Tuesday 18 November 2003 - Twerton Park - kick off 7.45pm
Somerset Premier Cup 2nd Round
half-time: 1-0 result: W3-0 attendance: 194
team: Bryant, Coupe, Shore, Jones (c) (Howarth 45), Trought, Rollo (Jeffries 87), Owers, Milton, Eaton (Counsell 62), Cleverley, Carter. subs not used: Jenkins, Bridges.
man of the match: Jim Rollo
scorers: Owers (42), Eaton (58), Coupe (90)
bookings: none
referee: R Ganfield (Weston SM)
league position: n/a form: DLWLLW next match: Cambridge (A)
Back in the late eighties and early nineties the opening rounds of the Somerset Premier Cup were largely shooting practice for City as a succession of Western League sides were put to the sword by their high flying local opponents. Glastonbury suffered a 6-0 reversal in 1990 and Chard (1989) and Clevedon Town (1990) saw eight goals fired past them. The prize for the biggest defeat fell to Watchet Town in 1988, as the hapless Somerset side were hit for nine goals without reply. In these games City’s various strikers took the chance to fill their boots – Paul Bodin and John Freegard both grabbing four goals before the latter struck an incredible six time in the aforementioned match with Watchet. Unfortunately this days it is not quite so easy for City. Whether it’s how far they have slipped or that the Western League has improved (probably a bit of both), these regular thrashings have become a thing of the past. Nowadays City are happy to just avoid an embarrassing defeat like the one suffered at Odd Down last season. Therefore the 3-0 victory over Welton Rovers has to be looked at as a positive outcome although the overall performance would have done little to encourage the handful of City fans who turned out to watch the game that better times are close at hand.

Long-term injury casualties aside it was a near full-strength City side that began the game and with Rovers missing a number of regulars it was no surprise that possession was dominated by the team in black and white stripes. However, despite this City were far from convincing as time and time again a misplaced pass or poor final ball meant Rovers keeper Dyson was rarely tested. What threat City did produce came mainly down the left flank where Drew Shore and Alfie Carter, in an unusual left-back role, combined well. One such move after 18 minutes saw the later pick out Jim Rollo on the edge of the Welton box. His dipping volley had Dyson rooted to the spot but it flashed the wrong side of the post. The City midfielder saw another chance fly wide six minutes later. For all their possession on the rare occasion Welton broke forward City’s defence showed signs of the frailties that would be more severely punished by even an average Dr Martens League side. It looked as if the game would reach its halfway point level when City were gifted the lead by a howler by Dyson. Owers’ 20-yard effort looked to be of little threat to the keeper but he allowed it to slip through his grasp into the corner of the net.

City were forced into a change at the interval with captain Steve Jones suffering a back injury. Adam Howarth took his place at the heart of the City defence. The substitute then forced Dyson into a smart save after 50 minutes, meeting Russell Milton’s corner with a firm header. Just before the hour mark City doubled their lead. Matt Coupe’s overlapping run down the right saw him race clear. His cross was helped on by Dan Cleverley and Jason Eaton slid in at the far post to turn the ball home. Mitch Counsell replaced Eaton shortly afterwards to play alongside Cleverley up front. His typical 100% approach almost led to further goals for City, and Milton was denied by an excellent block by Dyson on 86 minutes, but it wasn’t until the final minute that they grabbed a third. Fittingly it was the hard-working Coupe who got his name on the scoresheet with a volley that found the net via a post. With their recent league problems the victory was more than welcome but City will need much better performances if they are to repeat the trick in upcoming league and cup games.