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Thursday 28 July 2005 - Twerton Park - kick off 7.30pm Pre-season Friendly 
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| half-time: 0-1 | result: L0-2 | attendance: 475 |
| team: | Evans, Coupe (Shackle 83), York, Holloway, Injai (Davies 54), Rollo (Klukowski 61), Sykes (Duggan 45), Ford (c), Ferro (Hulbert 61), Partridge, Sandell. subs not used: Fisher. |
| man of the match: | Bobby Ford |
| scorers: | none |
| bookings: | none |
| officials: | Not known |
| league position: n/a | form: -WLLLL | next match: Welton (A) |
The 2-0 reversal against Bristol Rovers in their hastily arranged friendly was City’s fourth blank in five outing and means that in their last 14 pre-season friendlies, spread over three summers, they have score in just two. However, as these games are a means to an end it was another useful workout for a City side missing seven first-team players and featuring three new trialists, Portuguese duo Jorge Ferro and Igor Injai, plus, on the bench, David Davies. Also returning the line-up after missing the Paulton match due to injury were Matt Coupe and Andrew York.
For Rovers’ second visit to Twerton Park in as many days – they lost 1-0 to tenant’s Team Bath the previous evening – they fielded a fairly strong side, including last season’s top scorer Junior Agogo, and began brightly. Richards shot wide when well-placed after just eleven minutes, and then Tucker failed to hit the target after being played in by Hunt. On 16 minutes this pressure finally yielded an opening goal. City failed to clear a Williams corner and Preece crashed the ball home from six yards. Agogo then chipped a shot just over before missing a great chance to double Rovers lead, blazing over the bar from close range after Injai had failed to clear a Bass cross. Up front for all Scott Partridge’s hard work City were making little impression on the visitors rearguard, Ferro’s mis-directed effort from a Partridge cross summing up their efforts in the opening 30 minutes. On the stroke of half-time Preece almost grabbed his and Rovers’ second goal of the night with a far post diving header that flew just wide.
At the break Sam Duggan replaced the ineffectual Alex Sykes and this proceeded City best spell of the game. A quickly taken 49th minute corner by Partridge and Duggan saw an unmarked Coupe volley wide. A similar move moments later gave Injai a chance at the far post but he couldn’t direct his header on target. Partridge also brought the first real save out of Pirates keeper Marshall during this period and Andy Sandell sent a rising shot over the bar. Soon though Rovers were back on the attack, Paul Evans getting down well to stop Agogo’s low shot. With six minutes left Agogo finally got his name on the score sheet with a stunning strike that had both sets of supporters applauding. He collected the ball with his back to goal, flicked it over Davies before unleashing a spectacular volley into the roof of the net. There was still time for Evans to deny Haldane a third Rovers goal and Partridge shot over when sent clear by a great pass from Ricky Hulbert.