Heavy rain shortly before the kick off made an already heavy pitch even worse and it played a part in Tamworth's opening goal after six minutes. Colin Towler's attempt to clear a long throw from Warner was held up in the muddy goalmouth and Turner made no mistake from 10 yards. If this goal was rather fortunate 12 minutes later the visitors produced a strike of the highest quality to double their advantage. Roberts began the move near the halfway line, holding off the challenge of Colin Towler before playing the ball to Colley. With Kemp and Thorne covering him there appeared little danger but Colley had other ideas and from 25 yards out curled a stunning shot past Mark Hervin. Even home fans had to applaude the strike and City were faced with a mountain to climb. Inbetween the goals Milsom and Davis had both tested Acton from long range and City came back well from the double blow, although not before Hemmings and Roberts' went close to putting the game beyond their reach. On 30 minutes a neat move involving Harvey and Milsom ended with Davis firing in a shot that Acton failed to hold. Four minutes later Williams run on goal was ended by a crude challenge from Turner - the defender somewhat fortunate to escape with just a yellow card - but the resultant free-kick came to nothing. Further chances fell to Gosling, flashing a volley narrowly wide, and Collier's shot was cleared off the line by Mills. Tamworth's defence was clearly creaking and as the half reached it's closing moments City had two clear-cut opportunities to reduce the arrears. A deep cross by Drysdale appeared to be heading to safety but Davis reacted well and turned the ball back across goal to an unmarked Milsom. However, with the goal at his mercy a combination of keeper Acton and his defender smothered his goalbound shot. There were a number of half-hearted handball appeals from the City camp but less than a minute later a clearer infringement by Mills was spotted by the linesman and City were awarded a spot kick. Williams took over the duty from Thorne after his miss against Hinckly. He shot low to his left only for Acton to guess right and parry the ball to incoming Davis. He appeared to have composed himself but, with the City fans preparing to celebrate, incredibly fired into the side netting.

If Tamworth had hoped this double setback would knock the stuffing out of City they were to be disappointed within just four minutes of the restart. Ironically, it was the two guilty parties in the penalty debacle that got City back into the game - Williams producing a great cross that Davis headed back across goal into the corner of the net. The Lambs were now reduced to a rare counter attack and City introduced top scorer Adrian Foster back into the action after his calf injury on the hour mark. Just six minutes later he almost got on the end of a Davis cross, Hatton doing well to block his shot. With 71 minutes gone Davis and Williams combined again only for the former to lift his shot well over the bar. Twice Hervin had to save smartly with his legs from Hemmings and Roberts in rare Tamworth forays out of their half. They were now attempting to fustrate City by time-wasting at every opportunity and despite City continuing to dominate possession the closest they came to a deserved equaliser was when Harvey's deflected effort dropped narrowly over the bar. At the final whistle City were left to reflect on another undeserved defeat - their disappointment heightened by Tamworth's over the top celebrations in front of their travelling fans.