Tuesday 16 September 2003 - Twerton Park - kick off 7.45pm Dr Martens Premier Division

Fit again Jim Rollo returned to City’s starting line-up after four games on the sidelines in place of loan signing Adie Adams. The opening chance fell to Stafford, Barrow’s header flying narrowly over from Robinson’s 10th minute corner, but this was no indication of how the first half would turn out as City took control. Stafford keeper Price was called into action for the first time a minute later, saving Mark Salter’s low shot from a narrow angle with his legs, and the long-time City nemesis would go on to frustrate the home side on a number of occasions. He was beaten on 18 minutes as Salter turned Dan Cleverley’s low cross against the angle of the post and bar. The resultant corner saw a Adam Howarth header cleared off the line and Alex Sykes fire the rebound wide. Stafford’s Downes tried to beat his own keeper after 30 minutes, deflecting a Williams cross goalwards, only for the keeper to produce a stunning one-handed save. Salter then blasted a good chance high and wide and Sykes brought another fine stop out of Price from a 25-yard free kick.

Last seasons runners-up could only improve in the second half and twice in the opening minutes they almost broke the deadlock. Goodman headed a great chance wide on 47 minutes and Mark Bryant produced his only difficult save of the match six minutes later from Gibson’s fierce shot. City’s keeper did also have to be alert to deny Goodman a chance from Daniel’s through ball moments later. This good spell for Rangers ended on 59 minutes when City took the lead. It was going to take something special to beat Price and when Counsell let fly with a unstoppable shot from 35-yards it finally arrived. Player-manager Robinson then spurned a chance to strike right back for Stafford and his side then hit the self-destruct button. Gibson’s dreadful challenge on City’s goalscorer deserved a straight red card. He initially only received yellow but this was followed with another for the afters involving Shore. City’s midfielder, who had been harshly booked in the first half, got his marching orders for the same incident. And within another five minutes Stafford were reduced to nine men. A challenge between Goodman and Matt Coupe on the edge of the City box saw the striker elbow City’s captain in the face and receive a straight red card. Substitute Dwayne Plummer should have sealed the points for City near the end after Sykes’ cross found him completely unmarked 12 yards out but he fired his shot straight at Price. This lead to a couple of nervy moments for City, including the keeper racing the full length of the pitch to try to get onto the end of a late free-kick. However, this came to nothing and City got the victory their performance, and especially their goal, fully deserved.