Saturday 1 October 2005 - Butlin Road - kick off 3.00pm Southern League Premier Division

Report taken from by Richard Gadsby

City nicked the points in the end although they made hard work of it and went behind after three minutes when a cross from the right caused confusion in the six-yard box. Kevin Slinn and David Stone failed to finish as the ball bounced awkwardly, but the Bath defence wasted several chances to clear and it fell to Rob Maddox at the far post who curled home the opener. It was the third game running that City conceded with less than four minutes played and Rugby looked as though they were going to overwhelm the visitors following a string of excellent passing moves. City's defence managed to hold firm and after 11 minutes the visitors were level. Andy Sandell almost broke through the Rugby back line at speed but got the ball caught under his feet following pressure from two defenders. With his back to goal, Sandell managed to prod the ball back towards the onrushing Tony Bird, who lashed a ferocious first-time shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the box. The goal deflated Rugby who never regained their initial, sparkling ten-minute spell and City started to break through. Five minutes after the equaliser Bird almost grabbed another when a Scott Partridge cross from the left was just nodded out of his path by Steve Farmer with keeper Karl Lewis stranded. And another deflected header, this time from Andy Peaks, forced Lewis into a sharp save after Partridge's initial strike had been blocked. As the half wore on Rugby started to come back into the game and created several half chances, including a Delroy Gordon header which beat Mark Bryant but was disallowed. And with a minute of the half left Town should have restored their lead when Gordon swung a dangerous cross in from the right which was headed back across goal by Slinn. With no oncoming forwards, the ball rolled harmlessly past the empty net and was eventually cleared by Matt Coupe to keep the scores level at half-time.

The second half was much scrappier with neither side able to hold on to possession. Rugby created a few half chances but only a pair of deflected shots from Avun Jephcott seriously threatened. And when Maddox's low effort from the left of the six-yard box was charged down by the keeper after 72 minutes it marked the half's first clear shot on goal. City boss John Relish had thrown on an extra forward in a bid to win the game and with quarter of an hour to go the gamble paid off. Substitute Martin Paul found himself in space on the right and he crossed to the far post where the unmarked Jon Holloway side-footed home from five yards. Two late corners for a demoralised Rugby side failed to trouble Bryant and City eased to a vital win.