City continued their recent revival away to struggling Chippenham Town, goals either end of the second half from Carlin Itonga and Jamie Godbold secured a well deserved three points.

As seems the norm at the moment, manager Gary Roberts team selection was dictated by injuries and suspensions. Newly signed loanee 'keeper Darren Horrigan replaced the injured Martin Davies between the posts. James Quilter started his suspension following his sending off against Havant & Waterlooville and injury to Lee Chaffey and the continuing absence of Shane Wardley meant Matt Rice coming in for only his second start of the season and Lewis Baillie moving from midfield to the left-back birth. City welcomed back Louis Riddle and Craig Pope, but Danny Bloomfield, despite his midweek heroics, remained on the bench, Itonga preferred to him in attack.

Louis Riddle gets away from Chippenham's Nathan Edwards

The game started in lively fashion with both sides having ranging shots at goal. Itonga twice had efforts at Mark Hervin in the home goal but neither threatened the former Clevedon stopper. Ellis Wilmot also got in on the act when he hit a first time shot from Marc McGregor's knockdown but like Itonga before him, skied his effort over the goal.

Soon after, Itonga showed great strength to hold off Simon Charity on the right flank before laying the ball inside to Robbie Simpson, a quick turn and the City youngster sent a dangerous cross fizzing across the face of goal but no white shirt was there to guide it home, the ball being cleared for a corner. City kept up the pressure and the ball was worked out to Leon Bell on the edge of the area who fired in a shot that was flying to the top corner before a defender's head intervened to send the ball behind.

Chippenham saw their first proper sight of goal on seven minutes. Rice inadvertently redirected a long ball forward into the path of Charlie Griffin. With City's defence wrong footed, the winger advanced into space and hit an angled drive that flew wide of the far upright when he should have really worked Horrigan. City responded well and minutes later really should have taken the lead. Lee Pluck aimed a long throw into the hosts area, Riddle got the vital flick and the ball found Rob Nightingale in isolation just inside the area. Maybe not realising how much time he had, the City midfielder hit a first time shot that although well struck was off target and went a foot wide with the 'keeper rooted to the spot.

The play moved to the other end of the pitch and Andy Robertson headed a Scott Walker corner well off target before moments later a cross dropped at the feet of McGregor no more than six yards out but the striker, on loan from Tamworth, couldn't dig the ball out from between his feet and Rice cleared. Chippenham hadn't finished and Martin Paul skied a volley after McGregor had flicked on.

Carlin Itonga beats Mark Hervin with a close range header to give City the lead

City were pressing well in midfield and Rob Miller took advantage when Chippenham gave away possession. He found Simpson with a deft pass, the striker showed strength and movement to lay the ball off to Bell but from 20 yards out he snatched at his shot and it flew over the bar.

On the half hour mark came a major scare for City. A long cross was delivered from the right hand side, Horrigan came out to claim the ball but Paul tugged at his shirt causing him to fumble. The referee failed to spot the infringement and play continued, Paul looped the ball goalwards and with neither Rice nor Craig Pope taking the initiative to clear the bouncing ball, Horrigan regained his ground and snatched it before any damage was done.

A minute later and a sharp through ball saw Nightingale in on goal with the 'keeper racing out to smother in spectacular fashion, but neither had noticed the linesman's flag raised aloft. City kept pressing and forced a series of corners. From one, Lee Pluck was unlucky to see his sidefoot volley at the far post only find the side netting.

As the half entered it's final minutes Chippenham enjoyed a period of pressure. Griffin threatened when he sent in a good curling cross but it was left by everybody and dropped beyond the far post. Then from the same flank Charity layed the ball off, his pass inside inviting Nathan Edwards to shoot from 18 yards, this he duly did, his effort whistling narrowly over the City bar.

McGregor produced the first shot on target of the half by either side in injury time but his mishit shot after a bustling run past Rice lacked any power and Horrigan had an easy task to smother it. This was followed by a moment of real concern for the wellbeing of Chippenham's Charlie Griffin. As a cross came in, Horrigan came out to punch clear but in doing so clashed heads with the home player, Griffin collapsed to the floor motionless. Amazingly the referee allowed play to continue and Horrigan produced a save to stop McGregor's shot on the turn, Rice hooking clear, while Martin Paul knelt by his prone team-mate pleading with the official to bring things to a halt. With play eventually stopped, Griffin received lengthy treatment and fortunately got to his feet seemingly none the worse for wear.

Rob Miller watches as his shot beats the 'keeper but also the post

Chippenham started the second half much as they had finished the first, on the front foot. City initially repelled Griffin's dangerous looking cross, but the ball was returned and McGregor lined up a shot that went well wide of the target.

Bell provided Hervin in the home goal with some catching practice from a free-kick before City struck in the 49th minute to take the lead and grab the initiative. Half-time substitute for the injured Rob Nightingale, Jamie Godbold, was blocked and City awarded a free-kick. Miller's inswinging cross was allowed to bounce by the home defenders and Itonga reacted swiftly to nod home from close range.

Chippenham were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the City area after Pluck was adjudged to have climbed on Adie Mings. Griffin drilled the ball in, it took a dangerous deflection off the wall but went over the bar. Griffin had been involved in most of what Chippenham had created and it was his cross on the hour that almost opened up the City rearguard. Finding space on the right he delivered the perfect ball to the far post that looked destined for McGregor's head but Pope got up well to head the ball behind for a corner.

City hit back and Simpson produced a great run past three defenders ending with a shot that rose too high then Riddle produced an equally good run to set up Miller, his drive only just off the mark. City were looking more and more comfortable as Chippenham began to run out of ideas and City looked a good bet to notch a second decisive goal. They came within a whisker when Itonga's clever clipped ball into the area somehow bisected both Godbold and Simpson as they raced in at the far post.

Jamie Godbold wheels away after netting City's second goal

City were in the ascendency and should have extended their lead when a measured pass from Simpson sent Miller clear. With defenders in hot pursuit he drew the keeper before slipping the ball past him only to see it roll agonisingly wide of the post. Itonga showed his pace in the 76th minute when Simpson hooked the ball over his shoulder and presented the Congo international with a run on goal. Itonga easily left Charity trailing in his wake but as he bore down on goal his shot failed to test Hervin.I

In recent games City have cursed their luck but in the 85th minute they had good fortune to thank for preserving their lead. Riddle brought down Edwards, the resulting free-kick was curled to the far post, City's defence, which had been solid all afternoon, was caught flat-footed and Griffin had a free header that crashed against the foot of the post. The rebound was returned goalwards by Mings only to strike Rice. Amidst appeals for handball City broke upfield. Danny Bloomfield, who had only replaced Itonga three minutes earlier, controlled and played a perfect pass into Godbold's path. His first touch took him clear and the former Stoke youngster had no trouble beating Hervin to wrap up the win for the visitors.

On ninety minutes City came close to putting the final polish on the days performance when they went close to notching a third. Awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area after Riddle was upended, Miller caught Hervin napping with a quickly taken effort that had him stranded but as had been the pattern of the afternoon, the ball went narrowly wide.