Any lingering hopes City still harboured of forcing their way into the end of season play-offs were surely extinguished after another disappointing home display saw them slump 2-0 to a Yeading side whose clinical finishing was in stark contrast to City’s efforts in front of goal.

Despite taking the lead through a Dale Binns strike at Eastbourne on Saturday, City were unable to hold onto the advantage and a late Stuart Tuck strike denied them all three points. Gary Roberts was able to name an unchanged side however, something of a luxury in recent weeks.

Dale Binns makes a break

Narrowly beaten at home by leaders Weymouth on Saturday the Ding had as good as secured their Nationwide South status with a fine 3-0 at Weston in midweek. Visiting boss Johnson Hippolyte made two changes from the weekend, Errol Telemaque and David Clarke stepping up from the bench to replace Goulding and Ben Bowditch respectively.

The Lilywhites started brightly enough and in the opening minutes Robbie Simpson guided a Glen Fuff clearance into the path of Craig Dobson whose early shot from the inside right position was deflected behind for a corner.

Having held the upper hand in the opening exchanges City were then guilty of switching off at the back and allowing the visitors to grab the lead with their first attack. John Mousinho delivered a quality inswinging cross from wide on the right but neither defenders nor goalkeeper took responsibility for it and Errol Telemarque stole in to power a header past Danny Naisbitt from close range.

Visiting ‘keeper Delroy Preddie almost gifted the hosts an immediate leveller when he took his eyes off a Mark Molesley free kick and allowed the ball to bounce against an upright before clinging on at the second attempt. It was to be his only error on an otherwise faultless afternoon.

At the other end it was City who had the woodwork to thank moments later. Darti Brown bent a ball in from the left which deceived everyone and bounced off Naisbitt’s far post. Only the reaction of the alert Lee Chaffey prevented Bobby Behzadi from netting the rebound.

Robbie and Josh Simpson then combined well to carve through the centre of the Yeading rearguard but when Robbie seemed well placed to shoot once the ball fell for him he elected to head across goal to Josh who failed to find the power to test Preddie.

Lee Chaffey feels the weight of a Marvin Morgan challenge

The visitors dealt City a massive blow with ten minutes of the half remaining. Glen Fuff found himself one-on-one with Telemaque and as Marvin Morgan pushed the ball into the space behind the Lilywhites’ skipper there was only going to be one winner in the sprint that ensued. Naisbitt’s rush from his line only served to make Telemaque’s mind up for him, the former Hayes striker nudged the ball around the ‘keeper before casually side-footing home, despite the best efforts of Chaffey who chased Morgan to the line.

City’s best opening of the half came five minutes before the break when the quick thinking Craig Pope released Mark Molesley with a neat free kick which the Lilywhites’midfielder fired across the face of goal with Preddie stretching.

The hosts put in a decent finish to the half, Robbie Simpson chested Lee Charffey’s pass into the feet of namesake Josh who warmed Preddie’s gloves with a first time strike.

City came closer still in the dying seconds of normal time when a great run from Dale Binns played in Paul Booth but in attempting to cut inside rather than shoot early Milton Road’s leading marksman was closed down by Nevin Saroya who blocked from close range.

The Lilywhites were smartly out of the blocks after the interval. Booth put Dobson away down the right an his early cross was just too high for Robbie Simpson who got under the ball a little and headed wide.

City had a great chance to claw their way back into he game when a Mark Molesley shot was deflected behind. Dale Binns’ corner was only partially cleared and fell kindly for Matt Langston but Preddie reacted superbly to dive at the feet of the central defender and deflect the ball over the bar.

Binns is sent flying by David Clarke

Amidst a succession of substitutions which disrupted what momentum City had managed to muster the injured Lee Chaffey made way for Danny Blanchett. The young left back was soon in the thick of action sending a driven through ball onto the head of (Robbie) Simpson who in turn freed Booth with a superb flick but the former Wellling striker dwelt for too long on the ball and allowed Preddie to pull off yet another very good save.

Matt Langston was sacrificed for Stephen Hughes as City went three at the back and inevitably this left them open to the counter attack, Manny Williams, who had earlier replaced Morgan, surged down the right and drove low at Naisbitt who palmed into the side netting.

There could be no faulting City’s efforts to force their way back into contention. A neat combination between Molesley and (Robbie) Simpson put Dale Binns through on the left but his rising drive from an acute angle was diverted behind by Preddie. The experienced ‘keeper saved his best until last however when Robbie Simpson collected a Hughes’ knock down his volley appeared to be arrowing towards the bottom corner only for Preddie to plunge to his left and punch clear.

Not only are City failing to get the results they need to secure a place in the top five their performances of late don’t suggest any sudden change of fortune. Another long hard season for Gary Roberts’ relatively small squad is beginning to take its toll.