Second half goals from Nick Wright and Jordan Murphy saw City's unbeaten run stretch to six games in all competitions, with Wayne Thomas being required in the City goal for 89 minutes of the game.

The makeshift stopper had a quiet afternoon, but was solid when called upon and kept a clean sheet after replacing Jose Veiga, who was forced off injured with an horrific gashed knee which required fifteen stitches inside 60 seconds, with City having no substitute goalkeeper on the bench.

Wright’s 57th minute strike was followed by Jordan Murphy’s first goal for the club on his full debut after the lively winger finished off a skilful solo move 9 minutes later, with the win lifting City to ninth in the table.

The afternoon started badly for City after deputy stopper Jose Veiga, in for the injured Nathan Vaughan, picked up an injury that forced him out of the game. And, with no substitute goalkeeper on the bench, City defender Wayne Thomas came off the bench and donned the gloves for the remainder of the game.

Town failed to test Thomas in a quiet opening 20 minutes as City enjoyed the best of the opening stages, with Graham Hutchinson heading over from David McDermott’s in-swinging corner after nine minutes, before Nick Wright’s ambitious long-range effort flew over the bar four minutes later.

City’s makeshift stopper wasn’t tested until the 30 minute mark after he sprawled in an attempt to divert James Walshaw’s bobbling, long-distance effort which had already been deflected wide, before confidently punching clear the resulting corner.

The hosts continued to enjoy the upper hand and came close again after David McDermott’s shot was blocked from point blank range by a sliding Shane Kilock, only for Nick Wright to send the rebound over the bar on the half volley.

But City couldn’t find a break through, despite the best efforts of McDermott who, after neat interplay with Wright, dragged his shot wide from the angle of the area at the end of normal time in the first half.

City took the lead in the second half after a defence-splitting ball from George Williams found an unmarked Nick Wright, who hammered his shot into the bottom corner past a helpless Phil Barnes.

City’s lead could have been doubled within two minutes after good work from substitute Daniel Nti found George Williams free on the edge of the area, with the right back teeing Conor Gater whose left footed shot arrowed agonisingly wide of the post.

But City did double their lead after 66 minutes when on-loan Walsall youngster Jordan Murphy skilfully nutmegged Rhys Meynell on the right hand side before lashing a shot that squeezed past Phil Barnes to bag his first goal in a City shirt.

The game threatened to boil over minutes later after a wild lunge by James Walshaw was deemed punishable by just a booking, before Daniel Nti’s cross found an unmarked Graham Hutchinson who fired over from inside the six yard box.

But it was a relatively comfortable afternoon for City who thoroughly deserved all three points.

Carl Heeley admitted that Veiga’s early injury left his side in an ‘unusual’ situation, but he was grateful for Wayne Thomas’s services in between the posts.

“That’s the way it goes. We’ve got two good goalkeepers, but Nathan Vaughan was feeling his groin a little bit and, as a precaution, we decided to leave him out and put Jose in. And, within thirty seconds, he’s picked up a nasty looking knee injury. So I got the boys together and asked if any of them had played in goal before?

“That was the selection process, and Thomo’s put his hand up and I thought he did magnificent job. I’m really pleased and grateful for him putting himself out there and doing a job for the team".

“It livened it up, It got the crowd going but now I have Thomo in the changing room saying, "do you think the crowd are serious about England’s number one? I might be getting on but I’m still on the end of the phone if Roy needs me". The beauty of this squad is, whatever eleven players we put out, there capable of doing a job”, said Heeley.

The win sees City, who take on Southern Counties side Greenwich Borough in the FA Cup next Sunday at Aggborough (3pm kick off) rise to ninth in the Vanarama Conference North.