City ended a dismal run of six winless games with this emphatic victory over Eastern Division Stamford in a stylish display that sees them progress to the Third Round of the Dr Martens League Cup.

With Carlin Itonga unfit Robbie Simpson was recalled to an otherwise unchanged starting line up. On a cold night with fog swirling around the Milton Road pitch there was little to warm the spectators in the opening exchanges. The game was fully ten minutes old before Rob Miller held off Kevin Ainslie to cross from the right allowing Danny Bloomfield to follow up his own header with an effort that was smothered by visiting ‘keeper Ludek Michalik. For the Daniels Kevin Byrne robbed Lewis Baillie from a left wing throw and cut inside but his shot was at a comfortable height for Alan Calton who completed a routine save.

Lewis Baillie bursts forward in typical fashion

As City upped the tempo good work by both Baillie and Louis Riddle down the left enabled the Lilywhites full back to burst into the box and beat Dennis Rhule but from an acute angle his rising drive was beaten away by Michalik. Then, under no apparent pressure, visiting ‘skipper Robbie Blowers directed a header intended for Michalik wide of the former Strizkov Prague custodian, in attempting to recover his own error he blasted his clearance straight at Robbie Simpson but the ball eventually rebounded to safety, sparing the blushes of the ex-Peterborough United defender.

As the half drew towards a close Craig Pope clashed with Michael McKenzie whish resulted in the award of a Stamford free kick wide on their left, just inside City territory and it was McKenzie himself who connected with Rob Maddox’ centre, glancing a header narrowly wide of Alan Calton’s far post.

After an extremely low key 44 minutes the game suddenly burst into life. From an unfamiliar position at inside right Louis Riddle lifted a superb pass into the path of Rob Miller with the outside of his boot. Miller’s driven cross was beaten away by Michalik but only into the path of Rob Nightingale who lashed the ball goalwards only to see it cannon into the path of leading scorer Danny Bloomfield who gratefully dispatched the rebound. Any thoughts City had of taking a 1-0 lead into second period seemed premature however as from the re-start Stamford came within a whisker of snatching a leveller. Kevin Ainslie surged purposefully down the left flank and hit an early cross which was partially cleared by Matt Langston. The loose ball fell invitingly to Maddox who sent a fierce, low drive wide to Calton’s right, but agonisingly for the former Northampton Town trainee he saw his effort crash against the upright and out to the City right. The quick thinking Ainslie seized on the loose ball and sent a dipping shot over the arching Calton only for the crossbar to prevent an equalising goal, referee Darlow blowing for half-time moments later.

Visiting boss Billy Jeffrey withdrew Ainslie at the interval, replacing him with Ian Edge and within three minutes of the re-start the former City player had set up a goal for the Daniels to make the game all square. Picking the ball up in space on the left he hit a deep angled centre towards McKenzie who out-jumped Alan Calton on the edge of the penalty area to send a looping header into the back of an unguarded net.

Louis Riddle fires the ball home to put City two up

With the Lilywhites faithful casting their mind back seven days to a surrendered lead and extra time in the FA Trophy City acted decisively to regain the initiative and kill off the game with two goals in two minutes.

On 55 minutes Michalik flapped unconvincingly at Rob Miller’s left wing corner palming the ball into the path of Danny Bloomfield on the edge of the box, slightly off balance the City striker fired straight back towards goal only to see his effort cannon back off the face of the crossbar. With the Daniels unable to clear their lines the ball was worked to the left where Louis Riddle ran at Ryan Nash, cutting inside before curling a superb right foot shot around Michalik and into the net off the inside of the far post.

City, playing with a confidence missing from their game in recent weeks then extended the lead to two goals with their next attack. Going in bravely for the ball on the right Robbie Simpson, despite being caught late by Blowers, laid a pass wide to Danny Bloomfield. In behind the visitors’ back line Bloomfield’s angled run took him to the edge of the area where he skilfully drew Michalik before squaring to Rob Miller, who had made an intelligent supporting run, allowing the former Bedford midfielder to fire home. In setting up the move Robbie Simpson sustained an injury that prevented him from continuing and he was replaced by Michael Gash.

As Stamford looked for a way back into the contest Ian Edge’s right wing corner found its way back to him, playing in a cross for a second time he forced Calton into a low save, as the ball broke loose there were appeals for ‘hands’ against a City defender in the scramble that followed but Mr Darlow saw nothing untoward and allowed play to continue.

As the game entered the final twenty minutes both sides made further substitutions in quick succession. For the visitors Garath Pritchard replaced Richard Thompson whilst Gary Roberts introduced Stuart Niven at the expense of Jamie Godbold.

Just as Edge had been instrumental in setting up a goal soon after his arrival, former Ipswich midfielder Niven did likewise for the Lilywhites. Orchestrating an intricate passing move involving Pope and Miller on the right it was Niven who put Miller clear inside the box only for Edge to intervene with a clumsy tackle which left Mr Darlow with no alternative but to point to the spot. Rob Nightingale stepped up to take the penalty kick which he dispatched routinely, sending Michalik the wrong way.

Shane Wardley, watched closely by Ryan Nash

With City now rampant their slick passing and incisive build up play threatened to increase the lead still further. The impressive Gash combined superbly with Nightingale through the inside left channel creating a shooting opportunity for the City midfielder which forced Michalik into a good stop low to his left.

With one eye on Saturday’s trip to Havant Gary Roberts withdrew Danny Bloomfield allowing Shane Wardley to slot in on the left, Louis Riddle moving up to partner Gash in attack. Immediately striking up an understanding Gash played the ball into Riddle’s feet, his shot on the turn from the edge of the area flashing narrowly wide. With the Daniels’ rearguard now stretched to the limit Gash was at the centre of the next goal attempt. Showing excellent chest control to bring down Riddle’s centre he beat Blowers before cutting the ball back to Wardley who was denied a goal by the fingertips of Michalik.

Whilst there was still time for Vincent Shrieves to replace Kevin Byrne and Mark Paul to collect a yellow card for a poorly timed challenge on Nightingale, City saw out the remainder of the game by expertly retaining possession through precise and thoughtful passing to further demoralise their tiring opponents until Mr Darlow finally brought proceedings to a close.

Whilst it has to be remembered that Stamford are a further rung down the pyramid ladder it would be fair to compare them with a Worthing side who won all too easily at Milton Road last Tuesday. This performance showed all the quality of the early season promise that was hinted at in the first two league games with all three departments of the team working well and combining effectively with each other. Saturday’s visit to Havant will undoubtedly be much tougher but this was a timely confidence booster ahead of the long trip to Hampshire.