The Jez George inspired bandwaggon just keeps on rolling as City recorded an unlikely win at Tiverton, securing not only three more valuable points to move out of the bottom four, but a second successive double over high flying opposition in a week. Academy product Robbie Simpson was the star of the show as he bagged a brace to record his first Dr Martens Premier goals, extending City's unbeaten run to four games.

City were forced into a number of changes from the side that defeated Stafford last weekend. Suspended Jack Wignall was replaced by back in favour Tim Wooding in the heart of defence, Che Wilson moved from full-back into midfield to cover Richard Skelly's absence through injury, his place was filled by Cambridge United youngster Dan Huggins who was making his debut. Fit again Matt Clements took Adie Hayes' place.

Tiverton's groundstaff had battled hard to get this game on, they had produced a playable pitch but it was being kind to describe it as testing. A mixture of mud and ruts made sure that it was to be the side that showed most endurance that would eventually prosper, and that side was to be City as they produced a wholehearted and determined display that frustrated then eventually broke the home side.

City began brightly and Simpson showed early on that he had the ability to cause the home defence trouble as he twisted and turned before firing in a shot that took a deflection and forced home keeper Ben Foster to produce a spectacular flying catch that no doubt pleased the local news photographer. Minutes later Steve Ovens caught Tim Wooding in possession, a quick one-two with Paul Chenoweth saw him burst through, but his angled shot flew wide of the far post without threatening Martin Davies in the City goal.

Danny Bloomfield saw his well struck shot blocked after he latched onto a long Wooding pass before Tiverton created a great scoring chance. Ovens deep cross was headed back across goal to Scott Rogers lurking on the edge of the area, his shot had power but lacked direction and went wide of the upright with Davies beaten..

On twenty minutes City should have gone ahead. Matt Clements' incisive pass split the home defence sending Danny Bloomfield sprinting into the area, the former Bournemouth man looked odds on to notch his fifth goal of the season but as Foster advanced he pulled his shot wide of the far post. A couple of minutes on, Tiverton threatened the City goal again as Ovens headed Rogers right wing cross high over the bar under pressure from Colin Vowden.

As the half progressed, Tiverton gradually began to dominate the game and force City into some real last ditch defending. On the half hour mark Chenoweth did well to wriggle his way past two defenders before cutting the ball back from the byline. His cross deflected off Vowden and flew past Davies, fortunately Shane Wardley was on hand to hack the ball off the line. Tivvy kept the pressure up and forced a corner from which Ovens headed onto the bar.

There was no let up for City and Tiverton flooded forward again. Phil Everett found Ovens, his cross caused confusion in the City defence with the ball eventually breaking to Chris Holloway, but Che Wilson, producing his usual barnstorming performance got in a block that took enough sting out of the shot to allow Davies to gather comfortably. Chenoweth was the next to try his luck as Rogers swung a corner out to him on the edge of the box but the former Bath City man volleyed high over the bar.

There was a little respite for City when they won a free-kick following a breakaway in the 40th minute. Rob Nightingale swung the ball in, a Tiverton defender inadvertently flicked on, the ball falling to Vowden, unmarked, six yards out, but his control let him down at the vital moment and the ball trickled behind for a goal-kick.

A minute later Vowden was again involved as he just failed to cut out Rogers' long ball, Ovens benefited and raced clear, he rounded Davies but could only watch as Wooding appeared from nowhere to divert his angled drive behind for a corner.

As the half reached it's conclusion, both teams had further chances to break the deadlock. Clements shot over after Simpson's pass sent him racing upfield and Holloway headed wide when he should have done much better.

Tiverton continued their assault on the City goal after the break. With the half only a minute old Davies was called upon to punch a dangerous cross off the head of Richard Pears. Minutes later, the home side wasted a golden chance to notch the goal their adventurous play justified. Pears got the better of Wardley before crossing to the far post for Chris Curran to head back into the six yard area where Ovens somehow managed to shoot wide from four yards.

Stung into action, City countered with a strong Robin Sturgess tackle sending Bloomfield scampering upfield, he sprinted wide of the Tiverton defence but could muster little power in his shot and Foster clutched the ball to his chest. Foster was called into more serious action a minute later. Simpson robbed Curran before surging forward and playing in Sturgess with a sliderule pass. The young midfielder avoided Rob Cousins desperate tackle but his touch was a little too heavy and Rogers was able to save at his feet.

Tiverton were soon back on the attack and Vowden was forced to produce a miracle clearance from under his own bar following a Danny Haines cross, however, City were looking increasingly dangerous on the break and Simpson gave an indication of what he was to produce later when he burst through and fired over from just outside the area.

On seventy minutes Tiverton brought on their top scorer Jamie Mudge and it almost turned out to be an inspired change as his first touch almost resulted in the opening goal. City's defence was completely caught out by Curran's pass and Mudge raced clear, Davies was quickly off his line and did enough to force the striker to shoot wide although the referee mysteriously gave a corner.

It was to be an expensive miss as sixty seconds later, City were in front. The visitors took full advantage when a Tiverton attack faltered on the right. Dan Huggins picked up the loose ball and played it up to Bloomfield, his lay-off found Sturgess and he in turn played in Simpson who walked through Cousins' tackle before beating Foster with an assured finish. It was a goal that City had threatened during the game and it clearly rattled the home side who in the moments after the goal had a brief and unsuccessful flirtation with the long ball game as they looked for a quick reply.

City had Davies to thank for preserving their lead in the 75th minute, as he produced a stunning save, arching backwards to turn over Haines dipping shot from 25 yards, but in truth, Tiverton had little else left to offer and City made the game safe when Simpson struck again with three minutes remaining. It was almost a carbon copy of the first goal as again Sturgess provided the killer ball for Simpson to shrug off Cousins and this time hit a low shot past Foster into the far corner.

City could have added a third in injury time when Sturgess' ball over the top put Leon Gutzmore in the clear, the City substitute saw his fierce shot pushed straight back to him by Foster, then Curran managed to prevent him from taking advantage with a further block, eventually clearing at the second attempt.

The final whistle signalled not only a fine result for City but almost certainly the end of Jez George's spell in charge as City are due to announce their new manager in the coming week. Whoever takes the job will have a tough act to follow.