Having watched City roll over against an ordinary Matlock team last week, it was hard to be terrifically optimistic about the Lilywhites’ chances against the Bash, a side with a proud home record of five wins and defeat in the league this season.

City’s woes were fairly considerable: no Steve Gentle or Matt Haniver, both injured in the trophy and to their number could be added Laurie Stewart, who was incapacitated in the pre-match warm up, stretching City’s limited resources as tightly as one of Haniver's hamstrings. Into the reckoning came Matt Mitchell and Chris Arthur, trialists at Bury ten days ago and now on the bench and with every chance of making a contribution. The portents didn’t look good. Not even the most reckless gambler would be rushing down to the bookies to put a fiver on a City victory.

Naturally, City won.

How did it happen? As so often is the case when sides are up against it, the team performed greater than the sum of its parts. This, plus a moment on 17 minutes that Bash keeper David Elm will want to forget, gave City the edge and the three points.

Unsurprisingly, City set out their stall to play on the break. Now that Tony Burke is safely installed down the right, City’s opportunities for the quick attack have pretty much doubled. And so it was to prove. City soaked up the expected pressure that Bashley were bound to release, the defence holding up so well that Zac Barrett was not forced to make a hard save.

A decent start became even better when Burke played a delightful diagonal ball to his fellow winger Ash Fuller on the left. Fuller took on his man Ryan Hill and was able to release a shot. But unlike many of his previous efforts, this wasn’t a thundering effort destined either for the back of the net or the corner flag, this was an undercooked affair that Elm seemed to have covered. Helpfully for City, the ball slid under him and into the net to give the Lilywhites a precious lead after 17 minutes.

But don’t forget, this is City, so things aren’t always easy. On 20 minutes, skipper Adrian Cambridge hobbled off with a back spasm courtesy of that tough challenge two weeks ago, giving Matt Mitchell his chance to shine.

If the early substitution disrupted City then it wasn’t for long because just seven minutes after Fuller’s goal, their lead was doubled. This time John Frendo did exceptionally well to hold up the ball on the edge of the area, allowing him to release James Krause running forward from defence. The full back then showed great presence of mind to skip by two defenders before lifting the ball over Elm to score a superlative goal.

Two goals to the good, the defence and midfield working overtime and half chances being created, one to Neil Midgley who shot over when the goal beckoned. Surely, nothing could spoil City’s party? John Frendo’s half time withdrawal with an ankle injury didn’t help but it did give Chris Arthur a chance to show what he could do as City’s sole striker.

The pattern of the second half was that of City defending deeply, taking their chances on the break and then falling back to defend again. Bashley rang the changes with second half substitutions, but the speed at which City’s tireless midfield closed down their opponents meant that Barrett was never under serious pressure. The back four held firm in heroic fashion, never giving Bashley a sniff until the last minutes when Krause’s ill-directed back pass beat Barrett and thankfully for City went to the safe side of the post.

Three points away from home with a patched up team. Perhaps adversity brings out the best in this squad? A great win and a fine scalp to claim - 12 unbeaten and third in the table and despite what seems like weekly permutations in the back four, the meanest defence in the league.

Let’s hope that such a fine performance will persuade the crowds back for Saturday’s match against Leamington to get behind the Lilywhites.