City successfully negoatiated the potential banana skin that a tie against lower league opposition throws up, overcoming Sittingbourne FC 3 –1, but the Lilywhites had to wait until late in the game to book their place in the next round of the Trophy.

Showing the first change to the line-up for many weeks, Alan Calton taking over between the sticks from the suspended Danny Naisbitt, City began reasonably well having elected to kick off into the biting gale blowing down Sittingbourne’s exposed ground with Robbie Simpson slipping in Paul Booth, but he scuffed his shot which dribbled wide of the target. The decision to play into the wind looked to have backfired moments later when Sittingbourne went into the lead from the subsequent goalkick. Steve Williams’ long punt downfield was missed by Josh Simpson and the ball skipped off the surface and aided by the wind, caught out Matt Langston. Bourne’s Bradley Spice raced through and beat the outrushing Calton with a neat finish.

Mark Molesley escapes a challenge

City looked a bit uneasy defending into such a strong wind but as the minutes passed, it dropped and the visitors began to gain control. Craig Dobson should have levelled after twelve minutes when he was sent clear by Robbie Simpson. However, as he burst into the area he elected to shoot instead of square the ball to Booth for a tap-in and Williams got down to smother.

Dobson hit another effort off target following a short corner before City restored parity to the match. Mark Molesley’s pass allowed Robbie Simpson to power through the Sittingbourne defensive line, evading James Campbell’s desperate lunge the striker found Booth unmarked and it was just a formality for City’s leading scorer to find the back of the net.

With City getting the ball down and playing their natural game, they dominated for most of the first half. Sittingbourne found it difficult to pin the ball down and on occasions resorted to some rather over zealous tackles, one such challenge earning Mitchell Sherwood a deserved booking.

Dobson saw his drive from the edge of the area deflected wide by the head of Langston then Booth showed excellent pace to leave Campbell trailing in his wake on the left hand side. Cutting inside he set up Robbie Simpson for a strike on goal but Campbell did well to recover and produce a fine block to prevent Simpson’s shot testing Williams. City picked up the loose ball and Craig Pope lifted it back into the penalty area where Williams made a mess of his attempted catch, presenting it to Booth, but there were too many defenders for the striker to take advantage and Sittingbourne survived.

Paul Booth lays the ball off

Having been second best for most of the half, Sittingbourne did have one opening as the half drew to a close having won a free-kick in the right hand side. Ricky Spiller’s place kick was pulled to the edge of the area where Kieran Marsh produced a shot on the turn that thumped into the chest of Calton.

City's travelling support probably thought their side would power on after the break but this was not the case and the game became a bit of a stalemate as neither side seemed able to gain any real control in the conditions. It took thirteen minutes for the first goalmouth action to come, Sherwood forcing Calton to get down and grab his low drive at the near-post. As though stung into action, City hit back immediately. Booth picked out Dobson’s run and the former Lewis wide man produced a stinging drive that Williams stood up well to and turned away.

Soon after, The Brickies thought they had taken the lead. Danny Lawson’s diagonal ball was flicked on by Campbell and Lee Browning nipped in to steer the ball past Calton, however, his celebrations were cut short by the Assistant’s flag. Again, City replied in kind and looked to have good shout for a penalty turned down. Lee Hockey’s poor headed backpass fell to Booth who bore down on goal but was brought down by Campbell. The challenge appeared to be in the area with the defender also being the last man, but after consulting with his Assistant, the Referee gave only a free-kick on the edge of the area which came to nothing.

With City not the dominant force they had been in the first half, hard working Sittingbourne were always in the game and Browning forced Calton into a smart save, parrying his shot after the frontman had made good ground.

Williams produced a stunning save from Dale Binns after 73 minutes. Molesley swung in a free-kick which was cleared straight to the City winger who slammed in a superb volley from the edge of the area that the home keeper somehow turned away.

Craig Pope clears the ball

City continued to press. Josh Simpson forced a save from Williams and the other Simpson, Robbie, saw a drive deflected narrowly wide of the post. Lawson’s failure to cut out a diagonal ball allowed Binns a run on goal. His near-post shot ended up in the back of the net, but it had gone through the badly secured side-netting.

Sittingbourne produced their best moment of the half in the 82nd minute. Browning got the better of Glen Fuff and found Spice inside the City area. He spun, twisted and turned leaving two defenders on their backs, with the target gaping a goal looked inevitable but Pope came to the rescue, nicking the ball off his toe and clearing upfield. City countered with Dobson picking it up and powering through midfield, producing a slide-rule pass to send Booth in on goal, rounding the keeper, City’s top scorer had the formality of rolling the ball home but incredibly with the goal empty, managed to hit the post and the chance was gone.

With the jeers from the home crowd still echoing in the cold night air, Booth was almost immediately presented with a chance to make amends and he did not waste it. The home crowd wanted a foul as Langston and Spice tangled but the Referee waved play on, City broke through centre field with Booth producing another well timed run to pull clear. With defenders fast closing him down he showed a cool head to slip the ball past Williams.

From that point on there was no coming back for Sittingbourne and City added a third with three minutes left. Substitute Michael Gash lobbed the ball over his own head to release Dobson on the flank, an early cross to the near-post was met by Robbie Simpson to steer home with ease, game over.