The early stages showed why Tiverton had only lost two of their last 17 league games. Playing a neat passing game on a less than perfect surface they pressed City back, although only a miscued shot from ex-City player Chenoweth came close to spoiling Hervin's return to the action. City's only response in this period to their impressive opponents came in the shape of a well-struck Jason Drysdale free-kick after 12 minutes that keeper Edwards did well to hold low down to his left. However, this shakey start for City was forgotten as in the 17th minute they began a spell of three goals in five minutes that left the visitors shellshocked. The opening goal came from the right boot of Gilroy after a challenge by Jamie Gosling had fell kindly to the loan striker. From the corner of the six yard box he blasted an unstoppable shot past Edwards. Two minutes later Cook began a move that saw him lay the ball of to Milsom. With the Tiverton defence backing off expecting a pass the big striker let fly with a 25-yard drive that flew into the bottom corner of the net. If everyone in the 958 strong crowd was amazed by this turn of events within three minutes they were left even more stunned as City grabbed a third goal. Hale, showing why he was so highly rated at Weymouth, raced down the left flank before curling in a cross to the far post that Foster headed home. City finally paused for breath and for 16 minutes the action was largely confined to the middle of the park but when after 39 minutes they threatened the Town goal again they were celebrating their fourth goal. Drysdale won the corner that he then lifted into the near post. It appeared to be too low for Milsom to flick on but he stooped almost double to turn the ball across the goal where Thorne timed his arrival perfectly to power a header into the roof of the net.

The interval couldn't come soon enough for Tiverton and they came back out after it clearly intent on throwing everything they had at City. It was vital that City didn't concede early and the excellent Colin Towler denied Mudge a goalscoring chance just three minutes in, before Chenoweth wasted another chance moments later. However, on 54 minutes City's resistance was broken. Mudge was given far too much room on the right and, having drawn Hervin, he squared the ball to Ovens who tapped it home from three yards out. This finally woke up Tiverton's large travelling support and they almost had more to cheer five minutes later only for another brilliant Towler tackle to deny Ovens a clear run on goal. City just couldn't get the ball out of their half and threw on Lee Collier for Foster in an attempt to stem the one-way tide. City's fustrations were not helped by the first referee in the history of the Dr Martens League to worry about time-wasting. Having been on the receiving end of sides taking their time over goalkicks, throw-ins, etc, numerous times this season City were now faced with an official who would make a dramatic show of stopping his watch every time the ball went out of play. This culminated with Hervin getting booked for failing to magically return the ball to the pitch within a fraction of a second after 70 minutes. As the game reached its final quarter it looked as if City has weathered the storm but with 18 minutes remaining Everett fired home from 12 yards after Mudge had picked him out with a deep cross to set up a nervous finish. City's cause should have been helped when Peters pulled down Gilroy as he threatened to run clear six minutes later. Unfortunately, this offence had no time-wasting overtones so the referee only showed the Bath-born defender a yellow card. Chances continued to come the way of Tivvy, Everett curling a shot wide, Gross's rising shot forcing Hervin to palm it to safety and Ovens firing over from just six yards out. In amongst these openings Gilroy sliced horribly wide after turning Peters inside out, but this miss was academic as the referee finally ended proceedings and City could begin to look forward to the next step along their escape route at Merthyr next Saturday.