CITY DOMINANT IN FIVE-STAR DISPLAY

A DEVASTATING first half display saw City run out comfortable 5-0 winners against Long Eaton United.
It was the visitors who forced a corner straight from the kick-off but they failed to make the most of the opportunity and they were soon punished.
With 11 minutes on the clock James Baldwin’s effort took a slight deflection on its way into the net to open the scoring.
We managed to double our advantage shortly afterwards when some good work from Baldwin saw him carve out a simple chance for Dave Reynolds who couldn’t miss from close range.
Two became three with just 18 minutes on the clock when Reynolds showed skill and strength to turn the ball home beyond the reach of the ‘keeper.
After Brad Birch saw a header saved, our shell-shocked visitors found themselves 4-0 behind when a deep cross from Tyler Weir picked out Baldwin at the far post and he duly notched his second goal of the evening.
It was wave after wave of attacks from City as Reynolds went close before a long range effort from Birch nestled into the back of the net for our fifth goal of the game and there were on 31 minutes on the clock!
Moments later Nathan Hayward made good progress and made room for a strike which went inches wide as our visitors simply had no answer to us.
New signing, Ben Robinson, was introduced at the break for his debut and he almost made an instant impact when he fired into the side-netting at the start of the second period.
There were appeals for a penalty when Weir’s positive break out wide saw him cut inside into the area where his progress was unceremoniously stopped but the referee waved play on despite the protests.
Some good play in the middle of the park from Birch saw him find the lively Baldwin who went close.
To be fair to our opponents, they kept going as they looked for a consolation but we looked solid to keep them at bay and survived a scare when one of their front-runners was felled just inside the area late on.
With the game won, we played out the closing stages to secure a convincing victory and add another three points to our tally.

CITY: Gwynne, Weir (Danks), J Smith (Hall), Stoddart, Forsyth, Hayward, Birley (Robinson), Birch, Baldwin, Reynolds, Tomkinson. Subs not used: Ambalu, M Smith.
BOOKING(S): J Smith
GOAL(S): Baldwin (2), Reynolds (2), Birch
ATTENDANCE: 270