Saturday 13 November 2004 - Underhill - kick off 3.00pm FA Cup 1st Round

City welcomed back top scorer John Williams into the team, after he missed Tuesday’s draw at Hednesford Town, replacing flu-victim Reinier Moor. With Paul Evans and Russell Milton still sidelined the only other change to that side was Sam Bailey coming in for the injured Mike Trought. The Bees were averaging nearly three and a half goals per game at home before this match and from the opening kick-off it was clear why. Only 30 seconds into the game Stevens just failed to reach a Graham cross. Playing down the considerable Underhill slope Hatch headed wide from a Hendon cross three minutes later. The next close calls saw Steve Perrin turn away Strevens’ effort and Hatch blast a clear opening wide following a neat pass from Clist. Barnet were looking most threatening down their right flank with Graeme Power struggling to cope, which also denied City of his attacking prowess. Up front Partridge and Williams worked tirelessly to give their overworked defence a break from the pressure. When Alex Sykes and Jimmy Benefield did get up to support them they got into a couple of promising positions but never had the numbers forward to truly threaten, although Bobby Ford did a least get a shot in that Tynan comfortably held. Steve Jones was harshly booked for a challenge on Graham after 29 minutes but the City no.5 was proving to be a rock at the heart of the City defence, winning the ball time and time again. The Bees tops scorer Grazioli was well-marshalled and seeing little possession in dangerous areas, although he did feed Hatch to bring another good stop out of Perrin. The same player then headed straight at the loan keeper from just six yards out and also thumped another effort against the bar, even though a linesman flag would have ruled out a more accurate effort. He did finally get the ball into the net on 35 minutes only, once again, for a flag to halt any celebrations. The final chance of the half fell to Grazioli six minutes before the break. He was unmarked just 12 yards out but tamely scuffed his shot straight at Perrin.

Having reached the midway point of the game level, albeit unsure exactly how, City needed to keep the game tight into the second period but three minutes in the home side finally broke through. Graham’s simple ball over the top dropped behind Jones and Bailey where Hatch gleefully fired it past Perrin at his near post. This should have been the signal for the Bees to sweep City away but instead it incredibly saw the Romans raise their game and suddenly look capable of getting back into the game. From the restart Partridge fired over and moments later Gary Owers also failed to keep an effort on target. City’s player-manager was winning a series of crunching challenges in midfield now even after he joined Jones in the referee’s notebook for one such mistimed tackle. Grazioli spurned another good opening after 56 minutes before City had a great chance to draw level. Williams produced a surging run down the right and pulled a cross back to Benefield only for the midfielder to shoot high over the bar. City then lost Ford, injured in a challenge with Hendon, which saw Matt Coupe come on at right-back and Jim Rollo move into the midfield. Within minutes of this change City equalised. Sykes collected the ball thirty yards out and tried his luck after advancing toward goal. His swerving shot was only palmed down by Tynan and Partridge was first to the loose ball to stab it home. Cue wild scenes amongst City’s 300 strong travelling support and it almost got even better five minutes later. Partridge turned provider, crossing for Williams to stick out a long right leg and send the ball rolled agonisingly inches wide of the far post. All eyes were on the clock now as Barnet regrouped and set up a final fifteen to find their way through a tiring City defence once again. Bailey and Jones some blocked a Grazioli shot after Perrin had parried the initial effort from Hatch. Bailey then deflected Roache’s shot wide and as the game reached its final minute it looked as if City had done enough to earn a highly creditable draw. This all changed when Partridge chased forward onto Owers’ long ball over the top of the Barnet backline. Yakubu looked favourite to win the battle however the player of the third qualifying round managed to get ahead of him and put a shot in. Tynan blocked the effort but the ball looped up where Partridge calmly let it drop before sliding it into the net from a tight angle. While the unrestrained celebrations were taking place amongst the City fans the fourth official’s board went up, showing four minutes of stoppage time. City had survived nearly three of these when the ball dropped into their six yard box. Cue an almighty scramble with red shirt after red shirt throwing themselves in front of the ball. After what seemed like an age Perrin came up with the ball in his hands. That turned out to be Barnet’s last chance as moments later the final whistle blew to signal a pitch invasion and unrestrained celebrations between fans and players. Against all the odds City had booked their place in the FA Cup 2nd Round, taken their prize money to £37,000 and provided everyone connected with the club a day that they will not forget for a long time.