Cambridge City cruised up to third in the league with a comfortable win over in-form Sutton Utd at a windswept Gander Green Lane on Tuesday evening.

Alex Fiddes retained his place in midfield, and Brady Stone was drafted into the centre of defence to replace the injured Glen Fuff, in an otherwise unchanged starting line-up.

Both sides struggled tp impose themselves on the heavy, sanded pitch in the opening exchanges, with chances few and far between. The hosts just shaded possession before City produced a quality opening goal in the 13th minute. Fiddes threaded a delightful ball into the path of Matt Robinson on the right hand edge of the penalty area, and the striker lashed a first time shot into the net, beating goalkeeper Phil Wilson down to his left. A dream start for the visitors against opponents whose recent winning run had included victory over highflying Thurrock.

The condiitions, if anything, worsened from that point. The wind began to gust strongly and, With City playing into its teeth, Duncan Roberts was having difficulty with his goalkicks.

Dale Binns squandered a decent chance to double the lead on 23 minutes. Robbie Simpson bustled past the home defence, layed the ball into the path of Binns but the winger saw his left-footed effort fly straight at Wilson who blocked, at the expense of a corner. A yard or two either side and City would have been in complete command. Sutton, as a result, came more into the game and forced a string of corners. The wind was playing havoc with them though and United failed to profit from any. A minute after Binns’ miss a goalmouth melee in the City penalty box nearly produced an equaliser, the ball finally arriving at the feet of Nigel Brake who ballooned the ball over Roberts’ crossbar. Three minutes later, Roberts was caught out by the rutted surface. Stone played a harmless back pass, the ball took an alarming bobble, and the keeper kicked thin air. Luckily, the ball rolled behind for a corner, which came to nothing, and a disaster was avoided.

On the stroke of halftime it was nearly 2-0. Matt Langston headed upfield, the ball was flicked on by Robinson and Robbie Simpson turned Lewis Gonsalves but dragged his shot wide of the far post with Wilson beaten.

City finally made one of their chances count straight from the re-start. Simpson was fouled on the edge of the box, Robinson curled in a tempting freekick and Brady Stone arrived at the back post to thump the ball past a static Sutton rearguard, giving Wilson no chance, to the delight of the travelling fans. City were now complete control, and began to stroke the ball around. A slick 54th minute move almost produced a third goal, Simpson’s intelligent flick in centre-field set Binns away down the left flank and his delicately weighted pass found Robinson whose low shot skidded just wide of the post.

The home side rarely threatened in the second half as City, backed by the wind, dominated the game more and more. There was an alarming moment for the Lilywhites on the hour however. Stuart Booth drove a long ball deep into City’s half, it was flicked on by substitute Stuart Booth into the danger area and Craig Pope’s defensive header missed the far post by inches. It was to be the closest Sutton came to readucing the arrears. Seven minutes later, the game was put well beyond their reach. Fiddes’ ball into the penalty area was flicked on by Langston as the home defence was caught flatfooted. Robinson reacted quicker than anyone to the loose ball, and was upended by Wilson. The referee gave the despairing home goalkeeper his marching orders before Robinson blasted the spot kick into the net, sending replacent Gonsalves the wrong way.

There was to be no way back for Sutton, reduced to ten men, 3-0 down and with the elements against them, it seemed to be a matter of how many City would score. They were to find Gonsalves in admirable form. With five minutes left, and with Gary Roberts now ringing the changes with three rapid substitutions, Lee Summerscales produced a perfect cross from the left which picked out fellow substitute Michael Gash unmarked in the area. The teenager’s powerful header was brilliantly turned away by Gonsalves and Robbie Simpson’s attempt to force home the loose ball was thwarted by the offside flag, Gonsalves saved that too for good measure. Summerscales was in the thick of the action again three minutes later. The left-back accurately found Simpson inside the box, but Gonsalves brilliantly parried another goalbound shot. The final whistle sounded soon afterwards and City had secured three more vital points.