Saturday 10 April 2004 - Ladysmead - kick off 3.00pm Dr Martens Premier Division

They suffered several set-backs before the game had even started. Captain Steve Jones (suspension) and Bobby Ford (hamstring) had already been ruled out when keeper Paul Evans injured his back in the pre-match warm-up. This led to a last minute call up for veteran Justin Shuttlewood. Jim Rollo replaced Jones, with Matt Coupe switching into the centre of defence, and Russell Milton made his first start of the year in place of Ford. Once further unforced change saw Andy Williams start in place of Frankie Bennett. And it was last year’s player of the season who almost opened up the Tiverton defence within two minutes of the start. His low cross briefly caused panic in their defence before the danger was finally cleared. Six minutes later Milton pulled a shot wide and for a while this was about as good as it got for City. The home side were little better as their unusual 5-2-3 formation failed to cause City any real concern. Cliff-Brown did head a Winter free-kick over and several corners were won but comfortably defended. Finding space in midfield Gary Owers ended a strong run by firing over the bar on 17 minutes and then Steve Tweddle wasted the best chance of this opening period, electing to take a touch rather than shooting first time and allowing a defender to block his effort. The Devon side were only looking threatening from set-pieces, Winter curling a free-kick wide and then Shuttlewood making his first save of the game from a Holloway effort. In between City created their clearest chance of the first half when Williams crossed for Partridge to head just past the angle of post and crossbar. The half ended with City still on top but only a half-hearted penalty appeal, after Tweddle and Rudge had tangled in the area, and a wild Williams effort even came close to breaking the deadlock.

The hosts made two changes at the interval - O’Hagan replacing Cliff-Brown and Edwards departing in place of Nancekivell. They were forced into a third change within five minutes of the restart when former City striker Paul Milsom – playing for Tiverton in defence - limped off to be replaced by Rees. Although none of the substitutes were involved two minutes later Tivvy’s changed side went ahead. City failed to deal with Holloway’s initial cross and when Steele returned the ball into the area an unmarked Mudge had the space to stab it past Shuttlewood. Holloway, with an off-target header, and Mudge, shooting straight at Shuttlewood, spurned chances to extend Tiverton’s lead soon after this and City finally began to up the tempo in search of an equaliser. On 58 minutes Tweddle forced Fraser into his first difficult save with a well-struck 25-yard shot that the keeper pushed around the post. Steele almost killed any comeback before it started with a cracking volley that flew just wide with Shuttlewood well beaten. Bennett replaced Tweddle shortly after this escape and it was his cross that Partridge volleyed wide with 15 minutes remaining. City were penning Tiverton back in the own half now but it looked as if the lack of firepower that has dogged them all season would once again cost them dear. Rees cleared a dangerous Coupe header off the line and then Sam Bailey headed a Bennett corner wide. When the equaliser finally arrived it owed a great deal to City’s persistence but also a rare piece of good fortunate. Milton took a corner short to Partridge and he fired it into the box toward Bennett. He failed to get a touch but did enough to unsight Fraser and the ball flew between his legs into the net. Any hope that City would fashion a late winner never materialised – in fact, Tiverton cam closest to grabbing the points when Steele’s shot was deflected just wide – and whether the game represented one point gained or two dropped will only become clear in the next few weeks.