If ever there was a game of contrasts then this was it. A sluggish City performance in the first 30 minutes was replaced by flowing and confident passing team for the next hour. Tony Burke’s sparking skills and initiative stood out against the sight of Adrian Cambridge being stretchered off. When City were good, they were very, very good and worth waiting for.

The score line was a fair reflection of a game that City dominated once they had scored. In fairness to Clevedon it was they who caused the bigger headaches in the opening exchanges, forcing a couple of corners and having a shot from range from Danny Wring saved by Zac Barrett.

New signing, Tony Burke, clips the ball in

When Tony Burke was named as sub he probably didn’t imagine that he would be in the thick of it as early as he was. However, when Cambridge contested a header and fell awkwardly, the debutant was pressed into action. With Burke playing out wide as a more or less traditional winger, Neil Midgley came inside to take his captain’s place. Lee Chaffey, meanwhile, was handed the captain’s armband.

It didn’t take long for Burke to catch the eye. With quick and skilful feet he beat his man within minutes of coming on, creating precious space with a delightful drag back. His cross was cleared but the message was clear to the City faithful – here was a player with the potential to cause real problems down the right.

Unsurprising, the early withdrawal of Cambridge caused the City midfield a few problems and for 15 minutes the game went rather flat. However, with Clevedon’s attacking options being relatively unambitious, City began to get a hold of the game. First on 34 minutes, Steve Gentle started off an excellent move which saw him release John Frendo. The striker picked on Burke who did well on the right and centred to Frendo whose good shot was smothered by Danny Greaves.

On 37, Burke’s corner from the left found Laurie Stewart, who met the ball with some power. Fortunately for the visitors Matt Townley was on duty at the near post and cleared to safety. Good pressure from City – and the signs that the opening goal were clear to see.

Two minutes later, Gentle was fouled by Ben Evans some three yards outside the area. Without Cambridge to take the kick, City had to think of other options. As Matt Haniver and Fuller stood over the ball, it seemed likely that the latter might take a pot. As it happened, Haniver rolled the ball to him, Fuller striking the ball magnificently past Greaves and in to the left hand side of the goal to open the scoring – an unstoppable, clean strike.

 During injury time it looked as if City would double their lead after more good work on the right by Burke. After working some space, he crossed into the box where it looked as if Gentle might try his luck. Instead the ball fell to Midgley who shovelled his effort miles over from close range – an excellent opportunity that might have seen off the game.

Ashley Fuller gets upfield

As it happened, City more or less tied the game up on just 51 minutes when quick thinking by Barrett saw him release Fuller with a neat throw. At this point the winger was still deep inside his own half. Looking up, he saw plenty of space in front of him and attacked it, no tackles coming in, no pressure being applied. As he ran down field he drifted slightly to the left and away from goal, seemingly taking some of the pressure off the defence. But having reached the area – and at exactly the same moment as this reporter said, “Wouldn’t it be great if Ash would use his right foot?”, he cut inside his man and scorched a right footer at goal. A slight deflection later and the ball was in the net to make it 2-0.

City worked their way through the gears and always looked good for further goals. The third occurred on 68 minutes, again thanks to Fuller, who smashed in a shot across the goal which Greaves could only parry to the incoming Midgley. With credit to Greaves, he tried to recover and get something on the ball but Midgley’s side footed shot was too good for him and goal number three was duly recorded.

If Fuller had thoughts of taking home the hat trick ball then he was to be disappointed, as on 77 minutes he gave way to Craig Radcliffe. The sub showed how he could torment the defence on 80 minutes when he made ground on the left but put in an indifferent cross. Fortunately by this point the defence were more Clive Dunn than Clevedon and thanks to some sloppy decision making the ball fell in the path of Gentle who was given a simple chance to bang in from close range.

Game over? More or less. Clevedon acquired a soft equaliser on 85 when a speculative cross should have been cut out. But thanks to a little “After you-ing” between the central defenders and Zac Barrett, who came and went, as it were, Jamal Easter crept in to head home. In many respects, if anyone deserved a goal than it was Easter who had posed what little threat Clevedon had offered.

Fourth in the table. Unbeaten in 11. 14 points out of 18 at home. Plenty of goals. And maybe…just maybe…a new gem to polish on the right wing.

Here’s hoping – and just as important, here’s wishing Adie Cambridge a speedy return to City colours.