Despite the continuing off-field problems, City continue to produce the goods on the field, following up the win over Hayes in midweek with a demolition of struggling Basingstoke Town.

With City’s ranks already depleted with Danny Naisbitt, Mark Molesley still unavailable, Gary Roberts was forced into a further change with Matt Langston missing out having collected five bookings, Brady Stone coming in for his first start of the season. Robbie Simpson returned to the squad with a place on the bench following his concussion suffered against St Albans a couple of weeks ago.

Dale Binns battles for the ball

With a bitterly cold gale blowing straight down the ground and a difficult pitch that was very soft underfoot, conditions could hardly be described as desirable but City made light of the fact producing the perfect start with Paul Booth netting after only two minutes. Pulling off his marker superbly, City’s top scorer latched onto Glen Fuff’s thumping clearance before beating the home keeper, Stuart Searle, to the ball to lob into the back of the net.

City piled forward and dominated the next few minutes and should have extended their lead. Moments after going in front, Craig Pope’s lofted pass was flicked on by Greg Lincoln and Michael Gash hooked over the bar from close range. A Gash flick then sent Craig Dobson powering clear only to see his shot turned away by Searle, Dale Binns picked up the loose ball but could only poke his effort wide. Next to try his luck was Josh Simpson who fired inches over the bar after a fine run across the edge of the area.

Having been on top in the early stages, City’s good work was almost undone in an instant as Basingstoke nearly hit back. Lewis Cook’s ball inside found Ricci Dolan who had found space between City’s central defensive pairing. Spotting Alan Calton off his line he expertly lobbed the stopper only to see his effort strike the post and run safe.

Following the early exchanges the game got a little ragged and became somewhat of a stalemate as the conditions dictated to some extent but it sprung into life again on 25 minutes when City almost pulled another goal out of the bag with Booth again getting on the end of a long pass out of defence. Bearing down on goal the former Welling man looked odds on to score but took a fraction too long to get his shot away and Neville Stamp was able to get back to produce a excellent saving tackle at the expense of a corner.

Stuart Searle punches clear under pressure from Michael Gash

Four minutes later and City did double their lead. Dale Binns looked to play a one-two with Gash but the City youngster used Binns as a decoy, spinning off his marker and powering a shot low from 20 yards to Searle’s right that nestled neatly in the corner of the net.

Basingstoke were showing little but did cause a moments alarm in the City defence when David Ray fired in a swerving shot that pulled a good block from Calton but it was a brief respite for ‘Stoke and a few minutes later the game was all but over as City netted their third. Binns produced a scintillating run on the left leaving two defenders chasing shadows before crossing for Josh Simpson to power a shot high into the net.

City finished the half strongly and Binns was denied a tap-in by Stamp who cleared Dobson’s whipped cross from under his own bar. Searle then got himself in difficulties as he tried to prevent a corner. Booth picked up the ball quickly and with Searle well out of his ground took the flag kick quickly, unfortunately, Gash was unable to direct his header into an unguarded net.

Basingstoke needed to come out of the blocks fast as the second half got underway if they wanted to get anything from this game and to an extent this is what they did with Cook seeing his drive fumbled by Calton, the keeper just managing to grab the loose ball as Dolan threatened. Ben Surey then hit a shot from distance but it caused Calton little trouble, clutching the ball to his chest.

It wasn’t long before City were on the offensive again. Gash couldn’t believe his luck when Mark Paterson’s suicidal back-pass presented the ball to him as he trotted back having challenged Searle. ‘Stoke’s stopper came to the rescue though as he blocked and held the striker’s shot.

Dolan volleyed narrowly over before Binns, who had been on fire all match, again tormented the home defence as he picked up a weak clearance. Twisting and turning, the former Hendon winger made space for a shot but pulled it wide of the post.

Josh Simpson slots the ball home to put City four up

With the City defence in dominant form, the home sides chances were few and between but they should have reduced the arrears when Danny Brown floated an excellent ball in behind an advancing defensive line but Ray skied his effort from only 6 yards.

If the game wasn’t beyond ‘Stoke by this point it was put well out of sight in the 71st minute as City struck again. From Pope’s throw the ball was worked into the area. It should have been cleared but Justyn McKay dwealt too long and Josh Simpson came in on the blind side to rob him and slip the ball under Searle.

City completed the rout a few minutes later and not for the first time it was Binns that was at the centre of things. Working his magic on the left he cut inside before delivering a pin-point cross to the far post where Dobson did the honours, sliding the ball home.

With ten minutes left and at five goals to the good, manager Gary Roberts rang the changes, bringing on Ryan Lockett and Damion Jarrett for Gash and Dobson and the new participants both had opportunities to get on the scoresheet in the remaining minutes. Pope’s 40 yard crossfield pass picked out Binns run, his cross fell to Lockett unmarked at the far post but a poor touch pushed him wide and the former Cambridge Utd scholar failed to get his shot on target. The final action saw Lincoln burst forward and Jarrett thump a shot a foot over the bar after the ball had broken for him on the edge of the area, seconds later the whistle went to complete a very satisfying afternoon’s entertainment.