Monday 12 April 2004 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm Dr Martens Premier Division

The defensive display was all the more impressive as City were missing two of the first-choice back four. Captain Steve Jones was serving the second game of his suspension and Steve Jenkins was missing with the injury he picked up at Tiverton two days earlier. Jim Rollo continued to deputise for Jones in both roles and Drew Shore returned to the starting XI for the first time since February. Shuttlewood was called into action as early as the 5th minute, dealing well with Williams’ shot, before, from their first meaningful attack, City took the lead. Cook collected the ball some 35 yards out and, after advancing a couple of paces, fired a stunning left-foot drive that flew past Roberts into the corner of the net. Before the visitors had time to respond he almost doubled City’s lead following an error by Jones but this time Roberts saved his effort. The keeper then produced another fine stop to tip Russell Milton’s goalbound shot to safety. As the half progressed the Welsh side began to force City back. Their first close escape came after 23 minutes when Matt Coupe cleared Stevenson’s shot off the line. Moments later Shuttlewood caught Lloyd’s free-kick at full stretch and on 30 minutes he got down well to deny Bowen. City did suffer a setback just after the half hour when Andy Williams limped off to be replaced by Jason Eaton. The substitute – facing one of his former clubs – headed a Milton free-kick straight at Roberts although it was City who were more grateful to hear the half-time whistle.

There was little change in the balance of the game into the second period although the Exiles were clearly becoming more frustrated at their failure to find a way through City’s rearguard. Time and again the ball was lifted into the danger area but with Bailey and Coupe winning almost everything in the air this approach was yielding little in the way of clear chances. When the ball did drop kindly to a County player the chance was blocked or Shuttlewood was equal to the threat. On a rare attack Scott Partridge tested Roberts but the pressure on the City goal was almost relentless. The big City keeper again got down low to stop Williams’ header with 16 minutes remaining. Cheered on by their sizable away support Newport kept coming. The next player to suffer at the hands of Shuttlewood was Stevenson when his 12-yard shot was well held. The best chance fell to Phillips with a minute left. He raced onto Davies’ neat pass only for Shuttlewood to tip his attempted lob over the bar. When Newport won a corner deep into stoppage time their keeper Roberts was sent up field but he was fortunate to only receive a yellow card for clattering into his opposite number. As the game reached the sixth minute of added time City broke out of defence and should have capped their performance with a second goal. Eaton carried the ball to the edge of the Newport area and released Partridge. He went for power with his shot only for the ball to crash against the bar. Luckily it made no difference as seconds later the final whistle blew leaving both sides looking at the play-offs but from opposite directions.