Goater, who became a fan’s favourite during his City stint between 1998 and 2003, was the star man in the final derby at Maine Road back in 2002.
City were 3-1 winners that day, with Goater scoring twice and playing a part in Nicolas Anelka’s opener.
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Although he scored 103 times in 212 appearances, his first in that match is almost unanimously his most adored by City fans.
Chasing a ball into the corner, Goater dispossessed Gary Neville before slotting the ball home under Fabian Barthez.
“My memory is vivid. It was a lost cause,” he said about the strike.
“Marc Vivien-Foe goes for a diagonal but mishits it so I just chase it down. If Gary was commentating he would have said he could have done loads of things, putting it out for a throw or a corner. At that stage, he’s probably thinking he can be cheeky and go to the goalkeeper.
“I go to block it and the ball falls brilliantly for me. My first touch I’m looking to see if there is anyone there to square it to. I knocked it out of my feet and realised there is no-one there.
“I have another touch and I’m only seven or so yards from the byline. When I see it go in, my thoughts are don’t get too excited because they have been a team to pull goals back.”
The Bermudan sealed the three points and an historic victory in the second half with his 100th goal for the Club.
Although it was a landmark moment for the striker, he admits he wasn’t aware of the personal significance at the time – instead focusing on helping his side see out the game.
“I wasn’t aware that I was on 98 goals,” Goater stated to hosts Rob Pollard and former team-mate Paul Dickov.
“I knew where I was in that season but I didn’t know it was my 100th goal for City. Jensen knocks it inside, I see the space and Eyal knocks it through to me.
“Barthez was a really good shot stopper but I just thought it’s not about hitting it hard, it’s about faking to shoot and lobbing it. That comes from looking at the opposition and taking that information in.”
It hadn’t always gone perfectly for Goater at City. He joined in 1998 from Bristol City and was powerless as our relegation to the third tier of English football was confirmed.
Although he had some doubts about the move in the early months, Goater was determined to put things right in his time in Manchester.
When I left Bristol City and came to Manchester City, Bristol City was playing really good,” he said.
“I came on the transfer deadline, which was late in March so there were only seven games left.
“My wife said ‘What have you done, this team is rubbish’. City were struggling with confidence but I kept saying it was the right move, this is a huge club.
“Bristol City would get about 22,000 fans, City was more like 30,000. There were parts of me that had a little doubt but I had to keep saying it out loud to myself and to her.
“I saw quality players but I also knew that City fans didn’t have the connection with the players because the team was struggling. I knew City was a Club that made your career or broke your career, so I was prepared to do almost anything.”
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