Saturday 13 August 2005 - South Kesteven Stadium - kick off 3.00pm Southern League Premier Division

City did suffer one blow before the kick-off as captain Bobby Ford was ruled out with a back injury – he was replaced by Gethin Jones with Jim Rollo taking the captain’s armband and Ford’s place in the centre of the midfield - but apart from this John Relish’s first line-up was at full strength. With the conditions in their favour both Rollo and Gethin Jones tried their luck with low shots in the opening minutes that Ziccardi comfortably claimed. With eight minutes gone City had a close escape. Weale’s floated free-kick was well punched clear by Paul Evans but it dropped kindly to Town’s player-manager Glover. He lifted it back toward goal only to see his effort graze the outside of the post. This attempt turned out to be as close as the home side would come, although a neat build-up ten minutes later was only halted by an alert Evans collecting the ball ahead of Carruthers. The debutant striker’s follow through on City’s keeper was a sign of things to come. In the difficult conditions City had struggled to produce any decent football though Phil Walsh was proving an handful for the Gingerbread’s defence and slowly they began to get the upper hand. Scott Partridge’s low shot forced Ziccardi into a low stop on 26 minutes, then Andy Sandell headed just wide of the post. Increasingly City were denying Grantham any room and this approach saw them win a 30th minute corner. Gethin Jones lifted the ball into the six yard box where Ziccardi completed misjudged the flight allowing Partridge to head home from close range. City were now well on top with Ziccardi redeeming himself slightly with a save from Partridge on 34 minutes. Walsh’s flick almost created another opening for Partridge moments later before another header from Sandell just failed to find the target. It looked as if City would have to be content with a single goal as the first half reached stoppage time but their tenacity created a second goal out of nothing. Walsh’s ball forward looked a lost cause to all apart from Sandell. He chased it down and turned it low across the area. It found Partridge on the edge of the six yard box and he took one touch to create room and place his shot past Ziccardi.

With the wind in their faces in the second half and a two goal cushion City came out after the interval content to sit back and contain the Lincolnshire side. This approach worked so well that Evans was not called on to make a save and it was clear that frustration was building in the home players. Several late challenges tested the patience of referee Mr Searle but in the end he had little option to show a red card. Carruthers’ lunge at Matt Coupe was a borderline dismissal but as the experienced striker had already been booked for a similar challenge in the first half the yellow card was enough to end his – and more importantly his team’s – interest in the game. Five minutes from time City capped an excellent afternoon with a third goal. Substitute Martin Paul caused panic in the Grantham area and, with the home players seemingly more interested in kicking him whilst he was lying on the floor, Alex Sykes took full advantage to curl home a left foot shot.