City turned in an heroic display to topple high-flying Weymouth on an afternoon when the spirit of the players reflected the determination running through the club at every level, producing a result that was just reward for all the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes in both promoting this fixture and ensuring the pitch was fit to stage it.

With the influential Carl Williams suspended Rob Nightingale was drafted in as a straight replacement in an otherwise unchanged starting line-up from that which saw off Nuneaton in City’s last match eleven days ago.

Matt Langston sticks close to Weymouth's Steve Claridge

The Lilywhites left a sizeable Milton Road crowd in no doubt that they were up for this fixture by making a bright an energetic start which saw Danny Bloomfield head narrowly wide from Matt Nolan’s left wing centre in the opening moments.

However it wasn’t long before the visitors showed signs of their undoubted class when a quickly taken free kick on the left freed Lee Philpott who combined with player-boss Steve Claridge, the striker who made his name south of the River Cam firing narrowly wide from the edge of the area.

City hit back with Miller winning the ball in midfield and feeding Louis Riddle whose early cross appeared to catch the wind before landing on the roof of the net with Jason Matthews back-tracking nervously.

As the game switched from end to end Lee Phillips’ intelligent back-header fell invitingly into the path of the advancing Luke Nightingale who centred for the predatory Claridge only for the alert Craig Pope to clear the danger at the expense of a corner. As the Terras began to gain the upper hand, Claridge, with his back to goal exchanged a series of slick passes with Stephen Tully which resulted in Phillips moving menacingly into the area only to be denied by the legs of Martin Davies.

As the majority of the football continued to be played in and around City territory a dangerous Tully centre picked out Phillips but the former Plymouth striker was unable to direct his header goalwards.

Moments later Martin Barlow came within inches of breaking the deadlock with two chances in quick succession. Firstly the former Telford midfielder sent a fierce drive arrowing towards the bottom left hand corner of the City net only for Davies to go full length and parry the ball clear. As Weymouth kept the attack alive on their right the ball was played back into the danger area where Barlow was on hand again to send a lob arcing over Davies and onto the top of the crossbar.

Despite having City under almost constant pressure the visitors then contrived to gift the Lilywhites a golden opportunity to score. Nolan cut out Graeme Power’s ill-advised attempt to clear by playing the ball across the face of goal and played in Rob Miller but the former Bedford midfielder snatched at the chance and allowed the relieved Matthews to gather above his head.

Goalscorer Matt Nolan in aerial action

The Terras were experiencing an uncomfortable few minutes in front of their own goal. Craig Pope’s deep cross from the right forced Matthews into a weak punch which fell to Riddle who cushioned a header back across goal for Nolan but with the goal at his mercy the man on loan from Peterborough poked his shot over the bar.

With Claridge pivotal in most of Weymouth’s attacking play he combined with Hutchinson before spinning and shooting in low at Davies who was down smartly to his right to scramble the ball away.

City’s Welsh custodian came to the rescue once again making his best save of the half when going full length to palm another stinging Barlow effort behind for a corner as the Lilywhites ended the period grateful to be on level terms.

The second half started where the first had ended with Davies again coming to the rescue. The powerful Phillips burst through the inside right channel but the former Coventry City stopper raced from his line and blocked with his legs.

Within moments the City ‘keeper was nearly the author of his own misfortune when his mis-cued goal kick fell at the feet of Claridge who bore down on goal with Lee Pluck in close attendance, however Davies retrieved the situation with yet another fine save blocking out the former Leicester striker’s effort at point blank range.

Gary Roberts then withdrew Stuart Niven from midfield, introducing Lee Summerscales who went to left back allowing Lewis Baillie to bolster the midfield area which was at the time being totally dominated by the visitors.

Stephen Tully then tested Davies with two accurate long range shots in quick succession but on an afternoon when he was in inspired form the City ‘keeper handled both efforts impeccably.

As City looked to loosen Weymouth’s grip on the game Rob Nightingale won the ball well on the right hand side of midfield before angling a low pass through the Weymouth back line and into the path of Louis Riddle but as the former West Ham wide man looked to square a centre across the face of goal Matthews was on hand to smother the danger.

Nightingale was involved again soon afterwards combining with Rob Miller who burst into the box but was unable to apply a finish when well placed, Danny Bloomfield unable to convert the loose ball from an acute angle.

As Weymouth continued to probe Pope conceded a corner after heading away a dangerous centre, Philpott’s resultant place kick finding Robbie Pethick who lashed the ball menacingly across the face of goal.

City's Rob Nightingale gets the better of Ian Hutchinson

Baillie’s presence in midfield had the desired effect as City began to enjoy more possession in central areas as first Nolan played in Bloomfield with an intelligent pass, the Lilywhites 25-goal striker fired an early shot at Matthews’ near post but despite the former Exeter ‘keeper doing well to fingertip the ball onto the upright a goal kick and not a corner was awarded. Then Nightingale combined with Nolan to feed Bloomfield again but this time his low shot from the edge of the area was comfortably saved by the visiting ‘keeper.

The longer the game continued with no goals the more the balance of power began to swing slightly City’s way and their patience was rewarded mid-way through the half as the deadlock was broken. Buckle conceded possession carelessly in midfield and Louis Riddle seized on the loose ball, speeding purposefully down the left his progress appeared to have been halted by Pethick but showing superior strength and speed to the former Bristol Rovers defender the City winger beat his man and cut inside before squaring to the unmarked Nolan who fired in off the inside of the post past the despairing Matthews. A sublime piece of wing play worthy of the big occasion.

In the immediate aftermath a tiring Nolan was withdrawn to be replaced by Robbie Simpson, at the same time Lewis Cook replacing Hutchinson for the visitors. Soon to be followed by Philpott who made way for Shaun Wilkinson.

Weymouth continued to probe but could find no way past the rock solid Pluck and Langston partnership in front of the assured Davies, the defence bolstered by the introduction of Lee Chaffey for the final ten minutes, Danny Bloomfield withdrawn from the action as City strung five across the back.

As Chaffey tidied up one of a succession of corners he played a neat ground pass to the lone Simpson who sped down the right. The teenage striker initially looked to be heading for the corner but with the Terras committed at the other end of the field the pitch opened up in front of him and a fine supporting run from the dynamic Miller allowed Simpson a sight on goal but he fired narrowly wide when well placed to work Matthews.

Weymouth’s frustration came to the surface as Wilkinson was carded for an ill-timed challenge on Baillie as the former Heybridge Swifts player broke up yet another attack but to be fair this was the only poor tackle in the whole of a fiercely competitive match.

As City looked to eek out time they themselves collected a couple of cautions, firstly Craig Pope delayed too long in taking a throw in but this was only a minor blemish on the latest in a string of impressive displays by the former Barnet right back and then match winner Louis Riddle encroached at a last minute free kick.

The rearguard action was successfully completed however and the final whistle was much celebrated, on three sides of the ground at least. So often in the past City have let themselves down on the big occasion but this performance showed a resolve which suggests City’s small but committed squad can go into the final third of the season with the confidence that they have the ability, fight, determination and team spirit to secure the top ten finish that displays like this suggest they deserve.