City's superb away form served them well yet again as they threw off the disappointment of last week's defeat at the hands of Maidenhead to return with maximum points from Eastbourne, in the process, inflicting only their third home defeat since September.

As they had in the recent meeting at Milton Road, City went into a two goal lead, on that occasion Eastbourne battled back to level but there was to be no escape this time for the Sussex side as City held out for the win despite coming under some heavy second half pressure.

The City side showed three changes from that which started against Maidenhead. Lee Summerscales received a recall to fit in on the left hand side of defence with Lee Chaffey moving to partner Matt Langston at the expense of Brady Stone. Dales Binns came in on the flank for the now departed Sam Cooper and Richard Scott was added to central midfield, Matt Robinson taking his place on the bench.

Dale Binns celebrates putting City two ahead

With a strong gusty wind blowing down the pitch, both sides found it difficult to settle on what was a rather bumpy surface and it took fourteen minutes of pretty uninteresting fare before the game suddenly sprung into life. The first shot in anger came from the home side when Matt Smart dragged a 20 yard effort well wide of the target. City responded in devastating fashion by taking the lead. Carl Williams snapped up a loose ball in the centre circle before laying it back to Rob Miller who placed a superb first time pass right into the run of Dave Sadler. Being closed down by two defenders, City's top scorer took his shot early and probably took the home stopper, Lee Hook by surprise as his shot whistled inside the post to cue joyous celebrations with the travelling fans.

Minutes later and City almost made it two as they fashioned another chance. Binns beat two on the left hand side before playing in Summerscales on the flank, his cross was deflected via Danny Chapman's head to Josh Simpson who instantly controlled with his chest before firing a cross cum shot back across goal. Somehow, Sadler failed to get a touch as he slid in at the far post.

Hook was lucky to see his clearance just clear the bar as it rebounded back over his head after being charged down by Sadler before the visitors struck again to double their advantage. Binns, who had looked back to his best form after injury, again took on his man and beat him, cutting into the box as he did so, the home defence stood off the winger and he needed no second invite to lash the ball past Hook.

Eastbourne looked stunned and City continued to have the better of things. Sadler almost embarrassed Hook as he attempted to lob him from some 40 yards, but the keeper got back in time to comfortable grasp the ball on his line.

The home side, who's manager had received the manager of the month award just before the game, really showed no invention as City's solid line of defenders kept them very much at arms length. A speculative overhead kick from Scott Ramsay that dropped safely into the arms of Duncan Roberts looked to be all they would muster as the first half entered it's final stages but they were thrown a lifeline with a goal out of the blue with only three minutes left. Summerscales was caught napping by Ben Austin's quick throw-in and couldn't get close enough to prevent Danny Simmonds from crossing into the area where Yemi Odubade had escaped the attentions of his markers to place a precision header past Roberts.

Carl Williams comes under some pressure

City almost reinstated their two goal cushion immediately as they went down the other end and forced the games first corner. Eastbourne failed to clear effectively and after a brief spell of head tennis Langston cracked a half volley a foot over the bar from 8 yards.

A goal down, it was up to Eastbourne to make the running as the second half got underway and this they did with Ollie Rowlands flashing a shot a few yards wide after being set up by Smart. A minute later and Odubade swept a lovely pass out to Simmonds who went past the challenge of Binns before sending a low near-post cross. Smart got across Summerscales to force Roberts into a good save at the foot of the post.

With the home side pushing on, City played from deep looking as they often do, to hit the opposition on the break. Claiming a cross, Roberts sent a long punt downfield, catching many of the Eastbourne players out of position. Binns collected the ball and instantly ran at the remaining defenders, gaining a yard on Chapman he hit a drive that may have caused Hook more of a problem had the keeper not been perfectly placed to pluck the ball out of the air.

Chances came and went for Eastbourne as they began to build up momentum, but they were really only half chances as City got bodies back and defended determinedly. Austin flicked a Simmonds free-kick off target and Odubade pulled his shot wide from just outside the six yard area following a knockdown by Ramsay.

Eastbourne won a succession of corners, but the City rearguard never really looked like being breached. Following one flag kick, when the referee had already blown for an infringement, Rowlands appeared to lash out at Roberts, catching him on the side of the face. The official did not seem to get a clear view of the incident and decided a lecture was all that was required, a lucky escape for the Eastbourne man.

Josh Simpson helps a clearance upfield

As time began to run out, Eastbourne threw on another striker in the shape of Louis Fazakerly. More opportunities came and went. Rowlands blazed over after Smart's cross dropped invitingly for him in the area and from a corner, Chapman saw his well struck drive thump into the chest of Roberts.

In the 84th minute, the day took a rather sour turn for City when they were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Carl Williams for violent conduct after a clash with Austin. Following a rough tackle, the winger thrust his forearm into the chest of the defender who went away in rather dramatic fashion, holding his face. The referee who was not far from the incident, had no hesitation in showing the red card leaving City to see out the final minutes with reduced manpower.

Were we in for a grandstand finish? well, no. Eastbourne found it just a hard going against ten as they did eleven. One or two half chances came their way. A Ramsay flick from a long Hook clearance fell invitingly for Fazakerly but his poor first touch allowed Chaffey to get in and clear. The final action of the game involved Fazakerly again but his turn and shot on the edge of the area only provided Roberts with some catching practice.

The final whistle brought City a great result that further endorses their claims to the second spot in the division. Tuesday night brings another stern test as they visit fourth placed Lewes for what promises to be another dramatic 90 minutes.