Saturday 8 January 2005 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm Southern League Premier Division

City’s starting line-up included one further change to Caskey from the side that lost at Tiverton Town, Scott Partridge returning in place of loan striker Luke Corbett, who had to settle for a place on the bench. This meant City were still missing Bobby Ford, Graeme Power, Alex Sykes and Gary Owers but they made light of these absences by dominating the first half. Caskey was at the heart of most of City’s good work and it was his 3rd minute free-kick that just evaded Steve Jones. The former Tottenham midfielder then tried his luck from 25 yards but the shot was deflected away by Pope. The same defender then had to be alert to deny Partridge on 13 minutes after he had ran onto Ben Cleverley’s pass. This escape was only temporary for Halesowen though as four minutes later City went ahead. A quick throw-in down the left flank allowed Cleverley to lift a deep cross to the far post where Williams looped a volley over Taylor. The game was there for the taking now for City and Partridge should have doubled their lead on 20 minutes when Caskey’s quick free-kick put him clear but Taylor blocked his shot. The next chance arrived ten minutes later as Caskey and Partridge combined to set up Williams. However, he failed to reach the cross and Jim Rollo’s follow up was blocked. Up to this point Halesowen’s only response had been a Forsdick shot over the bar after 32 minutes and a Haywood free-kick that Paul Evans easily claimed, but the second half turned out to be a different affair.

It took just five minutes for the balance of play to begin to shift toward the Yeltz when they had a strong penalty shout turned down. City themselves have been on the wrong end of several penalty decisions in recent games but were fortunate to escape when Evans appeared to pull down Lamey in the box. Town’s top scorer then stabbed a Cowley flick narrowly wide and Cooper fired over the bar after City had failed to clear. Too often City were cheaply giving possession away although they almost grabbed a second goal against the run of play just before the hour mark when Caskey beat several defenders only to see his shot deflected behind. From the corner Williams flicked the ball goalwards only for Forsdick to clear it off the line. This preceded a brief improved spell from City as Partridge shot wide and Sam Bailey headed a chance straight at Taylor. However, any hopes of City finding their first half form soon disappeared as they received a double blow on 70 minutes. First, Partridge had to be stretchered off after failing awkwardly whilst trying to shoot. Then within less than a minute Lamey was allowed far too much space in the City box to simply convert Moore’s pass. The game had swung to the Midland’s side now and Lamey should have put them ahead two minutes after the equaliser but shot wide from close range. They seemed to settle for a point after this miss and were nearly made to pay for this lack of adventure when City almost grabbed an injury time winner. Fittingly it was man of the match Caskey who fashioned the opening bursting into the box but his low shot was too close to Taylor and the keeper blocked the effort.