Saturday 4 September 2004 - Creasy Park - kick off 3.00pm Southern League Premier Division

Even before the game City were missing several players. Illness sidelined Bobby Ford and Russell Milton was missing with a hamstring injury along with Steve Tweddle, giving Darren Hawkins his first start since returning to the club and Jim Rollo the captains armband plus a place in the centre of midfield. Steve Jones returned to the side after injury at right-back. The home side began brightly, as would befit a side on the back of three wins, and their lively front-pairing of Spring and Carney looked dangerous on several occasions. Clear cut chances though were not created and slowly City began to get a toehold in the game. Their first decent opening saw an atypical run from Rollo end with a shot that flew wide. Despite the heat both sides continued to play the match as a decent pace. Hawkins brought the first save out of either keeper on 25 minutes with a shot that Taylor held well. Moments later Jimmy Benefield brought down a high Williams’s cross but his mis-hit shot bobbled just wide. Dunstable’s response saw Okai strongly hit shot blocked by Mike Trought and Shuttlewood deny Francis. City’s keeper also saved Carney’s far post header with ten minutes of the half remaining. Hawkins then twice spurned good openings but on the stroke of half-time City took the lead. Taylor and Fontanelle gave away an unnecessary corner which Hawkins curled into the six yard box. With the nearest City player several yards away Spring and Fontanelle got in each others way and only succeeded in heading the ball into their own net.

Clearly lifted by this lucky break within four minutes of the restart City doubled their advantage. Reinier Moor burst through the Town defence only for Taylor to block before he could shoot. The ball broke to Benefield and he squared it to Williams, who calmly slotted it high into the net. Moments before Owers had been on the receiving end of a dreadful challenge by Keane and he limped off to be replaced by teenager Yan Klukowski. He was involved in the action almost immediately with a weaving run that finished with a shot that flew narrowly side. Moor also fired wide after he ran on to a beautiful through ball by Hawkins. Even though City then lost Williams with a hamstring injury it just looked a matter of time before they scored again. When the goal arrived it was from the penalty spot. Moor latched on to the ball in the box and was felled by Williams’ lunge. The defender received a straight red card for the offence and Hawkins blasted home the spot kick. The game was as good as over as a contest although there was time for the hosts to grab a consolation goal through a penalty of their own. Trought was adjudged to have pulled back Carney in the 79th minute and he placed the ball into the corner of the net from 12 yards. Ironically it was attempting to save this kick that saw Shuttlewood injure his ribs and he was replaced by debutant keeper Stuart Fraser. The former Tiverton Town man had a couple of nervous moments in the closing stages but City held out to claim the win, although at no little cost.