Winning in the rain

City produced a complete team performance as they hit opponents Aspire for six for the second time in a matter of weeks to stretch their winning run to six matches.

Unlike their home game with the Nottingham-based side, when they conceded five goals and needed a last-gasp winner to settle matters, City were resolute across the pitch and composed on the ball for the majority of the contest which was a credit to all those involved.

On a damp afternoon in the East Midlands, the visitors made the perfect start when a David Ferreira shot beat the home keeper at his near post after just two minutes. The forward almost doubled his goal tally moments later when he latched onto a Charlie Grubb back-heel and unleashed a powerful drive that the stopper spectacularly tipped over.

At the other end, Alex Fenn made a good block to foil an Aspire break but, from the resulting corner, City were somewhat fortunate to escape as the ball eluded everyone after being floated dangerously across the goalmouth. However on the stroke of the first interval, they weren't so lucky as they conceded a free-kick on the edge of the box which skidded off the surface and into their net for an equaliser.

As he did in the home fixture, Jesse Asomugha was proving a handful for the hosts' defence as he came more into the game in Q2 and he set up Archie Thurston for an effort that the keeper did well to push round the post. As City began to turn the screw on their opponents, Asomugha was thwarted on two occasions before a Fenn free-kick was cleared off the line and Ferreira produced another good save following a melee in the Aspire box.

Asomugha continued to create problems in Q3 when he pounced on a back pass - the home keeper lucky to watch his clearance rebound off the striker but just wide of the post. Aspire then had a great chance to take the lead when they broke clear from the centre circle but were foiled by the strong hands of Josh Reed-Jones who diverted the ball over.

Next it was City's chance to break as Jamie Hill marauded forward from the edge of his own box deep into opposition territory, where he laid the ball off to George Hymas who launched a dipping drive under the bar and in.

Momentum then swung firmly in the visitors' favour as they scored three more times in the remainder of the quarter.

Firstly Fenn recovered a corner at the far post and delivered the perfect cross for Asomugha to nod in and then the striker was neatly teed up by Hymas for a well-deserved second to make it 4-1.

City were now rampant and Grubb fed Asomugha whose delightful back-heel fell perfectly into the stride of Jamie Neath, who held off his defender to slot home.

After forcing the keeper into a flying save at the start of Q4, Cian Sheehan then linked up with Neath on the right whose cross-come-shot flew into the net for a sixth goal - City seeing out the game with some nice possession football to complete another encouraging display.