Saturday 9 April 2005 - Top Field Stadium - kick off 3.00pm Southern League Premier Division

With loan defender Leigh Henry suspended Steve Jones was recalled to the starting XI alongside Chris Holland. One further change saw Jim Rollo slot back into his more familiar right-back position in place of Matt Coupe with Gary Owers restoring himself into the midfield. The home side came into the game on the back of a seven match winless run that had seen them slide worryingly close to the relegation zone and they appeared to be there for the taking, but as has so often happened this season City failed to press home this advantage. John Williams did get an early effort on target that keeper Wilmot had little trouble in saving, but this was rare sight of goal at either end during the opening exchanges. Good work by Graeme Power in the 18th minute ended with Owen Story shooting wide before Hitchin’s first attempt on goal saw Sozzo fire straight at Paul Evans. Power and Sozzo then tried to liven up proceedings with a little impromptu wrestling match but even this failed to rouse the game. Midway through the half – with Jones off the pitch receiving treatment – the Daniels wasted their best chance to take the lead, Duffy volleying over from Cavill’s accurate cross. This escape did seem to wake City up slightly, Alex Sykes shooting wide from Martin Paul’s quick throw and the Paul himself seeing a good chance blocked by McCulloch after a neat flick from Williams. Eleven minutes before the interval City had a let off when Jones appeared to foul Lewis in the box. However, the referee only awarded a corner from which Baldry shot wide.

If this first half wasn’t unmemorable enough within the opening minute of the second it was completely forgotten as City took the lead. A quickly taken free-kick by Owers allowed Sykes the room to cut the ball back into the danger area. It fell to Williams via a defender’s boot and he stabbed it toward goal. Story took evasive action and despite McCulloch’s attempted clearance the ball had clearly crossed the line. Thankfully the linesman agreed and City were ahead. Given Hitchin’s failure to really test them before this City understandably were content to sit back and try to catch them on the break. To increase their threat in this area Paul was replaced by Scott Partridge on 67 minutes and within moments he almost picked out Story following strong run. The hosts were seeing much more possession now but they found Evans once again in imperious form, his handling and judgement faultless as time and again Hitchin’s effort came to nothing. With more men committed forward they were looking more vulnerable at the back and Story almost took advantage with 12 minute left only for McMenamin’s desperate tackle denying him. With just a single goal lead City were justifiably edgy going into the closing minutes and a series of long throws by McMenamin did little to calm their nerves, although only a Cavill shot that flew over ever threatened an equaliser from this approach. The final worry came into stoppage time when Ayres headed the ball into the path of Cavill but Evans had closed him down and blocked his shot.