Saturday 14 August 2004 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm Southern League Premier Division

On the excellent looking Twerton Park surface City began strongly. Just three minutes had passed when United’s keeper Tricker was forced into palming Russell Milton’s 20-yard effort away. Benefield was first to the rebound but his hooked shot was straight at the keeper. Banbury responded with a header from Forinton four minutes later that comfortably cleared Justin Shuttlewood’s bar. City’s biggest attacking threat looked to be down their left flank, with Power and Milton combining well. The latter’s 20th minute pass picked out Benefield but he failed to get his shot on target. In contrast to pre-season City were looking much more threatening in attack, Owers had one effort blocked and Williams and Benefield blazed over when well placed. The breakthrough finally arrived on 27 minutes. Williams, showing much more effort than during pre-season, laid the ball back to Milton, who sent a perfect pass forward to put an offside looking Tweddle in the clear. He still had a lot to do but coolly took it on and fired past Tricker. Shuttlewood had to react quickly to protect this lead moments later, taking the ball off Stanbridge. He also denied Forinton with an uncompromising challenge that had the visiting fans appealing in vain for a penalty. Ironically, had Forinton not spent much of the game looking for free-kicks he may have got more sympathy from the officials. A minute before the interval City wasted a great chance to double their lead. Milton was again the creator as he ignored the overlapping Power to pick out Williams with a great cross. His first touch was good but he dragged the shot across the face of goal with only Tricker to beat.

A slip by the otherwise faultless Mike Trought almost let Forinton in early in the second half. He managed to beat Shuttlewood but the shot lacked power and Power got back to clear the danger. City were beginning to stretch the Oxfordshire side more and more with their neat passing game. Tweddle headed a Rollo cross over the bar and then Benefield went down under a challenge from Blossom, only to receive a booking rather than the hoped for penalty. It was Benefield who then several times failed to hit the target after being set-up well on the edge of the box. The hour mark saw Tweddle replaced by Moor and within six minutes he was involved in the build up to City’s second goal. He wriggled free of a couple of defenders down the left flank and threaded a pass through to Power. He knocked the ball past Stanbridge and was sent sprawling by the defender’s challenge. The referee pointed to the spot and Williams blasted the kick hard and straight. For about ten minutes after this second goal City threatened to overwhelm Banbury – Milton shooting wide and then Benefield stabbing a good chance inches wide with Tricker stranded. The game appeared to be heading quietly to it’s conclusion after this but with two minutes remaining the Puritans pulled a goal back. A corner was only half-cleared and Wallbridge lashed a shot into the roof of the net from McKay’s knock-down. City did have one further nervous moment when they struggled to clear a high ball into the box and Banbury had an optimistic penalty appeal waved away by the referee. Seconds later the final whistle signed the end of the game and City could reflect on an ideal start and perfect preparation for tougher tests ahead.