Dominant City win over Lads Club despite early scare

City got over a very early scare, going a goal down away at Hereford Lads Club on Wednesday evening, but hit back within a minute and ran out comfortable 5-1 winners to again go clear at the top of the Hellenic League.

Chris Cornes made just the one change to his starting line-up from the Sleaford Town win on Saturday, with Jamie Insall coming in to replace the unavailable Izak Reid. Elliott Hartley also returned to the squad with a place on the bench, in the only other change to the squad.

It wasn't an ideal start for the visitors though. After just two minutes, a driven cross found Matt James in the box who managed to finish, and give a shock to the system for the City lads. That shock worked, however, as within a minute City were level. Top scorer Liam Lockett was played through by skipper Adam Mace, and his low drive found the back of the net. Three minutes, two goals, and the scoreline was level.

After the early start City began too grow into the game and assert their dominance. Insall had a chance with a glancing header from a freekick, following a foul on Dylan Hart for which Sam Hunt was booked for the home side. Insall almost scored again after being found by a low Hart cross, but his effort went just wide.

Insall, proving to be a real nuisance for the Lads Club defence, would turn provider and was heavily involved in City's second goal of the evening. He and Belmonte linked-up well before Kyle finished confidently to make it 2-1.

Two became three in similar fashion to the opener. It was Belmonte this time who slotted a ball perfectly into Lockett, and he made easy work of his finish for his second, and City's third of the evening. With just over 20 minutes on the clock, City had gone from 1-0 down to 3-1 up.

Hart had City's best chance of the remaining first half minutes, Logan Stoddart playing a ball back following a deep cross, but Hart from 6 yards couldn't keep his effort down as it flew over the bar. After a non-stop first half, City went in two goals up at half time.

It was much of the same in the second half and another early goal, just three minutes in on 48. Liam Lockett turned provider this time for Belmonte, cutting the ball back for Kyle to drive the ball home and get his second of the evening.

Hart seemed desperate to add his name to the scoresheet and had two fantastic chances to do so. His first effort, rising well from a corner and heading towards goal, was cleared off the line to deny him a certain goal. The second, again a header from a cross this time, was just inches over the top of the bar. Kirk Layton also went close, aiming to add to his own tally for the season, and his driven effort was tipped onto the bar by Lads Club keeper Grimshaw.

City were in a ruthless mood and made it five shortly after the hour. Lockett, involved in four of City's goals on the night, drove in a cross for Insall to bundle home and get his first goal of the night. 5-1, and seemingly job done.

Belmonte would go so close to getting the match ball with a hat-trick when he attempted a spectacular 40 yard lob of goalkeeper Grimshaw, but the home keeper managed to scramble back in time to tip his effort on to the bar, with what would have been some goal.

Cornes opted to utilise his bench at towards the end of the game with Hart, Dinsley, Belmonte and Stoddart making way for Hartley, Thompson-Brown, Monteith and Sheehan, but the scoreline would stay the same and City would head back to Worcester with the three points.

The victory again puts points between City and second placed Corsham Town at the top of the Hellenic League after recent cup fixtures meant that Corsham closed that gap. City are now three clear on 37 points, with two games in hand on their closest rivals. Next up on Saturday is a home fixture versus mid table Mangotsfield Town, who themselves fell to a 2-0 away defeat to Roman Glass St George on Wednesday night.