Saturday 15 March 2003 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm Dr Martens Premier Division

Toomey's inclusion in the starting line-up for only the second time since his arrival from Barry Town six weeks ago was one of two changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Stafford Rangers, the other seeing Mike Trought return after recovering from illness. In common with a number of recent matches City began slowly and the visitors enjoyed the better of the early play. A deflected Dent shot was well saved by Mark Bryant and he then watched as Carruthers free-kick cleared his bar by a yard. Eventually City began to throw off this sluggish start but for all their possession they were producing little in the way of goalscoring chances. One strong run by Frankie Bennett - back playing in a more familiar right flank role - in the 22nd minute ended with Jason Eaton's header being deflected narrowly wide off Readings back. This was as close as they came until the closing moments of the half. Keeper Hyde did very well to punch Jim Rollo's centre clear with Eaton waiting to pounce and then he blocked Bennett's close range shot with his legs after good work from Andy Williams.

The interval came and went with little change in proceedings. The uneven pitch made playing constructive football difficult but it was the home side who still looked the more likely to manage it. Another Williams cross picked out Bennett on 56 minutes. On this pitch he understandably took a touch but this gave Carruthers the time to block when the shot eventually arrived. This was forgotten six minutes later when a goal arrived out of nothing. The move began with Bryant laying off a back pass to Matt Coupe. From midway in his own half he lifted the ball forward. Initially it looked as if Chapman had it covered but he misjudged the flight and suddenly Toomey was clear on goal. Finally the poor pitch helped City as the ball sat up perfectly for Toomey to lift it over Hyde and into the net. Having been content to try to contain City up to this point the Whites had to look for a way back into the game. Before they could Jamie Gosling spurned a chance to double the lead firing wide from Eaton's cross. At the other end Chapman should have done better than send a low shot wide of Bryant's goal after 67 minutes. City responded with a weaving run by Toomey that ended with a shot that Hyde grabbed at the second attempt. This was the final threat from City as Dover finished the game on top. The 77th minute saw Bryant fail to hold Dyer's shot only for Kemp to clear the danger from his own goalline. All City's hard work looked to be disappearing when Spiller rose to meet a 78th minute corner ahead of the outrushing Bryant. It just looked a matter of waiting for the net to bulge but the ball flew the wrong side of the post. This turned out to be as close as Dover came to an equaliser as City stood strong for the remaining time, with Coupe in particular outstanding at the heart of the defence.