City confirmed second place in the table going into Christmas after a 2-1 home win v fourth place Lichfield City. The win gives the Club 36 points from 18 games, giving a two point average per game at the half way stage for the first time ever.

With City boss Tim Harris sidelined at home due to not receiving clearance after a Covid test, Craig Jones took over control of the team with Harris watching the game at home. City were without George Baker after his injury last week against Romulus so Reiss Taylor-Randle made a first start and Jamie Smith came in at left back for Sam Whitton.

On a heavy pitch the game was a scrappy affair throughout but with a strong support of 556 in attendance, despite the current conditions, the crowd were determined to do their bit to gain a positive outcome.

City playing down the slope in the first half started brightly and nearly took an eighth minute lead. After forcing a corner, Bailey Fuller picked out an incoming Jamie Smith who hit a thunderbolt heading for the roof of the net but it was superbly tipped over by James Beeson. Both sides forced corners but the game continued to be scrappy with neither side getting a proper grip and both sides giving plenty of free kicks away.

It was a free kick which gave City the breakthrough on 35 minutes. Bailey Fuller who had earlier lofted a free kick to the back post which was easily dealt with by Beeson, instead decided to whip one into the front post which was met by Billy Shaw who volleyed home from close range. The goal perked City up and Bailey Fuller had a chance of his own minutes later after cutting in from the right wing but his shot went straight at Beeson.

The second half continued much the same as the first with plenty of free kicks . On 63 minutes the visitors created their best chance when Childs did well down the left and his cross was deflected by Sam Hall and the ball looped into the air and into the box. City keeper and Adam Harrison and Fortune Maphosa had a mix up before the ball hit the post before being cleared for a corner.

On 65 minutes City made a tactical change with Maphosa who was on a yellow card being replaced by Callum Debar, Aaron Roberts switched to centre half and Chris Withington moved into midfield in a bid to give city more of the ball in the centre of the park.

With Lichfield picking up plenty of free kicks they created a golden opportunity when Kyle Patterson found himself clear on the back post from a whipped in free kick , but he was unable to stretch to get a good connection.

Dan Westwood replaced Will Gibbons with 17 minutes to go and two minutes later it was 2-0 to City. After a City attack keeper Beeson cleared the ball to wide on the right which was won by James Douglas, he then played a ball into the edge of the box to Bailey Fuller who hit a tremendous shot which thundered off the bar, Reiss Taylor -Randle then hit the post with the follow up and with Lichfield struggling to clear before Jamie Elkes brought down Billy Shaw in the box. James Douglas then stepped up to slam the ball into the roof of the net from the spot kick.

The goal took the sting out of the game with Lichfield always in it but they had a final chance to grab a point in a long period of added time. City failed to clear a Lichfield attack and Callum Debar made a clumsy challenge on Lomas deep inside the box which he then stepped up to finish from the spot. City to their credit withstood a final barrage to wind down the clock to gain all three points and a second place at Christmas, a perfect gift for City fans everywhere!!