Tuesday 24 February 2004 - Manor Park - kick off 7.45pm Dr Martens Premier Division

City were dealt another blow before kick-off when Frankie Bennett, so influential in the Moor Green win, failed to recover from a knock he received in that game. His absence saw joint top-scorer Steve Tweddle make a first start since November when he was stretched from the pitch ironically against Nuneaton. For all his effort it was clear that he was desperately lacking match fitness and sharpness, forcing even more responsibility on the over-worked Scott Partridge. Before either striker had any impact on the game though City found themselves trailing. Just six minutes had passed when a long run by Williams saw him slide the ball through to Murphy. From 15 yards he shot low and true past Paul Evans to give the home side the perfect start. After this City began to dominate possession but as has so often been the case this season they failed to turn this upper hand into clear cut chances. Only twice before the interval was keeper Acton called into action. The 21st minute saw him grab Bobby Ford’s free-kick at the second attempt. Eight minutes later a Partridge cross fell nicely for the incoming Jim Rollo. His shot was straight at Acton but it almost slipped under him only for the relieved keeper to grasp it at the last moment. The former Tamworth shot-stopper also had a nervous moment when he appeared to handle outside his box seven minutes before the break but the officials missed the incident. It was no surprise therefore when clear elbow on Steve Jones also went unpunished before the interval.

After the break Nuneaton had their best spell of the game but City’s defence stood up well to the pressure, Matt Coupe in particular having an excellent game, and just past the hour mark they fashioned a surprise equaliser. A long ball from defence by Jones saw Partridge out battle Tullin and when Acton came rushing out of his area only to get nowhere near the ball he was suddenly faced with an empty net. Having scored six goals in his last four league outings he needed no second invitation to fire home number seven. This against the run of play goal saw Nuneaton crumble only for City to fail to take advantage. Partridge shot wide a couple of minutes later when well positioned and twice Tweddle wasted good openings. They were handed another great chance to go ahead on 82 minutes when Ford was fouled right on the edge of the area only for this to lead to Borough’s winning goal. Darren Hawkins blasted the free-kick into the wall and when City then carelessly conceded a throw-in they were suddenly caught napping. A quick throw and the ball was hoofed up field. Murphy and keeper Evans descended on it only for the striker to reach it first and poke toward goal. Agonisingly for City the shot had just enough strength to beat the retreating Steve Jenkins to the net. City came straight back at their hosts and within two minutes another moment of madness by Acton almost handed then a second equaliser. Again he came flying from goal only to miss the ball completely. This time Partridge seemed to hurry his shot and it flew wide of the goal. Stoppage time saw Evans come up for a corner but even the presence of the 6’5 keeper failed to trouble the Nuneaton defence and City’s mini-revival was brought to an unexpectedly premature end.