City chalked up their second eight-goal tally of the season on Saturday afternoon as they ran out comfortable winners over bottom of the table Wantage Town.

Manager Cornes picked a familiar line-up to the Hereford Pegasus fixture in midweek, the only change coming in the back four where Lorcan Sheehan came in to replace the suspended Elliott Keightley. Dylan Hart continued as the focal point in attack, and Elliott Hartley kept his spot on the right wing after impressive recent displays.

It didn’t take long for City to take an early lead against a youthful Wantage side. Dylan Hart chased down a long ball over the top on 16 minutes, managing to beat Wantage keeper Tommy Rees to the ball and make it round him, before sliding the ball into the back of the net. One goal quickly became two five minutes later, when good work by Hartley on the right hand side and a cross into the box was met by the head of Kyle Belmonte. Just twenty minutes in, and City were in full control.

The home side weren’t done there though and added two more to the tally before half-time. Good work down the right again, this time from Robbie Thompson Brown as he crossed to the back post for Liam Lockett to head home. And Lockett turned provider for the fourth, his corner met by Dylan Hart to get his second of the afternoon.

It could have been a lot worse for Wantage were it not for some heroics from their goalkeeper Tommy Rees. A number of exceptional saves kept the score down to four at half time.

Into the second half and with no changes for the home side, it wasn’t long before it was five, Robbie Thompson-Brown driving one low and into the bottom corner for his second goal of the season. Just a few minutes later, Belmonte notched his second of the game too, making it nine for the season since signing for the club.

Cornes opted to make a triple substitution on the hour mark and introduced Insall, Day and Reid for Lockett, Dinsley and Hart in like-for-like changes. And the substitutes would go on to get in on the scoring, too. Firstly Izak Reid chased down a forward ball into the box, managing to poke the ball into the back of the net beneath the on-rushing Rees. And Insall got his goal, too, this one from the penalty spot.

Kyle Belmonte was Saturday’s recipient of the M Pinches Man of the Match award, presented by our Match Sponsors for the day, Peopleton Press.

The win takes City up to second in the table, five points behind Corsham Town but with two games in hand. Wantage remain bottom of the table, yet to register a point this season.

Another quick turnaround on Tuesday when City head to Tuffley Rovers, with the blue-and-whites hoping to right the wrongs of the opening evening of the season when they dominated the fixture, but were just unable to score. After eight goals this weekend, we hope that won’t be a problem this time.