British Gas Business Football League Premier Division Saturday 10 March 2007 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm

Report taken from by Stephen Ware

City took the lead in bizarre fashion on nine minutes when a clearance from Tom Hamblin ricocheted against Gloucester defender Lyndon Tomkins' head and into the corner of the net. If that was a rather fortunate opener, City were cursing their luck directly from the restart as Gloucester levelled in equally ridiculous fashion. The normally reliable Paul Evans lost the flight of former City winger Alex Sykes' 25-yard volley in the bright sunshine and it flew straight through his hands into the net. Then, in a breathtaking opening, Davidge marked his return from a loan spell with the Seasiders with City's second on the quarter-hour mark, stooping to head home Chris Holland's flick after a Mark McKeever free-kick. Davidge was revelling in his new striking role as the Tigers struggled to cope with his pace and direct running. He nearly fed Walsh on 18 minutes before blazing just wide of Ray Johnston's right-hand post after springing the visitors' offside trap moments later. The game continued to see-saw and Gloucester again equalised on 28 minutes when a rare slip from Holland presented Scott Griffin with an opportunity to calmly slot past Evans. The lively Davidge was again the instigator as City pushed for a third six minutes before the break. His low cross narrowly evaded Walsh and Steve Jones skied the resultant corner at the far post. On a warm afternoon, tempers were beginning to flair with Sekani Simpson the main target of Gloucester aggression and the visitors were lucky to go in at the interval with only Tom Webb in referee Matthew Rushton's notebook. Walsh was close to getting a toe on the end of a driving Steve Jones shot on the stroke of half-time, but the sides went off all-square at the break.

Scott Rogers nearly fired City back in front two minutes into the second half though Sykes was inches away from getting on the end of a measured Griffin cross soon afterwards. Davidge again appeared City's most potent attacking threat - he nearly reached a McKeever through ball just before the hour and a minute later swivelled to volley into the arms of Johnston. In an increasingly scrappy match, Gloucester seemed content to frustrate City and they almost snatched what would have been an undeserved winner on 72 minutes when Griffin burst through only to fluff his shot as City appealed for offside. Walsh had two further chances to put City back in control, first when he appeared to be bundled over when winding up a shot six yards out and secondly when he glanced a Davidge cross over. But Gloucester ended with the point they had come for and City will not be too disappointed with a result that tightens their grip on the title and one achieved without their two first-choice strikers.