City move within six points of title with comeback win

An Izak Reid overhead kick late in the day sealed a comeback win for City on Easter Monday after going 2-1 down to bottom side Wantage Town.

Following the postponement of Saturday's FA Vase Semi Final First Leg at Claines Lane, City boss Cornes opted to make minimal changes to his usual starting eleven with Cam Monteith coming in to replace Calvin Dinsley, and Izak Reid starting on the right wing in place of Elliott Hartley. Dylan Hart led the line and gave City the perfect start after just eight minutes, heading home Reid's left footed cross.

The lead didn't last long though, as just a minute later from a deep free kick, a long forward ball into the City box was misjudged by Whitcombe, and Wantage centre half Muckelberg darted in to nod Wantage level.

City pressed forward with excellent opportunities for both Lockett and Reid, but it would again be the home side who would strike next. Whitcombe could only parry a shot from distance into the path of Joshua Elms, who bundled into the back of the net to give the league's bottom place side the lead over the leaders.

City were all at sea and could have gone into the break 3-1 down if it weren't for a smart, instinctive save from Whitcombe to deny Wantage right before the break.

Into the second half and Chris Cornes' side began to regain a foothold in the game, Layton and Hart both seeing headers denied by Wantage keeper Rees. The golden opportunity to level though would come from the spot, after Evans, a second half replacement for Dylan Hart, was brought down when one-on-one with Rees, the referee having no choice but to point to the spot. Up stepped Belmonte, but he saw his effort saved by Rees, before expertly recovering to clear the danger of a second attempt and keep Wantage in front.

It didn't take Belmonte long to right that wrong however, and just minutes later he latched on to a Logan Stoddart forward ball to smash the ball into the back of the net, drawing City level with fifteen minutes left on the clock.

It looked as if the tide may be turning, but it appeared that the home side hadn't read the script with City looking to secure their 21st win in a row in all competitions, as they went down the other end and won a penalty through a rare misjudgement from Layton at the back, fouling his man and leaving the referee with a decision to make, pointing to the spot. Up stepped Knight, and for the second time in the half and in the previous ten minutes, the goalkeeper came out on top from the spot with Whitcombe saving low down to his right. Another penalty save to add to Whitcombe's growing collection from this season.

City's winner came in spectacular style from Reid. After Rees elected to punch a cross from deep rather than catch the ball, Reid found himself in space in the box, acrobatically leaping and finishing into the back of the net with a goal-of-the-season contender, which sent the City fans behind the goal wild. An incredible moment from Reid who had put a real shift in throughout the afternoon.

Evans and Hartley both had good chances to secure the points for City with a fourth, and Hartley even had the ball in the back of the net before seeing it ruled out by the referee, but City kept their composure and held on for the win in what had been a testing afternoon, Wantage looking much better than their position in the league table would suggest.

City moved four points clear at the top of the table, now just two wins from mathematically securing the title, which should the team defeat Roman Glass St George on Wednesday at Sixways, could be secured if Corsham were to lose to Highworth Town on Thursday evening. The forty-five year wait for a league title may be about to come to an end.