Thursday 31 July 2003 - Twerton Park - kick off 7.45pm Friendly half-time: 2-0 result: W2-1 attendance: n/a team: Bryant, Rollo (Coupe 45), Shore, Jones, Bennett (Plummer 45), Trought (Howarth 45), Milton, Harvey (Bridges 45), Cleverley (Eaton 67), Tweddle (Salter 67), Williams (Jefferies 45). subs not used: Spring. man of the match: Frankie Bennett scorers: Bennett (8), Cleverley (41) bookings: none officials: not known league position: n/a form: -WDLDW next match: Carmarthen (H) In this hastily arranged friendly against Screwfix Direct Western League Premier Division Backwell United, City produced their best 45 minutes of pre-season football so far to lead by two goals to nil at the interval. However the second half was much more disappointing as they failed to continue this performance, although a series of substitutions did to some extent disrupt their play. The clash saw another trialist line-up for City as former Cardiff City centre-back Gethin Jones played the full ninety minutes. Having started with Jason Eaton and Mark Salter two days earlier against Paulton, City’s other two strikers, Steve Tweddle and Dan Cleverley, were handed the nine and ten shirts this time. However, it was Frankie Bennett who got City off to the ideal start after just eight minutes, powerfully heading an Andy Williams cross into the net via the underside of the crossbar. He almost repeated the trick midway through the half only for a defender to clear this effort off the line. Tweddle also wasted a good opening after 36 minutes, lobbing weakly into the keepers arms after he was given acres of space on the edge of the Backwell box. Four minutes before the break City doubled their advantage. Another Williams cross found the head of Cleverley and his delicate header gave the keeper no chance. This was as good as it got for City. Five players were brought on at the interval and one of these, Matt Coupe, gifted the visitors a goal just after the hour mark. His poor touch allowing someone (sorry!) to fire past the exposed Bryant. Despite some neat touches and turns from Dwayne Plummer, making his second trial appearance, in the middle of the park City were struggling to recapture the form of the first half. They should have scored a third with 16 minutes remaining though when they were awarded a penalty. Jason Eaton was shoved in the back but Russell Milton joined a long list of City failures from the spot. A late Salter effort was scrambled off the line but it was a relief when the final whistle arrived to put City and the small crowd out of their misery.