Saturday 10 September 2005 - Twerton Park - kick off 2.57pm FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round

Bird was starting his first game for City in place of the suspended Phil Walsh. Further changes to the side that weakly subsided to Banbury United the previous week were Graeme Power back into the starting line-up in place of Andrew York and Adie Harris and Bobby Ford restored in the midfield. Matt Coupe was also missing due to suspension and Gethin Jones once again found himself on the bench. City had a narrow escape almost straight from the kick-off when Green raced clear down the left flank. He pulled the ball back toward Macklin but his effort was blocked on the line by Jon Holloway. This turned out to be a rare attack for the visitors and soon City were pressing them back. On five minutes Andy Sandell fired a low shot just wide from 25 yards and then eight minutes later a great build up involving Bird, Harris and Scott Partridge ended with Benbow diving bravely at the feet of City's top scorer. The next opening fell to Bird after a rare burst forward by Chris Holland saw the centre-back lift a pass over Cinderford's back line to free the striker. However, he delayed his shot and was forced wide and the danger passed. It was all City now and virtually everything good was coming via Sandell. His 24th minute shot after beating several defenders was turned over the bar at full stretch by Benbow then he turned provider, crossing for Bird to bring another fine stop out of the keeper with a firm header. Bird and Partridge were already showing an excellent understanding but it was Sandell who again tested Benbow with a 43rd minute free kick that he punched away and another long range effort in first half stoppage that was saved by the keeper's legs.

The second half started with a brief spell of pressure from the visitors when they won three corners in quick succession, however Mark Bryant was never called into action and soon City were on top again. For a while though the massed ranks of red shirts frustrated City and with Sandell seeing less possession than in the first half they failed to create any real chances. Just after the hour mark Cinderford won a free-kick 20 yards out which Bryant got down well to save. Within moments City came as close as they had to breaking the deadlock. Partridge flicked on Sandell's cross and Bird stabbed it toward goal only for the ball to hit the foot of the post. The game had been played in a competitive but fair nature up to that point but the referee was forced to take action against Town's manager Cook and send him to the stand for comments directed at the official. As the game entered it's final 15 minutes City boss John Relish threw on Martin Paul and Gethin Jones in place of Graeme Power and Jim Rollo, switching to three at the back, in a last effort to win the game. This nearly paid off with nine minutes remaining when Partridge got free on the left had side of the six-yard box only for Benbow again to deny him, blocking the shot with his legs. That looked to be that for City but five minutes later they finally found a way past the goalkeeper. Fittingly it was Sandell who provided the cross, although it was a deflection that saw it fall to Bird to shoot low into the corner of the net. The relief was papable around Twerton Park and the remaining minutes passed with no likelihood of an equaliser from Cinderford, allowing City to avoid a tricky replay and bank the no small matter of £2,250 prize money.