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Saturday 7 August 2004 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm Friendly 
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| half-time: 0-0 | result: D0-0 | attendance: 301 |
| team: | Shuttlewood, Jones, Power (Lamacraft 58), Coupe (Monelle 58), Trought, Ford (c) (Faux 45), Benefield (Klukowski 80), Owers (Stevens 45), Moor (Tweddle 42), Williams (Hulbert 58), Milton. subs not used: none |
| man of the match: | Mike Trought |
| scorers: | none |
| bookings: | none |
| officials: | J Cordy, A Fricker, G Barter |
| league position: n/a | form: LLWLLd | next match: Banbury Utd (H) |
If ever a game was destined to finish 0-0 it was this encounter between City and Forest Green Rovers. Traditionally the final pre-season match is one where both sides hold something back, having already put in the real hard work during the previous games and making sure they avoid any injuries that will see them miss the start of the real action in a weeks time. Add to this both sides goalscoring struggles during the summer and the 30 degree plus temperatures it was no surprise that the game never got above a leisurely pace. Fittingly City and Rovers were fielding trialist strikers in an attempt to boost their firepower. For City it was former Republic of Ireland youth international Reinier Moor handed the task of adding to the side’s meagre tally of three pre-season goals. Whilst he failed to manage this he did show enough during his 42 minutes on the pitch – a slight groin strain forcing his early departure – to show he may be the answer to City’s problems whilst top scorer Scott Partridge remains sidelined.
In contrast to City’s previous clashes with higher league opposition during the past five weeks they were seeing the majority of possession. However, fully in keeping with these games chances were almost non-existent. John Williams did fire over from a promising position after just four minutes but Rovers keeper Steve Perrin was rarely called into action after that. At the other end Justin Shuttlwood was again looking solid, with a couple of confident cross claims and a flying save to tip a Danks – Forest Green’s new trialist striker – 25-yard effort over the bar. The only other event of any note in the first half was the arrival of former City favourite Jon Holloway, recently signed by Rovers from Worcester City. He had already received some jeering from a small section of the City support - upset at the manner in which they perceived he left City after ‘promising’ to stay loyal to the club – and his first action worth mentioning was to get involved in a pushing match with Bobby Ford.
Understandably both sides began making numerous changes during and shortly after the interval. City introduced another new face in the shape of former Exeter City player Richard Faux in the midfield. Like Moor he showed a few nice touches but with the heat having clearly taken its toll on both sides, despite some neat passing, neither appeared capable of breaking the deadlock. In this circumstances it was no surprise that the best opening for both sides were created by substitutes who had only been on the pitch for a short time. For City it was young striker Ricky Hulbert who produced a weaving run with 20 minutes remaining that left several defenders trailing. His superb cross flew across the area but none of the City attackers could summon up the energy to get on the end of it. Forest Green’s chance was fashioned by Beesley when he reached a pass ahead of Shuttlewood and crossed toward the unguarded goal. However, before a teammate could apply a finishing touch Matt Coupe was on hand to clear the danger and, with it, guarantee that the game finished exactly true to form.