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Saturday 2 October 2004 - Westleigh Park - kick off 3.00pm FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round 
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| half-time: 0-0 | result: W2-0 | attendance: 312 |
| team: | Evans, Rollo, Power, Coupe, Trought, Ford (c), Benefield, Sykes, Partridge, Williams, Milton (Jones 69). subs not used: Puddy, Moor, Klukowski, Hulbert. |
| man of the match: | Bobby Ford |
| scorers: | Sykes (61), Williams (86) |
| bookings: | Sykes (45), Power (67) |
| officials: | S Cook (Woking). I Kitchen, G Hock |
| league position: n/a | form: WDLWWW | next match: Hitchin (H) |
Having missed out on a place in the Conference South with a heartbreaking play-off defeat against Dorchester Town back in May, City were given their first chance to sample what life may have been like at that new non-league rung when they were paired with Havant & Waterlooville in this FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round clash. And what it seemed to prove was that City would have more than held their own at that level as they deservedly triumphed by two goals to nil over the Hawks. Although this result could be seen as making their failure to get out of the Southern League even more frustrating.
When the sides met in the penultimate league game of last season City ran out 4-1 winners with Scott Partridge blasting home a hat-trick. So, it would have hardly filled the home side with optimism when the striker was handed his first start of this campaign after two months sidelined with a knee injury. His earlier than expected return was in part due to the absence of Steve Tweddle because of work commitments. One further change from the side that beat Aylesbury the previous Saturday saw Alex Sykes replace Darren Hawkins, who had injured an ankle training with Bristol City in the week. Despite the return of Partridge the home side began strongly, forcing Paul Evans to scramble a second minute shot from Poate around the post after Holligan had got free down the left. A slip by Graeme Power then allowed Town to centre which just eluded the inrushing Holdsworth. The former Premiership striker got in front of Matt Coupe on 12 minutes only to volley straight at Evans as Havant continued to pile on the pressure. The first indication that City had weathered this early storm came on 22 minutes when John Williams fired wide from Bobby Ford’s pass. The game then went through a lull before exploding back into life on 32 minutes. Holligan’s ball over the City backline suddenly had Holdsworth racing clear on goal. Mike Trought desperately chased back and appeared to clip the striker’s heel sending him crashing to the turf. The referee immediately blew but rather than awarding a free-kick and dismissing Trought he booked Holdsworth for diving. Captain Champion was also cautioned for comments directed at the linesman but to their credit Havant did not let the incident affect them with Poate shooting wide moments later and Holdsworth going close with a 30-yard effort. The closing minutes of the first half though belonged to City. Jimmy Benefield headed a chance wide and Williams saw two efforts blocked. In stoppage time City were left stunned by the referee as he took the chance to even things up by booking Sykes for diving after he was clearly hauled back in the area by Campbell.
The second half began with City still on top although a poor clearance by Power should have gifted the hosts the lead. It dropped to Holdsworth just eight yards out but he somehow blasted wide of the gaping goal. So the game was still finely balanced as it reached the hour-mark when City broke the deadlock with a goal of high quality. Jim Rollo intercepted an attempted clearance and lifted a cross toward the far post. It initially looked as if it might be too strong for Sykes but he stretched to send a stunning volley flashing back across keeper Peyton into the corner of the net. The recent arrival from Forest Green tried to repeat the trick two minutes later with less success and on 65 minutes the Hawks made a triple substitution to try to find a way back into the game. City responded by replacing Russell Milton with Steve Jones and switching to five at the back. Evans was forced into blocking a Holligan shot, diving on the rebound just ahead of Taylor, and then former City triallist Jordan had a shot blocked on the line after a Howe corner had dropped to him. Slowly the home side began to run out of ideas and with four minutes remaining City sealed victory with a second goal. Rollo played the ball forward to Partridge and he skipped past two defenders before sending in a shot that Peyton could only parry into the path of Williams. Before any defender could react he had drilled it into the net and City were assured of a place in the 3rd Qualifying Round draw.