Southern League Premier Division Saturday 11 February 2006 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm

Report taken from by Richard Gadsby

The game could not have started better for City - in fact, it should not have started at all. With some fans still coming through the turnstiles, referee William Lillington blew for kick-off two minutes early and City immediately went on the attack. Harris' initial shot was blocked and the ball fell kindly for Scott Partridge, whose follow-up effort hit the bar. The ball bounced back to Tony Bird who headed past prone keeper Richard Wilmot just a few seconds before 3pm. Bird almost grabbed another six minutes later when a good ball from Partridge gifted the striker a clean shot on target, but his powerful effort was palmed away by Wilmot. Hitchin were reeling and City continued to carve open the defence for the rest of the half. Andy Sandell, back for his first start in three weeks, rasped a shot just wide and Parys Okai managed to poke the ball away for a throw in to stop Phillip Walsh breaking clean through. City were already in control of the game when, with six minutes of the half left, the referee gave them a helping hand. Matt Coupe clattered into Gavin Jaggard and while the two players were on the floor the Hitchin man elbowed Coupe. It looked accidental but the man in black showed Jaggard a straight red for dangerous play. Hitchin held out until the break but the decision left the visitors with a mountain to climb in a game they were already struggling to get to grips with.

Like last week's opponents Chesham, Hitchin were simply second best in every department, but equalised with their first meaningful attack of the afternoon midway through the second half. Glen Lamacraft chased a hopeful ball into the box and Steve Jones' challenge hit the Hitchin winger, bounced back off the Bath man and then fell right in the path of the onrushing Thomas Hayes who rammed home. It was a fluke but City only had themselves to blame and the goal inspired them to their best spell. Wilmot was forced into a low stop from Bird just seconds after the restart and Partridge skimmed the far post with a swerving shot from the right. Harris headed inches over from a corner as City piled on the pressure and they finally restored their lead with 16 minutes to go. A burst of pace from Bird on the right took him past his man and the striker crossed into the box for an unmarked Partridge to steer home. The goal should have sealed the game but, in typical City style, there was still time for a scare or two. Lamacraft's long-range effort was saved easily enough with four minutes left but then Paul Evans, perhaps inspired by boredom, had a moment of madness. The City keeper delayed a straightforward clearance from a back pass until the onrushing Hayes was almost on top of him. The ball ricocheted off the Hitchin winger but fortunately bounced straight back into the keeper's arms. Holloway almost made it 3-1 with a late header, but City were more than happy to hear the final whistle.