Five star performance earns first silverware of campaign for City

City secured their first piece of silverware this season, and the club's first trophy since 2001 in non-WFA competitions, on Wednesday night with a rampant 5-1 win over Roman Glass St George in the Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup second leg, building on the 2-1 home win for an overall 7-2 aggregate scoreline.

Chris Cornes' side continued their exceptional winning run, further extending the consecutive wins record to eighteen on a night when not much went against City.

In absence of both Dylan Hart and Jamie Insall, Kyonn Evans led the line for City, supported by Elliott Hartley and Liam Lockett on the wing. Kirk Layton returned to partner Elliott Keightley at the back in place of Chris Knight from the first leg, whilst Jordan Lymn and Calvin Dinsley continued their growing partnership together in the middle of the park in absence of Connor Gater.

Shea Mannings, Roman Glass' top scorer this season, took his place from the off after proving a thorn in City's side when introduced in the second half of last week's first leg.

It took just twelve minutes for City to get off the mark. A cute ball down the right flank found Liam Lockett, switching from his usual position on the left, who delivered an inch-perfect cross for an unmarked Jordan Lymn in the Roman Glass box. His side footed effort kissed the inside of the post on it's way in to give City the perfect start.

One became two just minutes later when Liam Lockett again delivered a fantastic ball into the box, this time from a corner across on the left, finding Calvin Dinsley to power a header into the back of the net for his second goal of the season, coincidentally both headers against the same opposition!

Roman Glass though hit back almost immediately. From kick off they launched a high ball forward, cleared first by Layton and then out for a throw-in by Stoddart. The initial long throw was cleared again before a ball back into the penalty area found Saunders, who rose highest to head into the far corner. An instant reply from the side from Bristol.

Liam Lockett hit the bar for City as the first half closed out, with Roman Glass also creating opportunities through long forward balls of their own, but not troubling Whitcombe in the City goal.

Into the second half and with a two goal aggregate lead, City really began to purr. Good work from Evans set in Hartley behind the Roman Glass back line, who dinked a cross in for Belmonte, but Kyle couldn't direct his header on goal. Moments later, after more good hold-up player from Evans, he found Liam Lockett midway through the Glass half who drove forward. His pass found Jordan Lymn on the edge of the area, who drove the ball towards the bottom corner and into the back of the net. Two for Lymn, three assists for Lockett, and with a three goal aggregate lead, it looked like City had secured the cup.

Kirk Layton had a good opportunity to make it four on the night from another Lockett delivery, but it would be Liam who got in on the goalscoring act himself for the evening after assisting the first three. Elliott Hartley this time turned provider as City broke into Glass territory, with Lockett driving inside on his right foot and driving past goalkeeper Jones into the bottom corner.

It would be two substitutes that would combine for City's fifth. Izak Reid, who had come on alongside Taylor Townsend when Lockett and Belmonte were replaced, got an excellent knock down from Chris Knight, who himself had gone up top in place of Kyonn Evans, and Reid drove the ball into the back of the net to add the cherry on top of an excellent team performance.

Monteith, also a late introduction, nearly added a sixth but for a good save from Jones, who also then scuppered a follow-up from Hartley, before a Chris Knight cross into the box almost deflected off a Glass body into the back of the net, but hit the inside of the post instead.

At the full time whistle there were jubilant scenes from players, coaching staff and fans, as Adam Mace collected the cup before celebrating with the squad. A fantastic reward for the players' efforts and the fans certainly headed back up the M5 smiling.

Next up for City is a trip to Brimscombe on Saturday and a return to league action, facing 15th placed Brimscombe & Thrupp, aiming to extend the winning record to nineteen matches.