Saturday 1 February - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm Dr Martens Premier Division

On the back of a six match unbeaten run City made just two changes to the side that drew at Newport County last time out. Gary Thorne reclaimed the captains armband from the suspended Gary Kemp and Paul Milsom relegated Drew Shore to the bench. Both sets of supporters barely had time to find their place on the terraces before the visitors were given a donation almost as generous as the one Gloucester City chairman Colin Gardener handed City in the week. Mike Trought had time to clear his lines but choose to send a firm back pass to Bryant. The usually sound kicker took a touch but as Airdrie half-heartedly closed him down completely missed his attempted clearance. The grateful striker rolled the ball into the empty net. Despite this blow City didn't let it affect them and began to control proceedings with a passing game that belied the heavy pitch. Eaton and Gosling both saw half chances come and go but on 16 minutes City drew level. Frankie Bennett drifted out wide to send a cross into the area. Simkin's weak header fell to Jim Rollo on the edge of the box and he cracked a first-time volley into the corner of the goal. Five minutes later City went ahead. For the whole 90 minutes Hednesford had no answer to the pace and running of Andy Williams and it was his cross that struck the arm of Brindley. Only Bennett appealed but the referee was convinced the infringment was deliberate and pointed to the spot. After City's early season penalty nightmares the return of Jamie Gosling has dispelled these fears and he easily sent Bingham the wrong way to record his fourth success from 12 yards. If there was some doubt about the validity of that goal three minutes later City produced one of the highest quality. Jason Eaton and Frankie Bennett were involved in the move that saw Gosling thread a perfect pass through to Williams and he neatly turned it past Bingham. Clearly fustrated at how quickly the game had slipped from their grasp the visitors saw any hope they had of getting back into disappear when they were reduced to 10 men on 36 minutes. Lake had already been booked for comments made after the penalty award and then gave the referee no alternative but to show him red after a crude tackle on Trought. Eaton and Thorne could have increased the lead before the interval but the half ended with City well in control.

Damage limitation saw Hednesford replace striker Francis with midfielder Williams during the break, leaving Piearce as the lone front man, and this approach succeeded in it's negative ambitions for the opening period of the half. City dominated possession but only shots from Eaton and Gosling, that Bingham competently dealt with, threatened to extend their lead. However, after 67 minutes the fourth goal arrived and unsurprisingly it was created by Williams. Stuart James's deep centre picked out the flying winger and he easily brushed past his marker before sending a low cross into the six-yard box. Bingham got a hand to it but could not prevent Eaton bundling the ball over the line with some help from defender Brindley. The victory now secure City took off Bennett to give a debut to new signing Dave Toomey (to you). The ex-Barry Town striker could have made a stunning impact but saw three great chances go begging for different reasons. Firstly, an 85th minute Williams cross was just a fraction to high and he could only loop a header into the arms of Bingham. Then he raced onto a James pass only for the ball to bobble as he prepared to fire home. The end result was best forgotten. And in stoppage time he finally got an effort on target. This time Eaton was the provider with a right wing cross. Toomey (to you) met the centre with a point blank diving header but to his stunned disbelief Bingham produced an incredible block. During this period Hednesford did produce their only other on-target effort of the game, Piearce's rising shot forcing a good save out of Bryant, but that just served to highlight how much City had dominated the match.