Saturday 29 November 2003 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm FA Trophy 2nd Round

Owers’ first starting XI saw Mitch Counsell restored to the team, albeit in an unfamiliar right-flank role in the absence the injured Andy Williams and Frankie Bennett. Alfie Carter dropped back to the left-back spot with Steve Jenkins suspended and Russell Milton lined up alongside the player-manager and Jim Rollo in the midfield. It was immediately apparent that Gloucester main threat would come from ex-City forward Jimmy Cox. Time and again his pace took him into threatening areas but fortunately he showed that he had gained little in his ability in front of goal since his Twerton Park days (1 goal from 13 games). He first burst into the City area after five minutes only for an excellent Mike Trought tackle to stop him in his tracks. Before he could influence the game again Owers struck with his 20-yard effort that Tigers keeper Bath could only stand and watch find the goal. Within two minutes Knight’s cross was headed goalwards by Wilkinson. Mark Bryant looked to have it covered but a shocking bounce sent the ball over his despairing dive. If both the opening goals had been somewhat fortunate the third (and, in the end, final) strike was anything but as Carter produced an increasingly typical weaving run that left several yellow-clad defenders trailing and his cross was turned home from close-range by Cleverley. After this burst of goals the game settled down, although it was the visitors who looked more likely to add to the scoring. Bryant made up for his earlier nightmare by saving with his feet from a Smith shot after 23 minutes then repeated the trick from Cox moments later. Despite this pressure City’s back line was looking more secure than recent weeks as headers were won strongly and the Gloucester forwards were rarely given the time or space to seriously threaten Bryant’s goal. This good work was almost undone though with seven minutes remaining in the half. Smith’s volley from Webb’s cross looked destined for the net before Bryant produced a stunning one handed save.

The second half began with the man of the moment Owers forced from the action with a thigh injury to be replaced by Drew Shore. Little changed in the balance of the game although it was clear that Gloucester were beginning to run out of steam and ideas. Cox was again denied twice by Bryant but City were starting to see more possession as the half progressed. Cleverley lifted a shot over the bar on the hour mark and Milton fired narrowly wide soon after. Another Carter cross just evaded Jason Eaton on 71 minutes as the balance began to noticeably shift to the side in black and white. Gloucester attempted to boost their fading hopes by replacing Kinght and Wilkson with Hemmings and Burns but this had little impact on the game. With City content now to soak up what limited threat the Tigers had left the game meandered to it’s end with no more incidents of note. Even the referee realised that the outcome had long since been decided by blowing right on 90 minutes to put Gloucester out of their misery and leave Owers wondering what is so hard about this managerial lark.