Saturday 17 April 2004 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm Dr Martens Premier Division

Another outstanding performance came from Bobby Ford – fit again and in for the injured Andy Williams. The only other change from the Newport win was tactical, with Bennett switching to the right flank and Cook joining Partridge up front. The benefits of this change were not immediately apparent as the opening 20 minutes passed with little incident, both sides looking understandably nervous given the importance of the game. Gary Owers did head a Russell Milton free-kick wide but when the opening goal arrived on 24 minutes it was out of nothing. Bennett was the creator with a brilliant 50-yard ball that sent Partridge racing clear. Showing a coolness that belied the situation he curled a right-foot shot beyond Ziccardi into the corner of the net. Against Newport, City’s opening goal had been the signal for the opposition to take control of the game but this time it was the Romans who began to dominate. Cook choose to shoot five minutes later with Partridge and Bennett well placed but just past the half hour mark City made it 2-0. Partridge cleverly held the ball up before laying it perfectly into the path of the overlapping Milton. He carried it to the edge of the six-yard box and his low centre was deflected into the net by McCaul. City were now looking capable of scoring with every attack. Cook shot over after an error by Dakin and Partridge had a goal bound shot charged down. Having weathered this storm the Gingerbreads had their best spell of the game. The closest they came during the period was when a poor punch by Justin Shuttlewood dropped to Sutton. He had the goal at his mercy but lifted his shot over the bar. City duly punished this with a third goal three minutes before the interval. Another ball over the top, this time by Milton, was latched onto by Partridge and when his marker Dakin stumbled he was clear on goal. This time he choose to pass rather than shoot and Cook was provided was a simple tap-in. Partridge could have added a fourth before the break – Ziccardi saving well with his legs when the ex-Weymouth striker had again burst clear of the Town defence.

The visitors went for broke at the start of the second half, pushing three up front. Within two minutes of the restart Dakin headed a Hemming’s free-kick straight at Shuttlewood. They did pull a goal back after 54 minutes – Clarke rising highest to head a Hallows cross beyond Shuttlewood. Dakin and Sutton also went close after this and had they grabbed a second goal the whole outlook of the game would have changed. However, it was clear that the gaps Grantham were leaving at the back were begging to be taken advantage of. A weaving run by Cook on 61 minutes brought a fine stop out of Ziccardi but nine minutes later he was beaten for a fourth time. Partridge collected a Owers pass and cut inside his marker. His shot was not that powerful and Ziccardi got a hand to it but couldn’t prevent it finding the net. Their three goal advantage restored City replaced Cook and Ford with Steve Tweddle and Iain Harvey - the former firing a good opening over within a few moments of his arrival. With six minutes left Partridge struck his third and City’s fifth. It was preceded by the most comical defending seen at Twerton Park this season. Three times Grantham had the chance to clear the ball but failed and eventually it fell to Bennett. He curled in a perfect cross for an unmarked Partridge to head home. He went off a minute later to a rapturous ovation to be replaced by Josh Jeffries. And in stoppage time it was Jeffries who almost grabbed a sixth goal – stabbing the ball against the foot of the post. This was the last chance as the final whistle went soon afterwards and City were left celebrating a perfect afternoon’s work. Now they just need to produce another two like it … and then another two after that.