Southern League Premier Division Saturday 25 February 2005 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm

Report taken from by Richard Gadsby

Credit to City, though, who adapted to the terrible pitch and high gales to make it five straight wins since the start of the month and leave John Relish's side just four points off the top of the table with a game in hand on leaders Chippenham. It was a comfortable enough win, against a poor side, but the scoreline could have been even more convincing had referee James Evamy been stronger in the opening minutes. A ball down the middle found Andy Sandell who raced past the defence to go clean through. He was cynically taken out just yards from the penalty area by last-man Steve Williams but Evamy didn't even book the Martyrs' right-back despite awarding the free-kick. It was to prove the start of a torrid day for Williams who was turned inside-out by Sandell all afternoon as the City winger finally showed signs that he is back to full match-fitness. Tony Bird headed over from a Sandell cross shortly after and a long-range effort from Sandell skimmed the post as City took control. A Dave Williams free-kick tested Paul Evans for Merthyr's first attack of the afternoon but City hit straight back and won a corner at the other end. Sandell whipped it into the box and a diving Jon Holloway somehow bundled the ball home via a combination of leg and defender. As usual, City sat back after the goal and very nearly paid the price when a high, harmless-looking cross from Garry Shephard was caught by the wind and forced Evans into a late diving catch.

It was the last chance of the half and obviously served as a wake-up call for City who came out for the second half looking to kill the game. They effectively did just that four minutes in when Sandell controlled a poor clearance, beat his man and then coolly clipped the ball past Ashley Morris after waiting for the keeper to commit himself. It was no more than City, and Merthyr's far from convincing defence, deserved and the game was always in the home side's hands after that. Merthyr threw men forward as the match went on, and enjoyed more possession, but they never seriously threatened to get past a City defence that looked back to its impregnable best. City looked dangerous on the break but Scott Partridge and Sandell both opted for the sensible, if uninspiring, option of running into corners when faced with a stretched defence and the home side held on comfortably.