Saturday 16 October 2004 - Grigg Lane - kick off 3.00pm FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round

With the preceding fifty minutes as an indication even a 10-man City side should have been capable of overcoming the New Forest side as, despite missing captain Bobby Ford and Matt Coupe, they outclassed them from the opening exchanges and, but for an excellent performance from keeper Brunnschweiler, could have been out of sight by half-time. As early as the fifth minute he was called into action, blocking John Williams’ shot from Jimmy Benefield’s cross. The home side were struggling to cope with City’s lively attacking movement with Alex Sykes, Russell Milton and Benefield combining well to service Williams and Partridge up front. City did receive a brief scare on 16 minutes when Lovell failed to direct a free header on target. This was as good as it got for the Badgers in the first half. Another fluid move involving Sykes and Williams ended with Benefield shooting narrowly wide and midway through the half Sykes saw a shot cleared off the line by Grace. The one-way traffic continued with Rollo bringing another save out of Brunnschweiler and Williams looping a header over the bar. Partridge shot straight at Brunnschweiler and Sykes fired a free-kick wide in the closing moments of the half. Just before the interval Graeme Power denied Wright following a mistake by Sam Bailey and the game reached half-time goalless.

When Kemp’s 20-yard effort early in the second half forced Evans into his first save of the game City’s 200+ travelling supporters must have begun to wonder if their team would be made to pay for failing to take advantage of the domination but on 50 minutes they finally broke through. Jones leapt to head Sykes’ corner toward the goal where Partridge was perfectly placed to flick the ball into the net. It appeared that this goal caused City to relax when a long ball forward ended with Wright going down under Jones’ challenge. However, once Evans turned White’s penalty to safety the game was effectively there for City’s taking and they gave Brockenhurst no second chance. Benefield had missed one clear opening and Bailey saw his header pushed away by Brunnschweiler before City doubled their lead. The goal began with a corner for the hosts which was cleared to Sykes. He advanced into the Brockenhurst half before releasing Williams, whose low cross was turned home by Partridge from six yards out. Six minutes later City and Partridge grabbed their third goal. The former Bristol City striker won the ball ahead of Brunnschweiler and laid it back to Sykes. His effort was charged down only for Williams to fire the rebound goalwards. Brunnschweiler had not managed to regain his position but Bryan did a very good impression of him by turning the shot over the bar. He received the mandatory red card and Partridge showed how a penalty should be taken by sending Brunnschweiler the wrong way. Partridge, Williams and Benefield soon made way for Steve Tweddle, Darren Hawkins and Reinier Moor, and all three had chances to increase City’s lead, particularly the latter who missed a great chance to break his duck when clean through. The home side did have the final word when they almost grabbed a consolation goal, Winshall crashing a shot against the post, but at the final whistle City could reflect on a professional performance in a potentially difficult tie.