With Hughes and Ross brought back into the side for Vincent and the injured Vaughan, City started off kicking downhill at a very wet Bowerfold.

With the ball holding up in the water both teams were struggling to move it around, but after just a few minutes Staly were the first to break, a through ball leaving their forward one on one with Ross. Tom Sharpe came in to make the tackle, but unfortunately getting the wrong side and bringing the player down. Sharpe was sent off, but Ross saved the resulting penalty well down low to his right.

As play carried on, the ball got slower, holding up at almost every opportunity.
City moved the ball well though and although Staly had a few good chances go across goal, city had the best of the ball.

Late on in the first half with the ball bouncing round in the middle, the ball fell to Waldron. As he went to take a touch, Staly player tackled very high with studs up, leading to outrage from the away bench. The player was then suitably sent off and the numbers were even upped.

HT: 0-0

The start of the second half started off just as wet. However Staly were the first to react. A ball out to the left was crossed in for a free header just yards out for Chris Simm, which he guided past Ross into the net.

Soon after a good pass and move movement by Nti and Minihan led to the ball being dragged back for Deeney who perhaps could have done better with his shot, which went straight at the keeper.

With the ball still sliding around, a tackle on Burton meant the ball slid across goal to Hughes, who hit it straight at the keeper.

With city starting to kick on, chances fell to Hughes and Deeney, who both brought good saves out of Staly keeper.

With city still pushing, good chances came down the wings, but all to no avail. With city up the pitch, Staly broke, with their right winger pulling a good one on one save out of Ross, parrying it out for a corner. From the resulting corner Ross struggled to punch the ball clear, instead it landed to Jack Higgins who converted.

Chances offered at both ends, but all without damage.

However Staly weren't finished there. A free kick deep on the right hand side was crossed over to the far post to be met by another free header for Simm to make it 3-0.

City didn't give up there. Finally getting a consolation in the last few mins through substitute Dunkley, following a hard low cross from Deeney to make it 3-1, but despite city's best efforts that's how it finished.

FT: 3-1

Match Report: Rhys Goode