Cambridge City made it five league wins out of five with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Bashley at a cold Milton Road.

The weather could have actually intervened in the match, with the referee only deeming the pitch surface playable an hour before kick-off after a heavy overnight frost.

City went into the match with Joey Abbs still injured, and doubts over the fitness of Adie Cambridge. But those doubts were overcome with the City skipper taking the captain’s armband in midfield. Craig Hammond was also in the starting line-up despite being stretchered off during the win at Cirencester last Saturday.

The initial exchanges of the match gave no indication to the avalanche of first half goals that City would reap. Indeed Bashley were the first to threaten with a shot from Ian Oliver who saw his seventh minute volley blocked for a corner.

But City were looking to get their passing game going, which had served them so well in recent weeks, and on a heavy pitch took advantage when they were awarded a 10th minute penalty. Adie Cambridge found Lee Clift, who was upended in the box by Matt Finlay. The referee pointed to the spot, and Craig Hammond sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to give the Lilywhites the lead.

Three minutes later, City could have made it two. The ball fell to David Prada who found space on the edge of the area. The Spaniard turned and unleashed a right-footed effort that had Stewart Kearm in the Bashley goal at full stretch to turn the shot wide of the upright.

On 18 minutes, Dave Theobald was unlucky not to increase City’s lead, as he met a corner from Adie Cambridge only to see his effort cleared by the Bashley defence.

But City only had to wait another minute to double the score. Good work by Dan Kelly played in Hammond who opted for a looping shot that beat Kearm for his second of the afternoon.

By now City were in complete control of the match, and Dave Theobald could have done better as he met another Adie Cambridge cross, but saw his header clear the bar.

City’s first half dominance was confirmed on the half hour mark when Hammond found himself in space and last seasons league leading goalscorer homed in on goal and from an angle fired a right footed shot across Kearm to complete his hat-trick.

It was a devastating period of the match from City, and at this stage it looked as though the Lilywhites could score at every given opportunity. This was confirmed when Jamie Gould got in on the act for City’s fourth on 32 minutes. This time Hammond was the provider with a cross that Gould met and side footed the ball past the goalkeeper to complete a first half rout for Gary Roberts men.

That proved to be Gould’s last part in the match as he was substituted at half time with an ankle injury and was replaced by Jean-Phillippe Yamfam.

The second half got underway with the Milton Road crowd eagerly looking to see if City could increase their advantage. This almost came on 54 minutes when a mistake from Whitley let in Hammond who saw his effort go wide of the post.

Then on 67 minutes, Adie Cambridge was put through and should have hit the target, but saw his goal bound effort go wide.

Six minutes later, City’s hat-trick hero, Craig Hammond was forced off the pitch early for the second week running following a blow to the shin. Having received a well deserved ovation from the City faithful, he was replaced by Neil Midgley.

City were still managing to carve open the Bashley defence throughout the second half, and unlike the first 45 minutes they didn’t see their numerous chances converted to more goals. The best opening really fell to substitute Neil Midgley who after being put through in the 83rd minute, rounded Kearm and with the goal at his mercy saw his shot bounce off the post to safety.

To their credit, Bashley kept at the task, and were almost rewarded a consolation on 84 minutes when Mark Gamble met a cross, but his downward header hit the foot of the post with Zac Barrett rooted to his line.

The visitors thought they had got even closer to a consolation in injury time as substitute Tom Hill fed Gamble, who saw his effort beat Barrett only for it to be ruled out for offside.

But this was City’s day and another impressive home victory. With five wins on the bounce the Lilywhites look a different proposition from what they were before Christmas. With a settled side, they are playing with real confidence which has seen them move to third in the table, just four points behind leaders Brackley, and definitely now back in the hunt for promotion.