Saturday 12 November 2005 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm FA Trophy 2nd Qualifying Round

Report taken from by Richard Gadsby

The game started slowly although City soon gained the upper hand with some slick passing in midfield. A few dangerous crosses had already been half cleared when Tony Bird fired the home side in front with a first-time strike from the edge of the box after a nice lay-off from Andy Sandell. And Bird should have made it 2-0 moments later when he was put clean through by Adie Harris. The City striker lifted the ball over the onrushing Lee Evans but could only watch as it sailed inches wide of the post. Rovers still looked dangerous on the break and City keeper Evans had to be alert to save a tame Ben Porter effort before a poor Harris pass gave Anthony Maguire a shooting chance but he could only flash wide from 20 yards. It looked like that would be it for the first half but a long free-kick from Andy Sandell on the halfway line was met by the stooping head of Jon Holloway and the ball floated over the stranded Evans into an open net. The referee blew for half-time immediately from the restart and City picked up where they had left off after the break.

For all their possession they were creating little in the way of chances though with only a few dangerous crosses and a long range Sandell effort testing the keeper. With 15 minutes to go, City came within an inch of increasing their lead with the move of the match. Greame Power flicked Sandell through on the left and the powerful winger burst past two players, beat a third and flashed a strong shot across goal which the sliding Tony Bird steered onto the crossbar. Rovers threw men forward in a bid to salvage the game and almost pulled a goal back when an unmarked Paul Szewczyk nearly connected with a Banner cross from the left at the back post. The game looked over by then but shortly before full-time an innocuous looking challenge from Hadland on Evans brought a retaliatory punch from the City keeper whilst the two players were grounded. Cue chaotic scenes near the corner flag as every player bar Evans' opposite number piled in for a free-for-all slanging match. Chests were puffed out, fingers were pointed but other than some light pushing there was little in the way of actual contact. When the dust had settled Jones, Evans and Benbow were all shown straight reds for violent conduct even though footage of the incident shows Benbow skulking at the back of the melee after arriving late. City were clearly incensed by the decision and deep into injury time Sandell brilliantly turned two markers whilst trying to kill time near the left corner flag. The winger beat the last defender and cracked a shot against the underside of the cross bar but the ball bounced to safety and the gamed ended soon after.