Danny Bloomfield grabbed his 23rd goal of the season as Cambridge City stretched their unbeaten run to seven games in all competitions with a comprehensive 2-0 win at Dorchester. The impressive Avenue Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for City over the years, and it was to be no different on this occasion.

Gary Roberts kept the same starting eleven as at Hednesford the previous week, skipper Lee Pluck shaking off the effects of a dead leg and taking his place alongside Matt Langston in the centre of defence.

Bloomfield's effort beats the keeper but goes wide of the target

It was the Magpies who were quickly out of the blocks in the early stages of the game. As early as the 6th minute Matt Groves escaped the close attentions of Pluck down the left hand side, crossed to the back post where former City winger Matt Hann rose but was unable to direct his header at goal from point blank range.

Dorchester continued to keep City on the back foot with Carl Poore lifting another aerial ball into the visitors area, Groves got on the end of it, controlled and hit a first time shot on the turn. Alan Calton reacted well to save and Grove's follow up was blocked and cleared by the alert Langston.

Having survived this early flurry of activity, City ventured upfield themselves and carved out a decent early opportunity of their own. Jamie Godbold’s accurate pass surprised the Dorchester defence and found Simon Martin unmarked in the box, controlling the ball brilliantly on his chest the on-loan striker steered his shot wide of the target. A minute later, City were under the cosh again. The lively Groves at the centre of things once more. The former Portsmouth striker ran at a backpeddling City rearguard before placing a shot skillfully with the outside of the boot which once again Calton was equal to.

In the 19th minute came the moment that was to change the course of the game. Having failed to profit from an enterprising opening spell, the Magpies found themselves a goal down. Danny Bloomfield broke away on the right only just failing to find Simon Martin with his centre, Mark Rawlinson clearing at full stretch at the expense of a corner. From Rob Miller's flag kick the ball eventually found its way to Pluck on the left hand side of the box. The City skipper delivered a great cross into the six yard area where Mike Walker climbed all over Martin and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Up stepped Robbie Nightingale to convert the penalty in off the post.

Louis Riddle gives a defender the slip

The goal really seemed to take the wind out of Dorchester’s sails and City began to dictate the play gaining more and more possession in the Dorchester half. On 32 minutes City had a confident shout for a second penalty ignored by the Referee. Godbold played a dangerous ball into the box, in the general direction of Martin. As the City player attempted to play the ball back it clearly struck Jamie Brown on the arm. The ref was having none of it though and much to the relief of the home side, waved play on.

Dorchester were now having less of an influence on proceedings as City’s defence, marshalled by the impressive partnership of Langston and Pluck, dealt with everything that came their way. This allowed the midfield players to enjoy much more of the ball in threatening areas.

Five minutes before the break, City came close to scoring again. A long clearance by Calton was flicked on by Martin into the path of Bloomfield. City’s leading goalscorer steadied himself and got the shot away only to see it deflected past the post and out for a corner. As half time approached, the more City began to dominate, at times swarming all over the men in black and white stripes in search of the killer second goal. Bloomfield and Rob Miller both tried their luck with shots at goal as the whistle approached.

The second half began in rapidly fading light and it was the visitors who created the first meaningful opportunity. Stuart Niven booted a 58th minute free-kick upfield, the ball deflected off a home defender straight to Godbold who played an incisive pass into Bloomfield’s feet. He in turn dinked a delightful first time ball to strike partner Martin. With the goal gaping and only Mark Ormerod to beat, Martin fired straight at the keeper with Bloomfield howling for a return pass and the chance of a tap-in.

Dorchester then put City under a little spell of pressure, committing bodies forward. It was to be their undoing however as City caught them with a classic counter-attack just before the hour. A Dorchester attack was broken up by the City defence and the ball broke for the influential Godbold who scampered into acres of space in centre-field before delivering a perfectly timed and weighted pass for Bloomfield to spring the Magpies frustrating offside trap. As Dorchester appealled in vain for a flag, Bloomfield bore down on Ormerod, slipping the ball between the keeper's legs and into the net. It was game set and match, from that point onwards Dorchester were playing second fiddle.

Riddle tangles with Dorchester's Mark Rawlinson

They did attempt to retaliate from the re-start, Hann crossed deep to the back post but substitute Justin Keeler’s downward header, although into the danger zone, was blocked behind by the imposing Langston. Frustration was creeping into the Magpies game and the tackles started to fly in. Calton suffered a nasty injury in the 66th minute when Groves went in recklessly after a rare defensive lapse presented him with a half chance in the City area. Calton was caught in the midriff by Groves’ studs and required lengthy treatment. Groves, for his part, earned himself a yellow card. In fact, Groves seemed to be Dorchester’s only realistic route to goal and lifted another chance over the bar soon afterwards, althogh it never realistically threaten the City goal. Louis Riddle then found himself on the end of a clattering challenge from Hann which amazingly went unpunished. Riddle limped out of the game soon after to be replaced by Lee Summercales.

As the minutes ticked away, City were able to retain possession quite comfortably with Godbold and Miller continuing to link up well and Stuart Niven getting forward in support. Bloomfield’s deft flick on the edge of the box presented Godbold with a shooting chance which was deflected wide as City went in search of futher goals. They nearly got another with five minutes remaining. Lewis Baillie’s throw-in was glanced on by Summerscales. Livewire Bloomfield beat Magpies substitute Andy Harris to the ball and his resulting shot forced Ormerod to save at the foot of his post. The home defence smuggled the ball away but Nightingale regained posession and found Godbold via Miller’s intelligent pass. The diminutive midfielder was felled on the edge of the box and Niven stepped up to crash the resulting freekick goalwards forcing Ormerod to produce a superb acrobatic save at the expense of a corner.

City calmly played out time with some impessive spells of keep-ball to record another fine win. In the end, a comfortable three points for Gary Roberts’ men and a league double over the Dorset side.