Saturday 30 April 2005 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm Southern League Premier Division

Going into the game City knew that all they could do was win the game and hope for results elsewhere and this they did in a professional manner against a side clearly dispirited after their own play-off ambitions had disappeared the previous Saturday. With Chris Holland recovering from his back injury he was recalled in place of Matt Coupe. And one further change to the side that beat Solihull 4-0 saw Martin Paul starting up front alongside Scott Partridge – top scorer John Williams missing due to the injury he received in the same game. From the start it was clear that Aylesbury were there for the taking and within the opening 15 minutes Partridge had dragged one shot wide following good work from Owen Story, Alex Sykes failed to hit the target twice from 25 yard shots and Story shot narrowly wide. Holland then headed a Partridge cross over and Owers wasted a good chance after creating space on the edge of the box. The only worry from City’s point of view was that this would not be the first time this season they had dominated the early stages only to fail to take advantage. Indeed, similar outcomes against Rugby United, Stamford and Solihull at Twerton Park go a long way to explaining why City would ultimately miss out on the play-offs. A quiet period after this began to bring these fears to the surface and when Paul failed to take advantage of beating keeper Rashid to a long through ball – defender Ridley producing a great tackle to deny the 100 goal City striker – midway through the half, the previously noisy home support began to falter. However, chances were still coming, Partridge just failing to latch onto Owers’ nod down from a Jim Rollo centre, and with 34 minutes gone the vital breakthrough arrived. Owers was the creator sending Partridge racing toward goal with a perfectly weighted pass and he curled a beautiful shot just inside the right hand post. Barely before the celebrations had died down City went further ahead. Folds fouled Partridge ten yards in the Aylesbury half and with everyone waiting for ball into the box Bobby Ford instead, spotting Rashid off his line, fired a stunning 45-yard shot into the roof of the net to break his City goal duck in great style. The game was now won and it would have been understandable if minds both on and off the pitch began to wander elsewhere in the country but to City’s credit they kept focused on the job and never gave the visitors a sniff of a way back into the game.

Instead they continued to push forward and search for more goals that could yet affect the final league outcome. A change at the interval saw Ricky Hulbert replace Paul and within 20 seconds of the restart he was bearing down on goal only to shoot over. A rare attack by the Ducks, basically their first real one of the afternoon, on 51 minutes saw French blaze wide and soon City were back on the offensive. Owers and Graeme Power produced some neat play down the left flank to set up Partridge. He crossed to Story who chested the ball down before firing in a shot that Rashid had to turn away at full stretch. Rashid was also in action moments later to deny Partridge and then City had strong penalty claims waved away when Mead appeared to handle the ball. Aylesbury finally got a shot on target after 71 minutes although Paul Evans had little trouble in claiming Roberts weak effort. Twelve minutes from time City were awarded a penalty after Hulbert went down under a challenge from Mead. It looked a less clear-cut than the earlier shout and justice was done when Rashid saved Partridge’s effort and then produced an even better block to deny the same players’ follow up. There was still time for Sykes to volley a Klukowski cross straight at the busy keeper and Partridge screw another opening wide. The final whistle was greeted with a good ovation from the City supporters but this joy was rapidly turning to despair as results began to filter through and it soon became clear that their season was over and at least one more Southern League campaign lay ahead of them.