Somerset Premier Cup 2nd Round Wednesday 14 November 2007 - Hand Stadium - kick off 7.45pm

City made light work of progressing to the quarter finals of the Somerset Premier Cup with a seven goal rout of Western League Division 1 side Clevedon United. The star of City’s biggest victory since January 2000 was Martin Paul, whose hat-trick took him level with Paul Randall as City’s 2nd all-time goalscorer on 112 goals. The game also marked the first start for Scott Partridge after eight months sidelined with a neck injury, although it was a mixed evening for him as he struck the best goal of the game before being forced off at half-time after receiving a kick on the calf. Understandably City took the opportunity to rest a number of first teamers, giving 90 minutes to fringe players Paul Keddle, Steve Jones and Justyn McKay. Also in goal was 18-year former Melksham Town and Devizes keeper Owen Dunn.

It was still a strong starting XI that Clevedon were facing and after a fairly even first ten minutes the game became as one-sided as you’d expect. In truth, though, the opening goal did have an element of fortune about it, as a Dave Gilroy cross appeared to come off Paul last but the referee awarded a corner. From this set-piece Chris Holland rose above three United defenders to power home a header. If this goal had an element of luck about it two minutes later the home side could have no complaints when the ball dropped to Partridge 20-yards from goal and he unleashed a stunning dipping volley that gave Selway in the Clevedon goal no chance. With both Partridge and Hogg having free roles, City’s movement and passing was far too good for United. Gilroy should have made it 3-0 on 27 minutes but shot too close to Selway and a minute later Partridge tested the keeper with another effort from the edge of the box. The third goal finally arrived on the half-hour mark when Partridge got free down the left flank. His low shot was parried by Selway only for Paul to bundle it home at the far post. Several more half chances cam and went, primarily to Gilroy, before McKay fired in the fourth with a drive from 18-yards five minutes before the interval.

The break saw Mark McKeever replace Partridge but there was little change in the balance of the game as within nine minutes of the restart City scored a fifth, Paul latching on to a Gilroy flick to fire the ball just inside the post. Holland, Gilroy and Paul had already spurned chances before this and it was now just a matter of how many goals City would score. And on 59 minutes number six arrived, through Gilroy’s neat finish. As if to rub in their dominance City brought on joint top scorer Darren Edwards in place of Jim Rollo after 66 minutes and he nearly made it 7-0 18 minutes from time only for Selway to deny him with an excellent block. City did suffer a blow moments later when Hogg appeared to turn his ankle on the increasingly hard and slippery pitch and he had to be stretchered off. Having used all their substitutes by then this meant City were playing the final quarter of an hour with ten men but this made little difference and on 80 minutes Selway was again picking the ball out of his net after Paul raced clear and slotted past him to complete his ninth hat-trick in City colours. With the temperature dropping conditions were becoming trickier by the minute but to their credit Clevedon finally forced a save out of Dunn in the closing minutes, blocking a low shot with his legs.

After a much-needed ten day break from action this was the prefect outing to prepare for a return to league action against third placed Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday. Only the injuries picked up by Partridge and Hogg – although he is suspended for the next two games anyway – cast a cloud on the evening.