Free scoring City continued their rise up the Conference South table netting three times for the fourth league game in succession as 10-man Maidenhead were brushed aside at Milton Road.

With Mark Molesley still struggling with injury Greg Lincoln returned to the starting line-up whilst the former Hayes midfielder started on the bench in a team otherwise unchanged from Tuesday night’s comprehensive 3-0 victory over Sutton.

Paul Booth fires in a shot

A first home win nine months (courtesy of goals from Hughes and Whiteman), when Sutton visited York Road a fortnight ago gave the Magpies fresh hope for survival, however in last weekend’s crucial relegation clash at Newport County a 3-0 defeat plunged the Berkshire club back into trouble prompting Carl Taylor to ring the changes. Into the side came Steven Dell, Nathan Bunce, Joe Bruce, Marc Whiteman, Matt Glynn and Nana Badu with Chris Elsegood, Brendan Gallen, Ryan Ashe, Lee Newman, Dean Bradshaw and Hughes making way.

Having settled their nerves by taking an early lead against Sutton the Lilywhites were keen for a repeat performance and with only two minutes on the clock Paul Booth, Craig Dobson and Dale Binns combined to create a decent opening for Robbie Simpson whose first time shot flashed narrowly wide of the target.

City soon gained the territorial advantage and when Binns was felled by Dell on the edge of the area Robbie Simpson rolled the resultant free kick to Booth who fired just past Scott Tarr’s upright.

The hosts turned the screw still further, Josh Simpson showed great vision to angle a pass in behind Ryan Parsons which Dobson latched onto and fired powerfully across goal, Tarr parried unconvincingly but the ball fell kindly for the visitors and the danger was averted.

Despite the extended absence of Lee Chaffey who was receiving treatment for a facial injury City didn’t let up with Josh Simpson the latest player to try his luck sending a 20 yard drive into the advertising boards.

Paul Booth’s strength and pace was making life extremely uncomfortable for the visiting defenders and thirty minutes in the former Welling striker was hauled unceremoniously to the floor by Graham Porter who collected a yellow card as a result.

Inside a minute Booth had netted for the fourth time in 2006. Collecting Josh Simpson’s through ball on the edge of the box the 20-goal marksman took advantage of the generous amount of room given to him by the Magpies’ centre back pairing, held off one challenge and whilst moving to his right fired back across Tarr and into the bottom corner of the net.

The movement of City’s attacking players dragged the Maidenhead back line out of shape on a number of occasions, Dobson switched wings to collect a quick Binns throw in and sent a dipping drive over the bar.

Robbie Simpson holds off Maidenhead's Joe Bunce

Greg Lincoln and Josh Simpson were dominant in the centre of the park and the two combined to free Dobson again, this time coming in from his more accustomed position wide on the right the former Lewes winger connected sweetly with the outside of his boot, scraping the outside of the post.

The half ended as it began with the Magpies penned into their own box as (Josh) Simpson again sent Dobson clear and from deep on the right his fierce cross-shot was too hot for Tarr to hold and another less than assured parry from the former Eastleigh stopper span away from goal.

Unfortunately for Maidenhead the second half began as the first had finished. Within minutes of the restart Lincoln combined with Craig Pope who made a great overlapping run and centred superbly for (Robbie) Simpson but the teenage striker lost his footing at the crucial moment and the chance to put City in the comfort zone had gone.

The hosts continued to pile on the pressure and with Maidenhead only able to partially clear Lincoln’s corner Lee Chaffey showed great feet to make space for himself tight on the byeline before sending a rising drive into Tarr’s near post which the ‘keeper did well to beat away with his legs.

Maidenhead’s rare forays into City territory flounder as soon as they got anywhere near Matt Langston and Glen Fuff who were superior in every department to their opponents. Just after the hour mark the Lilywhites’ skipper broke up a passing movement with a well timed interception a launched a lofted pass through the inside right channel which the tireless Robbie Simpson chased down. As the striker collected on the edge of the box he was felled from behind by Porter giving Mr Parker no option but to produce a second yellow card, followed by a red.

Simpson was soon to be withdrawn at the expense of Michael Gash whose impact was immediate. With his first touch, within seconds of his introduction, Gash latched onto Josh Simpson’s deft through ball outpaced the reorganised Maidenhead rearguard, rounded the on-rushing Tarr and slid home from wide on the right of the area. The third time in the last four games the teenage striker has scored coming off the bench.

Craig Dobson threatens the visitor's defence

With a two goal and one man advantage Gary Roberts took the opportunity to use his two remaining substitutes in quick succession, Dave Sadler and Mark Molesley replacing Craig Dobson and Josh Simpson respectively.

Paul Booth came close to doubling his tally for the afternoon when he sprung an offside trap which had to some extent frustrated City, at first it appeared he had got around Tarr but the ‘keeper did just enough to force the striker to drag his shot wide.

Producing another fine cameo performance Gash played a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Binns who accelerated away from Dell and centred invitingly but Bruce was on hand to clear at the expense of a corner. The resultant flag kick came all the way across the area to Sadler whose first time drive forced a good reaction save from Tarr.

A trademark weaving run from Molesley took him deep into opposition territory before he found Lincoln whose first time lay off into the feet of Gash looked like it would produce the third goal of the afternoon but the Academy graduate poked his effort inches wide.

Gash continued to impose himself on the game and an intelligent reverse pass sent Booth racing clear through the outside right channel but he was again foiled by Tarr.

With time running out City continued to press and a fine run from Binns ended in a cross which was cleared weakly to Booth some ten yards from goal, but on an afternoon where he may feel he should have bagged his second hat-trick of the season he fired over the bar.

With time almost up City grabbed a deserved third goal, although it was tough on Tarr whose heroics had saved his team mates from a far heavier beating. Lee Chaffey sent Gash clear down the left his centre found Sadler homing in from the right, the former Hinckley hit-man smashed his drive off the upright but the rebound fell kindly for Molesley who lashed home, his first goal since early September when he opened the campaign with six goals in his first seven starts.

City have hit a rich vein of form, winning games, scoring goals at one end, keeping them out at the other. They travel to Dorchester with their sights firmly set on the top six and on this showing will be a match for any of the other contenders.