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Tuesday 22 February 2005 - Twerton Park - kick off 7.45pm Southern League Premier Division 
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| half-time: 0-1 | result: D1-1 | attendance: 847 |
| team: | Evans, Rollo, Power, Jones, Coupe, Ford (c) (Hawkins 85), Cleverley, Owers, Partridge, Hulbert, Sykes. subs not used: Wood, Benefield, Corbett, Milton. |
| man of the match: | Steve Jones |
| scorers: | Coupe (57) |
| bookings: | Coupe (32), Hulbert (62) |
| officials: | J Farries (Adderbury), I Thomas (Wooton Bassett), M Niemirski (Swindon) |
| league position: 14th | form: dDLDLD | next match: Dunstable (H) |
For the fourth time in five meetings City and Chippenham Town shared the points in another uncompromising and controversial clash between the local rivals. It meant City kept their record of having never lost to their Wiltshire neighbours but it took a dreadful mistake by their former keeper Mark Hervin to ensure they finished level, although once again it was a performance that should have yielded more than a single point. This was especially true after the visitors were reduced to ten men with 14 minutes remaining after another former City player Sam Allison saw red for elbowing Steve Jones.
In total Chippenham fielded seven ex-Romans whereas City were denied their recent signing from them due to the clause in Martin Paul’s deal that prevented him facing his former club this season. With top scorer John Williams also missing with a groin strain it meant Scott Partridge started his first game since injuring his ankle on the 8 January and teenage striker Ricky Hulbert was handed his first league start. Two further changes saw Sam Bailey dropped from the squad following the head-butting incident at Gloucester on Saturday and Jimmy Benefield relegated to the bench, with Bobby Ford and Ben Cleverley taking their places in a 4-3-1-2 formation. The first chance of the game fell to Allison when his pace got him ahead of the City defence but he could only shoot tamely straight at Paul Evans. The next 15 minutes were all City, with Alex Sykes shooting over following good work by Partridge and then Partridge himself forcing a desperate clearance from Herring. Against the run of play, and with only their second attack of the game, Chippenham took the lead. The goal had a lot in common with the way they fell behind against Gloucester last time out as they failed to deal with Regis’ cross. The ball dropped to Badman whose mis-hit shot dropped to Gilroy and he slid the ball past Evans to the delight of the 150 or so Bluebird fans behind that goal. Understandably the Wiltshire side now tried to slow down play and disrupt City’s play through any means possible. Wilmot had been cautioned in the opening minutes for a foul on Hulbert and Allison should have joined him after going through the back of Matt Coupe. Instead it was the City defender who saw yellow for his reaction to the challenge that saw Allison throw himself theatrically to the floor. Minutes later he repeated the foul on Jim Rollo and finally received a booking. The game was almost solely being played in the Chippenham half, with just a few long punts forward for Allison and Gilroy to chase interrupting this pattern. However, apart from a glancing header from Owers that Herring cleared off the line with Hervin beaten City never came close to turning this domination into an equaliser.
The second half began with Chippenham wasting two great chances to extend their advantage. Again it was Allison’s pace that created the first opening but showing the sort of poor finishing that was characteristic of his time with City his shot lacked power and, although it beat Evans, Graeme Power had time to get back and clear the danger. The next opening fell to Gilroy when he latched onto a Badman pass, however his finish was even worse than Allison’s as he dragged a shot well wide. And they were made to pay for these misses when City levelled on 57 minutes. City won a free-kick on the right which Ford lifted into the box. With influential (and ex-City, obviously) defender Gary Thorne off the pitch receiving treatment this allowed Coupe to win the ball and loop a header toward goal. It looked to be comfortably Hervin’s ball but as he caught it under little pressure he appeared to lean back and carry the ball over the line. To the delight of City the linesman spotted this mistake and, despite the long protestations of the Chippenham players, flagged for a goal. Clearly rattled the league leaders were now there for the taking but, once again, City’s final pass or cross was too often lacking and Hervin was rarely called into action after this. Equally Chippenham were posing little threat and this wasn’t helped when Allison finally received his marching orders with 14 minutes left. He led with an elbow when challenging for a high ball with Steve Jones, giving the referee no option but to show him a red card. In contrast to City’s approach when they were reduced to ten men against Histon the previous Tuesday – they kept three men up front to try to win the game – Chippenham left Gilroy, then substitute Constable, up front on his own and stuck their other nine players in defence. This negative stance did it’s job perfectly as City were reduced to one wayward Cleverley shot and a charged down clearance by Partridge that for a fleeting moment seemed to be heading toward the net.