Despite these changes the opening exchanges saw City carry over their Newport form, forcing the Birmingham based side back and with just six minutes gone should have taken the lead. Thomas' pass forward sent Williams clear and he attempted to lift a shot over Anstiss who had come racing out of his area. However, the keeper clearly blocked the effort with his hands. The ball was deflected to safety but the whole ground now just waited for the referee to award a free-kick and dismiss the player. And they continued to wait as the official looked at his assistant only to be met by a vacant stare and play carried on. Despite this incredible blunder by the officials City continued to dominate the game and another Thomas cross was met first time by Milsom from six yards out. However, the striker who couldn't buy a goal in a goal shop with a special offer on goals could only watch in disbelief as Antiss parried the shot. And three minutes later Moor Green took the lead, Petty collecting a pass on the edge of the City box before firing a dipping shot past Bull. This signalled a good spell for the visitors and Crisp should have doubled the lead with an unmarked far post header. City came back well but again were left stunned at the ineptitude of the referee after 35 minutes. Milsom again showed his strength, holding off his marker to lay the ball off to MacLean. But as the unmarked midfielder lined up his shot from 18 yards the referee pulled the play back for a foul on Milsom. Advantage? Not in the world.

The second half was just four minutes old when Pridham replaced the unwell Thorne with Keen and switched to a more traditonal two-up front formation. Little changed in City's play though and Softley, Gale and Martin all wasted chances to increase the Moors lead. On 71 minutes City finally threatened the away goal again when Milsom sent Williams clear. His first effort was blocked but the ball came back to him and his centre was converted by Powell only for the linesman flag to halt the celebrations. Milsom then fired another chance straight at Anstiss and Keen sliced well wide when clean through on goal. As the game reached its conclusion City appeared to have run out of ideas and in stoppage time Moor Green scored again. Naturally there was an element of doubt about the goal as a goalmouth scramble saw Joyce knock the ball back to Crisp with a hand to allow the defender to turn it home, but the referee guaranteed a perfectly flawed performance by cheerfully awarding a goal.