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Monday 30 August 2004 - Corinium Stadium - kick off 3.00pm Southern League Premier Division 
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| half-time: 0-1 | result: L0-2 | attendance: 448 |
| team: | Shuttlewood, Rollo, Monelle, Coupe, Trought, Ford (c), Benefield (Hawkins 64), Owers, Moor (Hulbert 78), Williams, Milton (Stevens 75). subs not used: Fraser, Klukowski. |
| man of the match: | John Williams |
| scorers: | none |
| bookings: | none |
| officials: | B Baker (Andover), S Attwell (Nuneaton), P Maton (Coventry) |
| league position: 11th | form: WWLWLL | next match: Dunstable (A) |
After the embarrassment that was the 4-1 defeat at home to Bedford Town two days earlier, City could only produce a better performance, at least defensively, against early season pace-setters Cirencester Town. And they did but not one sufficient to prevent the Wiltshire running out two-goal winners. And once again both the goals came from individual errors by City players rather than anything created by the opposition.
With Graeme Power and Steve Tweddle failing to shake off knocks received against Bedford, Grant Monelle and Reinier Moor were both handed their first starts in City colours. Showing few ill-affects from their Beford mauling City began the game brightly. Russell Milton and John Williams both forcing early saves out of Thompson - a keeper that made Justin Shuttlewood look anorexic! The game then settled into a more even pattern as City once again showed a lack of cutting edge to go with their neat passing game. Cirencester by contrast were much more direct and a strong run by ex-City striker Hopkins was only ended by a well-timed challenge by Matt Coupe. Coupe, looking more like the defender City fans are used to after Saturday’s nightmare, also had to be alert to intercept a cross from another former City player Mike Davis. On 25 minutes City created their best chance of the half when Williams’ dipping volley flew narrowly over the bar with Thompson beaten. Town replied with a Mayo shot that was straight at Shuttlewood. It looked like the game would reach the interval goalless but with five minutes remaining the home side grabbed the lead. Davis lifted a free-kick into the City area where it flicked off the head of Trought. Shuttlewood managed to get a hand to it but the ball found the net via a post.
The pattern of the game changed little going into the second half as City looked good until the last third of the pitch. Williams’ cross was headed wide by Moor before City once again gifted the opposition a goal. Hopkins got ahead of Trought and advanced into the area only to go down under a challenge by the defender. It looked a touch and go decision but with a referee like Mr Baker (see Forest Green v City in 2000) the penalty was awarded and Robison fired it home. In quick succession City brought on Darren Hawkins, Dean Stevens and Ricky Hulbert but it was John Williams who remained the only City player likely to get them back in the game. With seven minutes left he sent a stunning 30-yard effort crashing against the foot of the post. In the closing minutes he almost got onto the end of a neat Bobby Ford pass and then tested Thompson with a well-struck free-kick but for all his efforts City were left to reflect on a Bank Holiday weekend they would want to forget.