Southern League Premier Division Play-Off Semi Final Monday 1 May - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm

Report taken from by Richard Gadsby

So often the slow starters this season, City paid the ultimate price for a couple of early errors which lead to the game's only goal. With just three minutes gone Jon Holloway made a poor decision to try to shepherd a slow ball out of play, instead of hammering it for a throw, and was promptly dispossessed by Craig Rydeheard. Holloway brought Rydeheard down and, from the resulting free-kick, Rene Howe rose unchallenged to power the ball home with a bullet header. Bedford were on top for the rest of the opening stages but, apart from a couple of dangerous crosses from corners, failed to trouble keeper Justin Shuttlewood. Jim Rollo saw a weak effort hacked off the line by Gavin Hoyte after 11 minutes, as a lack-lustre City struggled to regain the initiative, and a Scott Rogers shot was easily dealt with by keeper Ian Brown in a drab half's only other noteworthy incident.

City looked sharper after the break but Bedford were already defending in numbers and the home side struggled to make inroads. The ever-inventive Andy Sandell was proving City's most dangerous player with one long-range effort flying inches wide before another good strike forced Brown into a solid stop. Rydeheard fired well-over in a rare Bedford counter-attack but the visitors were otherwise content to soak up the pressure. The introduction of substitute Craig Davidge, for the ineffectual Adie Harris, with just over 20 minutes to go inspired City to their best spell of the game. With quarter of an hour left, a powerful cross-shot from the pacy winger flew across the face of goal and through a crowd of players before going out for a goal-kick. Davidge then over-hit a hopeful ball back into the box straight to the keeper who fumbled what should have been a routine catch straight to Partridge. Twerton Park erupted as the City striker smashed the ball home but the crowd were silenced seconds later by the linesman's raised offside flag. A Gethin Jones header was tipped over the bar and another dangerous Davidge cross-shot went wide as time started to run out for City. With the game heading into injury-time the game's best chance fell to Partridge. A goalmouth mix-up saw the ball land at the striker's feet but his point-blank effort was brilliantly smothered by Brown. It was a match-winning save at the death from a keeper who had not been severely tested all game and City looked like a beaten side in the remaining few minutes. At the final whistle, the City players were presented with their Southern Premier League runners-up trophy but it will serve as scant consolation as the club prepare to take on Clevedon Town and Corby next season.