dipping 25-yard shot. Ricky Hulbert and Williams also spurned late chances to put a slightly more respectable slant on the scoreline but, in truth, this would have been more than City deserved on yet another after to forget at Twerton Park.