City turned on a second half super show as they virtually assured their place in the end of season play-offs with an impressive victory which casts serious doubt on the Terras ability to extend their season beyond the end of April.

Boosted by the return to fitness of Lee Summerscales and the capture of Swansea midfielder Gary Fisken, Gary Roberts took the opportunity to draft them into the starting line-up ahead of Barry Smith and Michael Gash respectively, both having featured in the victory at Margate on Easter Monday courtesy of goals from Rob Miller and Steve Shipley.

Matt Robinson tussles for the ball with Weymouth's Charlie Welch

Resurgent under the appointment of former Hornchurh manager Gary Hill, Weymouth took maximum points over the holiday period. Hill’s old club were put to the sword at the Wessex Stadium on Monday thanks to second half strikes from Kirk Jackson and a Ryan Johnson own goal.

A flurry of activity ahead of the transfer deadline saw the arrival of Steven Clark, Charlie MacDonald and Vill Powell all of whom were introduced to the starting line-up at the expense of Bradley Thomas, Brian Dutton and Darren Wheeler respectively.

With so many recently arrived players on show it was no real surprise that the opening exchanges were somewhat disjointed. More than twenty minutes had passed before either goal was put under serious threat, the Terras claiming first blood when Matt Langston’s headed clearance from Clark’s free kick fell for Powell who turned neatly inside Summerscales before firing a crisp drive narrowly wide of the target.

Another set piece provided the next opportunity as MacDonald latched on to Shaun Wilkinson’s right wing centre but headed over.

Powell carried the main threat for the visitors and it was easy to see why Gary Roberts tried to bring him to Milton Road. Shortly after the half hour mark he was played in by David Waterman and lashed a fierce cross-shot across the face of goal.

As the half drew to a close City began to settle and the accuracy of their passing improved. Good interplay between the impressive Fisken and Rob Miller created space for Dave Sadler on the edge of the box but the quality of his finish failed to match the quality of his turn and he fired over.

The hosts had one more half chance before the interval, again Fisken was involved this time combining with Richard Scott to set up Sadler whose effort was blocked by Matthew Bound.

Weymouth were quickest out of the blocks after the break and Kirk Jackson’s intelligent lofted pass over Summerscales put Powell away but the Grays loanee dragged his effort across the face of Duncan Roberts’ net.

Dave Sadler feels the weight of a Matt Bound challenge

The Terras were soon made to pay for failing to capitalise on the better of the chances as City snatched a 54th minute lead. Fisken, showing the touch of a full time professional in much of his work played the ball into the feet of Matt Robinson, the former Ipswich striker laid-off to Dale Binns who unleashed a low drive from the edge of the box which flew past a stranded Francisco Ramos.

Weymouth then spurned an excellent chance to grab a swift equaliser when Powell raced down the right and deliver a superb cross which landed at the feet of an unmarked Clark on the far post, but from ten yards out the former Dagenham midfielder skewed his effort wide.

Arguably, this was the turning point of the game, because from then on City never looked back. The arrival of the classy Fisken, combined with Richard Scott’s controlled passing and the industry of Rob Miller and Dale Binns gave the Lilywhites total midfield domination which they used to excellent effect, carving Weymouth open almost at will.

Matt Robinson skied an effort which stemmed from a poor Ramos clearance, a stretching Craig Pope narrowly failed to apply the finishing touch to another flowing move engineered by Scott, Fisken and Miller and Robinson headed narrowly off target after a well worked short corner between Scott and Pope presented him with a decent opening.

Gary Hill countered with a double change, withdrawing Charlie Welch and Shaun Wilkinson for Brian Dutton and former Milton Road crowd favourite Adam Wilde.

However, within five minutes of the substitutions City scored the crucial second goal that all but secured the points. More good work by Fisken saw him link up with Scott who showed great vision, angling a cross-field pass into the feet of Dale Binns. The fleet footed wide-man turned Clark inside out before an outstretched leg floored him, leaving Mr Beevor with no alternative but to point to the penalty spot. Dave Sadler stepped forward to crash an unstoppable place kick past Ramos for his 20the goal of the season.

By this stage the Lilywhites were running riot and in their next attack they netted again. Binns sent a lofted diagonal ball into centre field from deep on the left. Matt Robinson looked second favourite to get there but found an extra gear to take him clear of the trailing defenders before hitting a sublime lob over the advancing Ramos from 20 yards.

Scorer of City's fourth goal, Gary Fisken

The Dorset side were all at sea by this stage. As City surged forward again Craig Pope’s quality centre from the right put Roy O’Brien under all sorts of pressure, his attempted chest back to Ramos fell at the feet of Robinson who appeared to have his legs taken away by the ‘keeper but this time Mr Beevor waved play on.

Gary Hill made his final switch replacing Ian Hutchinson with Mark Boyce but there was no change to the pattern of the game as City responded by netting again. Gary Fisken capped an outstanding debut by winning two challenges on the left hand edge of the box before dispatching a scorching drive into the bottom corner of the net with the under-protected Ramos helpless to resist.

In an attempt to eat up some of the remaining seconds and give as many players as possible a few minutes extra rest Gary Roberts made all three permitted substitutions in quick succession. Well earned breathers going to Scott, Robinson and Sadler, brief run-outs for Barry Smith, Jon Stevenson and Michael Gash.

City appeared to take their foot off the gas in the closing stages and allowed the Terras a late consolation when Dutton headed Clark’s corner through a sea of legs. The Lilywhites could have conceded again at the death when Roberts flapped at Clark’s free kick and Wilde was inches away from doubling the visitors’ tally.

Mr Beevor’s final whistle signalled City’s best home win of the season and after a recent dip in form the manner of victory was highly satisfactory as the Lilywhites appear to have returned to form at just the right time.