The opening twenty minutes of the game saw City push their opponents back with Milsom twice testing Terras keeper Potter with long range efforts. City's front pairing of Milsom and Foster was always a handful for Weymouth back line, and it was the latter who almost created a couple of further openings, only the final ball letting him down. When another 20-yard shot from the impressive Harvey flashed inches wide with Potter beaten it began to look as if City's domination would fail to yield the vital breakthrough, however on 22 minutes the goal they so desperately needed arrived. Milsom won a free-kick some 25 yards out that Gosling lined-up. His curling right-foot shot clipped the edge of Weymouth's wall and flew past the slightly unsighted Potter. The relief all around the ground was palpable but within three minutes the Dorset side almost equalised. A strong run by Phillips down the left appeared to have been dealt by Powell, as he forced him out wide, but his low shot beat Hervin and struck the near post. This would have been hard on City nevertheless with just a single strike to show for their play it was always a danger, but eleven minutes before the break they grabbed a vital second goal. Wyatt was the provider, as he found room down the right before delivering a perfect cross for an unmarked Foster to head past Potter.

So, for the first time this season City had gained the breathing space of a two-goal lead and it was now up to them to see if they could hold on to it. Weymouth made a change at the interval, surprisingly replacing Hale, who had looked a class above his teammates, with Bastarfield, and the balance of play turned. In truth, City paid the penalty of time and again giving the ball back to the opposition and it was no surprise that they found themsleves penned back in their own half for long periods. Their cause was not helped, though, by increasingly bizzare refereeing decisions as on a number of occasions he overruled his assistant to give a decision in favour of the away side. Despite these obstacles City's defence held firm for over half an hour, with Thorne in particular having an outstanding game. Only when Hervin spilled a Phillips cross, Gosling on hand to make the clearance, were their defences almost breached. As the game reached it's final 15 minutes it appeared that Weymouth had run out of ideas, however another strange refereeing decision handed them a way back into the game. Powell was harshly adjudged to have fouled Phiilps down the left flank. The free-kick found the head of Rowbotham and, although Hervin managed to block his effort the rebound fell kindly to Laws who made no mistake from six yards out. Weymouth clearly realised they could get something from the game and pushed forward in numbers. Still Thorne and company stood firm and on rare breaks from the pressure Gosling and Foster went close to sealing the game for City with a third goal. With eight minutes remaing it looked as if City's worse nightmare was about to come true when a cross found Laws unmarked but he couldn't direct his effort on target. The final moments saw City manage to hold the ball upfield, Rawlinson and Foster earning cautions as tempers briefly became frayed, until the referee finally made a decision that was in City's favour - bringing the game to an end.