City 3 - 0 Heybridge Swifts

Mickey Spillane's first home match in charge of Cambridge City resulted in a convincing 3-0 against Heybridge Swifts on Saturday afternoon. City headed into the match on a 5-match win-less run that they were hoping to turn around, and the Lilywhites were starting the match in the bottom four.

Heybridge came into the fixture after winning their last two matches in all competitions, both at home, a 1-0 vs Grays Athletic in the league last week-end, followed by a Tuesday night win against Burnham Ramblers in the Essex Senior Cup.

As the clouds loomed overhead, and rain started pouring, the match got underway. It was the Essex side who started the brightest when Jack Adlington-Pile's eyes lit up with the goal in his sights, but the shot was blocked and the chance fell away.

Joseph Boachie's run won a corner down the other end and Jett Murphy was inches away from the header and the cross flew harmlessly out for a goal-kick.

An even match was almost broken when, after 20 minutes, Max Sherlock paved the way for Andrew Fennell to wander into the penalty area for a effort for Heybridge's first goal, but the striker slipped at the crucial moment.

Shaky Heybridge defending had dealt with everything so far, and with 23 minutes on the clock Murphy was bearing down on the 18-yard box and Sherlock came in with what looked like a cynical foul on the City striker; no yellow card was shown, however.

Jack Thompson took the free-kick, and a tantalising ball was looped into the penalty area and Ben Sampayo reached it first to clear for a corner. The defender was left reeling after a heavy clash with Alan Fleischer. Both were tended to by the by the Physio and the match soon resumed.

The corner came in and Connor Witherspoon headed it cleanly away. The following corner was sent towards the far post and Ali Njie was agonisingly close to giving City the lead as the ball passed mere inches from the defender's foot.

With 39 minutes played, a ball out wide was picked up by Philip Brown-Bampoe. The cross came in to Adlington-Pile, the shot was first blocked and it fell, again, to Brown-Bampoe, who's effort cleared the crossbar.

Just 3 minutes later, Robert Harvey and Fennell worked together to force the issue, Jayden Randell went to clear and Connor Hogan went to pick up the pieces of the attack but fired wastefully over the bar.

Just before half-time, Murphy picked up the ball from a cross into the area that he didn't properly collect, which allowed George Smith to take the ball in his stride and just before he went to take the shot, the striker was tripped and referee Mario Stetakovic pointed to the spot without hesitation. Smith slammed the penalty home, despite the best efforts of Fleischer, who got a weak hand to the ball. A goal which lifted City out of the relegation zone.

After Randell dealt with Sampayo's chance at an equaliser, City came forward again when Sampayo's mistake allowed Boachie to give to Thompson who then sent Smith through to force a comprehensive save by Fleischer. All this came after Milo Grimes and Boachie had a little set-to which ended with Mario Stetakovic giving each player a simple talking to.

With City going into the 2^nd half leading 1-0, it didn't take the Lilywhites long to continue that trend as, with just 3 minutes of the 2^nd half played, a goal-mouth scramble was eventually hacked away by the Heybridge defence.

After 50 minutes, Grimes used excellent vision to pick out Adlington-Pile, who beat the off-side trap but then fired straight over the crossbar. Brown-Bampoe strolled through not long after to try and find and equaliser but his strike was blocked. Adlington-Pile tried his luck again but City's defence stood firm.

City then went on the counter-attack shortly afterwards, and Jett Murphy was on hand to roll into the net at the far post to double City's lead.

With 1 hour played City looked to make it 3-0 when Boachie crossed to Murphy in the 18-yard area, Max Sherlock came in to defend the City attack and concede the corner. Randell headed wide from another promising cross.

Fennell headed a corner just wide after 64 minutes and then, just a minute later, Jamie Dicks linked up with Murphy and the ball returned to Dicks, with the midfielder firing a spectacular shot  just wide of the far post.

Murphy came forward again and looked certain to score his second of the game but Fleischer came to Heybridge's rescue, as too did substitute Makhaya James when he slid in to stop an incoming Smith.

With 74 minutes gone, Alfie Mason fired in a cross that Smith connected with well and the striker's effort allowed Fleischer to spectacularly keep out the effort.

After a goal-mouth scramble led to a handball claim which was waved away by the referee, Mason and Thompson gave to Dicks, which allowed the no.18 to find Smith at the far side. The first effort was saved by Fleischer but the rebound fell straight to the feet of Smith, who made no mistake to score his 2^nd of the match and City's 3^rd.

Heybridge kept coming forward to find a late consolation, but every time City's defence coped and they rode out the rest of the match for a 3-0 victory.

City picked up their 3^rd home win of the season, and under Mickey Spillane, their 1^st win. The Lilywhites also have a 2-match unbeaten run with clean-sheets in both fixtures.

Heybridge's defeat was their 4^th away loss of the season and continued their winless run on the road, stretching to 7 matches without a win.

Although City bagged all 3 points, there was a bit of a downer afterwards. With Brightlingsea beating Mildenhall 3-1, City remained in the relegation zone. City will look to improve on their position next week-end when they visit Waltham Abbey on 1^st November, with the Lilywhites looking to halt Waltham Abbey's perfect home run this season.