British Gas Business Football League Premier Division Saturday 14 April 2007 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm

Report taken from by Stephen Ware

In a tense afternoon at Twerton Park, play-off chasing Maidenhead started the brighter of the two sides, but it was City who opened the scoring when Edwards - who recovered from a back injury to make the starting line up - headed home four minutes before the interval. Evergreen striker Paul then capped a fine individual performance by grabbing the second just after the hour mark, though City had to endure some anxious closing moments after Bobby Behzadi's late penalty. Maidenhead's Neville Roach and City's Edwards both had early sights of goal before Paul had keeper Ramos scrambling with a shot from distance in the 19th minute. The visitors then had a strong case for a penalty rejected midway through the first half when Paul Evans appeared to bring down Stephen Hughes - injuring himself in the process - but referee Andrew Bennett waved away the Magpies' appeals. City began to have greater influence on the game as the half wore on. Paul was unfortunate no one was at the far post to convert his cross after 25 minutes and Lewis Hogg narrowly failed to get a shot away after a jinking run on the half hour. Six minutes before the break, City nearly took the lead when Chris Holland's looping header from a Hogg corner drifted wide of the far post. Mike Green missed a great chance to put City ahead five minutes before the break when he fluffed his shot after finding himself through on goal. But, just a minute later, City struck as Edwards headed in from close range after another Hogg corner caused confusion in the visitors' penalty area. Green might have doubled that lead on the stroke of half-time, after again breaking clear, but this time he was tackled.

Holland sliced over at the start of the second half and Maidenhead also had an opportunity when Errol Telemaque beat City keeper Evans to a loose ball inside the penalty area before the stopper recovered to prod the ball out for a corner. Edwards spooned over when through on goal on 58 minutes, but City did get the all-important second goal just past the hour mark when Paul clinically finished a chance created by Hogg, who held off several challenges during a run from the halfway line. Behzadi handed the Magpies a lifeline with 11 minutes remaining and set up a nervous climax after Matt Coupe handled in the area and the midfielder converted from the spot. Edwards might have sewn things up with just nine minutes left on the clock when he was presented with the ball by Behzadi ten yards out, but his goal-bound shot lacked power and was cleared off the line by Grant Cooper. Heart rates soared in the closing stages as the clock ticked down, but City held their nerve to move within 90 minutes of the title.