FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round
Saturday 24 November 2007 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm
half-time: 1-0 result: W2-0 attendance: 564
team: Evans, G Jones, Keddle, Coupe (c), Holland, Harris, Simpson (Partridge 71), Hogg, Edwards (Gilroy 66), Walsh, McKeever (Rollo 62). subs not used: S Jones, McKay.
man of the match: Phil Walsh
scorers: Walsh (23,74)
bookings: Hogg (26)
officials: A Coggins (Bicester), T Blanch (Cheltenham), R Goodwin (Cheltenham)
league position: n/a form: LdWWLW next match: Hayes & Yeading (H)
Report taken from

Rarely can a man-of-the-match award have been less likely to be disputed than in this game. Phil Walsh's double strike not only gave City an FA Trophy third qualifying round victory they deserved but demonstrated that the lanky striker, who started the season as fourth choice to play up front, had finally come of age and earned his place in the starting line-up. "This season the penny has really dropped as to what we want," said manager John Relish. "And his improvement is really down to the sheer hard work that he has put in. He has learned how strong he is and how he has the ability to influence games."

That influence was visible early on as first Walsh won every battle against the visitors' defence and then rose head and shoulders above them to put City in front with 32 minutes gone. He got on the end of a Mark McKeever free-kick in true Chris Holland-esque fashion to powerfully head back across goal and into the net. That moment apart, the game up until then had been frustrating, with the visitors keen to sit back and soak up pressure and City gifted possession but not always sure what to do with it. Walsh's goal was liberating to his side and for the remainder of the first period they poured forward in numbers with the goalscorer having a further shot blocked and Holland having a header cleared off the line. Thurrock only came out their shells right on the stroke of half time when a cross from Bai Mas Lettejallow was put narrowly wide of the Bath goal by Craig Hughes.

The second half was a different story. Undoubtedly, with their manager's admonishments ringing in their ears, Thurrock attacked from the off. The fast and impressive Bodkin had a shot easily taken by Paul Evans, followed by Phil Anderson having a header narrowly cleared behind for a corner. For the first time a City victory began to look less certain and when Paul Evans managed at the last moment to grab the ball in a frantic goalmouth scramble, just after the hour mark, a midweek replay in Essex looked a distinct possibility. However, Walsh's second calmed any potential jitters and put the result beyond doubt. With 15 minutes left, keeper Dave Blackmore made an error an England goalkeeper would be proud of as his downfield clearance only found Walsh, who immediately set off on a powerful run. He ignored both the defenders bearing down on him and the keeper racing off his line, and maintained his composure to fire into the far corner of the net.