Saturday 19 February 2005 - Meadow Park - kick off 3.00pm Southern League Premier Division

City boss Gary Owers resisted the temptation to restore Scott Partridge to his starting XI so the Romans began with the same side that had drawn 2-2 with Histon earlier in the week. And they started off positively, with Jim Rollo forcing an early save out of home keeper Bath. The goalie then misjudged a Graeme Power cross which John Williams hooked back toward goal only for Mustoe to head clear. City were passing the ball about confidently on the excellent Meadow Park surface but, as has been the case so often this season, they lacked the width or pace to really test the opposition. One less tangible commodity City were also lacking was a bit of luck and after 14 minutes it was the complete opposite as Gloucester went ahead. Initially City were to blame for the poor marking that allowed Wilkinson a far post header. Paul Evans produced a fine stop to keep this effort out only for the ball rebounded to the same player. He again couldn’t find the target, slicing a shot across the goal, but this time it dropped perfectly for Cox to lash it into the net. The game then returned to the previous pattern of City controlling proceedings but being kept at bay by the Tigers defence. Power and Owers both tried their luck from long-range and Williams headed a Rollo cross straight at Bath. City’s top scorer then curled in a 25-yard shot that flew wide, but also aggravated an old groin injury that left him a passenger until the interval when he was replaced by Partridge. The largely ineffective Martin Paul was denied by Bath as half-time approached but too often promising positions were wasted, with Alex Sykes and Jimmy Benefield the most guilty parties.

In a rare attack at the start of the second half only Webb’s poor control prevented him doubling Gloucester advantage. City responded with a strong run by Sykes that was ended by Griffiths’ crude challenge. This earned the defender a yellow card although it was the distasteful sight of several teammates, in particular Mustoe, constantly disputing every decision that went against them, that revealed the nasty streak that runs through the side. No doubt actively encouraged by the moronic antics of manager Burns whether playing or, as today, confined to the bench. Fittingly he had been the first participant to receive a telling off from the referee as early as the opening minutes. Once the home players had finally backed off the referee, Sykes fired the free-kick into the wall and Owers followed-up with a low drive that Bath got a fingertip to to divert it onto the post. City were beginning to commit more players forward and were almost caught out on the hour mark. Bailey made a mess of an attempted clearance which left Addis clear on goal only for Evans to deny him with his legs. It was a mistake that Bailey repeated two minutes later and this time there was no escape as Cox took advantage of his weak back header to roll home a second goal. Smith’s unnecessary reaction to the 18-year old’s mistake, attempting to shake his hand, was again indicative of his side’s malicious attitude and would have repercussions after the final whistle. Benefield almost got City immediately back into the game, Bath turning his 20-yard shot away for a corner. On 67 minutes it looked like the game was over for City when Smith headed a cross to an unmarked Addis just eight yards out. He spectacularly volleyed it toward goal only for Evans to produce a stunning save. And this piece of brilliance looked even more important two minutes later when Benefield’s low drive flew into the corner of the net with Bath rooted to the spot. With 20 minutes remaining City were suddenly back into the game but with Paul and Partridge showing obvious signs of rust having only played a single full 90 minutes between them in the last few months the hoped for onslaught never came. The closest they came was another Sykes free-kick that struck the wall and when the whistle blew it looked like the afternoon’s entertainment was over. However, Bailey had other ideas and Smith’s goading finally had it desired effect, the red mist descended and he head-butted the wing-back. The melee that followed saw several Gloucester players throw punches as Bailey but when order was finally restored City were left to reflect on another disappointing and, at the end, thoroughly unpleasant afternoon.