Mark Molesley produced five minutes of magic to turn what appeared to be an almost certain defeat into the most unlikely of victories as City came from behind to snatch all three points in dramatic fashion, claiming a 2-1 win over Yeading at The Warren.

Despite losing both their previous home games last season’s Rymans League champions picked up a very useful 1-0 at Welling on Saturday courtesy of David Clarke’s second half strike. The former Harrow striker found himself on the bench however as Johnson Hippolyte made two changes to his attack drafting in Errol Telmaque and Marvin Morgan.

Dale Binns keeps home defender, Steve Wales, at bay

At the same time the Lilywhites were losing for the first time and Gary Roberts responded by replacing striker Robbie Simpson with defender Lee Chaffey as the visitors lined-up with a five-man midfield.

The opening exchanges were scrappy to say the least. City producing the first moment of any real quality ten minutes in when Paul Booth’s neat control from Craig Pope’s long pass played in Craig Dobson who switched play to Dale Binns and the Milton Road club won a corner as a result. Mark Molesley played the ball short to Steve Parmenter and Delroy Preddie flapped at the cross but Glen Fuff fired over from close range.

Switching flanks Booth then latched onto Lee Chaffey’s line ball and showed tremendous strength to hold-off Nevin Saroya, accelerate away and square for Mark Molesley who had a made a good supporting run. The former Hayes midfielder stretched as he shot forcing Delroy Preddie to tip the rising drive over the bar.

With City beginning to exercise an element of control more good link up play between Molesley and Chaffey freed Dale Binns through the inside left channel. The former Hendon wide man flashed a shot across the face of the six-yard box which was wide of the target and too far in front of Craig Dobson to pose a threat.

Yeading’s first sight of goal came half an hour into the contest when good work by Steve Wales following a left wing corner created the space for Marvin Morgan to shoot but the alert Craig Pope made an important block to stifle the danger.

With the half drawing to a close the hosts snatched something of a surprise lead. Wales intercepted Steve Parmenter’s flick, charged down the loose ball and accelerated goalwards before releasing a well measured pass into the space behind City’s central defenders. Errol Telemaque was first to react taking the ball wide of the advancing Ricky Millard before sliding home from ten yards out despite a last gasp attempt to clear by Craig Pope..

Having offered little in attack for 45 minutes, Gary Roberts changed things around at the interval introducing a second striker, Robbie Simpson, at the expense of Steve Parmenter.

Yeading, themselves playing a 3-5-2 formation, also made a tactical switch at the break as their wing-backs denied the supply to City’s wide men which negated the attacking threat posed, in particular, by Dale Binns.

On one of the rare occasions when the Lilywhites did spring the trap Paul Booth sent Dobson racing clear down the right. The former Lewes winger outpaced Michael Johnson but his miscued shot faded wide of the goal and away from the chasing Robbie Simpson.

Robbie Simpson is out-jumped by Nevin Saroya

As Yeading began to enjoy the territorial advantage City collected three yellow cards in quick succession as Jamie Southon, Lee Chaffey and Matt Langston were all guilty of untidy challenges.

Goal scoring chances were at a premium however and wing-back Michael Johnson was the first player to register a meaningful strike on goal in the second period when he latched onto Telmaque’s square ball and sent a fierce drive narrowly over the angle of post and crossbar.

With twenty minutes remaining and the game slipping away Gary Roberts made a double change, Craig Pope was sacrificed as City switched to three at the back allowing Richard Scott to slot into a midfield role and in a straight swap Carl Williams replaced Craig Dobson.

Michael Johnson tried his luck again with a drive from a free-kick awarded on City’s left but despite juggling the ball Millard held on at the second time of asking.

As the game entered its final fifteen minutes there were signs that the substitutions were beginning to have an effect. Richard Scott brought some much needed quality to City’s play and his measured passing and ability to retain possession gave the Lilywhites something to build on. Carl Williams sheer drive and enthusiasm also seemed to have a positive effect and the league’s leading scorers at last began to exert some pressure.

Scott and Booth combined to set up Mark Molesley but the four-goal midfielder fired high from the edge of the box. Booth was involved once more as he collected a measured pass from Lee Chaffey and fed the ball wide to Williams whose good early cross was header narrowly over the bar by Matt Langston under challenge from Saroya.

Realising that his side were coming increasingly under the cosh Johnson Hippolyte tried to eat up valuable seconds by bringing on David Clarke, a move which saw Steve Wales depart from the action.

With barely five minutes to go City were thrown a lifeline. Again Richard Scott was the architect as his through ball was perfectly flighted for Simpson to angle an intelligent header into the feet of Molesley. Initially forced wide by Preddie the chance seemed to have gone however the former Chesham custodian made a rash challenge close to the touchline which floored Molesley and resulted in Mr Lennard pointing to the penalty spot. After some delay Paul Booth stepped up to convert clinically, driving low to Preddie’s left.

Yeading keeper, Delroy Preddie can do nothing to stop Booth's spot kick

Yeading seemed to crumble at this point and within in minute could have conceded again. Another deft Simpson header sent Molesley racing clear of the hosts’ disorganised rearguard with only Preddie to beat. Looking to maintain his goal-a-game record since his summer arrival Molesley fired low to the right of the ‘keeper only to see his drive bounce of the foot of the post and away to temporary safety. With Yeading unable to clear the danger Simpson again played Molesley in and as he homed in on goal he was sandwiched between Johnson and Darti Brown but this time Mr Lennard waved away concerted penalty appeals.

Suddenly desperate to hang on Yeading introduced Emond Protain for Johnson but unfortunately for the hosts the change over didn’t last long enough to prevent City snatching a winner.

With the regulation 90 minutes as good as complete Richard Scott squared to Molesley wide on the right who in turn played the ball into Booth’s feet. With his back to goal and on the edge of the box, Booth played a first-time return pass which Molesley raced onto and smashed beyond the despairing Preddie and into he far corner of the net, sending the travelling supporters into wild celebration.

City survived an extended period of additional time without undue alarm to complete a remarkable turnaround by collecting all the points. This is the first of City’s four victories to be achieved after initially falling behind. The final twenty minutes typifying the kind of character that was commonplace last season, and Gary Roberts will know his team will need more of the same when Eastbourne come to town on Saturday.