Saturday 3 May 2003 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm Dr Martens Premier Division

City made three changes to the side that had lost at Havant two days earlier. Available again Frankie Bennett replacing Stuart James, Josh Jefferies making his first full league appearance in place of the unavailable Iain Harvey and Steve Tweddle preferred up front to Dan Cleverley. A more noticeable change though was, for the first time this season, the abandonment of the usual 3-5-2 formation. With Drew Shore and Jim Rollo occupying unusual full-back roles and Jamie Gosling on the right of midfield City lined up 4-4-2. Whether it was the different formation or just that City were facing the best side in the league but for all their dominance of the early possession they never truly looked like scoring. Jason Eaton did create a shooting chance after just five minutes but as befits a player who has not scored for over three months he elected to cut back and the danger was cleared. Bennett did manage to get a shot in after 12 minutes but it finished well wide of the target. Tamworth’s only response during the opening half hour saw Rickards force a good stop out of Mark Bryant from the edge of the box. On 30 minutes Jamie Gosling’s goal bound effort was blocked by Turner and this finally seemed to wake the visitors up. An error by Matt Coupe almost released Rickards and then Bryant was again called into action to save Hallam’s header. Just before the interval the same player seemed certain to score when he got onto the end of Atkinson’s pass. However, just as it looked like he had got past Bryant the keeper stole the ball off his toes.

The second half continued with Tamworth in the ascendancy. Rickards neat back flick was deflected just wide and Hallam rose highest to head Atkinson’s cross over the bar. The goal finally arrived after 55 minutes. Atkinson’s corner was flicked on by Turner and from a melee of players Grocutt poked the ball over the line. It was a scrappy goal, though no less deserved, but just eight minutes later Tamworth scored a second of the highest quality. Turner collected a loose ball near the halfway line and set off toward the City goal. A couple of half hearted challenges were easily shrugged off and he was suddenly faced with just Bryant to beat. And he had the finish to match the run with a neat right foot shot. Clearly sensing the game was won Tamworth were content to sit back and save themselves for their trip to Villa Park. Tweddle almost made them pay for this approach, just failing to get onto the end of Gosling’s cross. Hallam headed another chance over and then saw a shot come back off the post before Milsom and Cleverley both wasted chances to pull a goal back for City in the closing stages. The final whistle saw the excellent 1100+ crowd applaud both sides off but it was only the red-shirted players who departed the pitch smiling. Those in black and white were left to reflect on their fourth defeat in five games and a disappointing final 14th place league finish.