Friday 2 September 2005 - Twerton Park - kick off 7.45pm Southern League Premier Division 
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| half-time: 0-1 | result: L0-3 | attendance: 718 |
| team: | Bryant, S Jones (Ford 70), York, Holland, Coupe (Harris 45), Rollo (c), G Jones, Holloway, Paul (Hulbert 63), Partridge, Sandell. subs not used: Power, Fisher. |
| man of the match: | Scott Partridge |
| scorers: | none |
| bookings: | none |
| officials: | W Bull (Southampton), P French (Southampton), B Waymark (Southampton) |
| league position: 3rd | form: WWDLWL | next match: Cinderford (FAC) (H) |
City’s mixed start to the season continued in this Friday night Twerton Park clash as they slumped 3-0 to Banbury United. The final scoreline flattered the visitors but that should not disguise another desperately disappointing performance from City that never looked like getting anything out of the game once the visitors scored twice in quick succession either side of the half time interval .
Their cause was not helped when Phil Walsh did a ‘Glenn McGrath’ in the pre-match warm-up – turning an ankle – and keeper Andy Fisher was delayed in traffic getting to the ground. This meant a first start of the season for a far from fully fit Martin Paul and a third goalie of the season in the shape of Mark Bryant. However, City made light work of these problems early in the game, forcing a corner in the first minute and seeing a Paul shot charged down. Scott Partridge was looking threatening and Paul then shot over when a pass to the unmarked Andy Sandell would have been the better option. This bright start to the game soon faded though and the Puritans began to see more possession. Gardener and Baird both shot wide and Bryant was forced into a low stop from Blossom. The same player then headed straight at Bryant from just ten yards out. The game looked to be heading to the interval level but three minutes before the break Banbury went ahead. Gardener ran onto a Baird header and although Bryant managed to block his first effort the ball fell kindly back to him to stroke it into an empty net.
The second half was barely a minute old when Banbury struck again. Gethin Jones allowed Baird to run past him with ease and he stabbed the ball past Bryant. It took a while for City to recover from this double set-back but as the half reached it midway point they seemed to be building up some momentum and had United pinned back. However, the ball would not fall to a black and white shirt and with numbers back the Oxfordshire side comfortably dealt with what threat City could produce. The closest City came to finding a way back into the game came when it appeared Partridge had got ahead of his marker to reach a low Hulbert cross only for a defender’s boot to reach the ball first. This seemed to signal the end of City’s hopes, although a weak header from Jon Holloway did at least force Tricker into a save. So the game was already beyond City when Banbury added a third goal in stoppage time. Pond broke down the left flank and played in Stanbridge whose cross was headed home at the far post by a diving McKay.