Tuesday 26 November 2002 - Combe Hay Lane - kick off 7.45pm Somerset Premier Cup 2nd Round

The opening exchanges gave no indication of the events to come as City comfortably controlled the game without ever really threatening the home sides goal. A couple of long balls over the top almost found Dan Cleverley and Jason Eaton forced a fine parry out of Downers keeper Westlake after 14 minutes. The keeper did spill another long through ball six minutes later only to recover well and block both Eaton and Cleverley's follow-up efforts. Odd Down's only repsonse came from long range efforts from Mountfield, Carter and Weeks but these all failed to trouble Mark Bryant. Further shots from Jamie Gosling and Andy Minturn were well saved by Westlake and it was no surprise that the half ended goalless.

The second period began with the hosts spurning a great chance to take the lead. Wilson broke free down the left flank and his cross picked out an unmarked Mountford eight yards out from the City goal. However, he could only blast his shot high over the bar and City were let off. After this City finally began to up the tempo only to suddenly find Westlake equal to everything they could throw at him. He produced two stunning saves from Andy Williams and Stuart James but on 66 minutes he was finally beaten. A pin-point cross from Cleverley found Jim Rollo and he dived to head past the big keeper. This should have been the signal for City to finish off their Western League opponents. Minturn's low shot was turned aside by Westlake on 68 minutes and Cleverley also went close moments later. However, with just fourteen minutes remaining the game suddenly exploded into life with a flurry of goals. A free kick was lifted into the City box by Thomas and after Whitecliffe's first effort was blocked the ball fell kindly to Wilson to fire it home. Just sixty seconds later Odd Down were ahead. A corner was cleared only as far as Whitecliffe and his stunning volley flew into the top corner of the net. Stunned at the turnaround City were forced to lift their game again and five minutes from time they drew level. Minturn rode a couple of challenges before sending a shot into the corner of the net. Two minutes later City were back in front when Eaton headed a Williams cross past Westlake. Incredibly Odd Down weren't finished and a minute later they were level again. Another free kick was pumped into the City box and Whitecliffe crashed home his second goal of the night to take the game into extra time.

The first period saw City press forward only for Westlake to continue his heriocs. Jefferies and Eaton both suffered at the hands of the inspired keeper but with 106 minutes on the clock City were handed the perfect opportunity to regain the lead. Eaton's run into the box was ended by Gould's clumsy challenge and the referee pointed to the spot. Eaton got up to take the kick only for Westlake to dive to his right and push the ball to safety. With both teams understandably tiring chances began to come at both ends, Whitecliffe almost grabbing a hat-trick with a rising shot that just cleared the bar and substitute Frankie Bennett looping a header onto the top of the bar. The game appeared to be heading for penalties but with two minutes remaining Odd Down won another free kick wide on the left. Thomas predicatably lifted into the box and even more predictably City's defence failed to deal with it allowing Wilson to stab home. There was still time for Westlake to fittingly produce another good stop from a Josh Jefferies shot in the 120th minute and City were left to reflect on the end of their cup hopes for another season.