Much improved City take all 3 points

Cambridge City took on Norfolk outfit Gorleston on Saturday afternoon. The Lilywhites were looking for just their 2^nd home win of the season, their last win coming against Walthamstow on 25^th August.

The Greens had beaten Brightlingsea Regent on Wednesday evening, and, with the team sitting in the play-offs, were looking to continue their unbeaten run away from home.

City had been dumped out of the FA Trophy by Witham last weekend, the score ending 3-3 and the Essex side triumphed on penalties. City had also announced that Michael Salako's services had been acquired by Sittingbourne, the striker leaving the club on Thursday.

Referee Thomas Whay got things underway, and it was Gorleston who had the first chance when Connor Ingram fired wide after connecting with Billy Walsh's cross.

The 7^th minute came and so too did City's 1^st goal. Jack Thompson swung in a cross after receiving a pass from Samrai Gebrai, Antoni Bort came to claim but, in doing so, failed to hold on and George Smith poked in after the ball fell to his feet.

Solomon Ofori, who had started the match after being on the subs bench for the last couple matches, travelled down the pitch, his cross found Smith again but Harley Black got in the way to clear. The resulting corner was short and allowed Ofori another effort, this one spinning wide.

With 15 minutes gone, a hopeful long ball was sent forward, Adam Tann dealt with it but lost out to Ofori, Bort coming to the rescue with a full length save to parry away Kane Munday's strike.

Next attack came from Gorleston, Black firing in a cross that Jayden Randell dealt with after 23 minutes.

A long ball was latched onto by Black, Kieran Higgs was the target for the cross, but the midfielder missed his chance, and James Philp then gobbled up the ball from the oncoming Ingram.

Gebrai then went on a thrilling run and tried his luck from 20 yards, Bort making the save.

After 30 minutes, Sam Coombes threaded a ball to Usman Adeniji, which was then given to Gebrai. The City man's shot looping onto the roof of the net.

Ryan Curtis took on Adeniji soon after and, after he beat the City defender, took on a shot that landed onto the roof of Philp's net.

Philp had to make a save just 2 minutes later from Higgs, the midfielder had beaten Randell and was 1-on-1, but Higgs' composure fell and Philp smothered the shot.

With time running out in the 1^st half, Gorleston kept looking for the equaliser but it City who went on the counter after 41 minutes, Gebrai running clear and Bort kept the score down with another big save.

There was enough time for Bort to catch a Jack Thompson free-kick before the half-time whistle blew, City going into the break 1-0 up.

Gorleston started the better in the 2^nd half, Walsh's cross seemed to be taken care of by Randell, but the captain gave it straight back to Higgs, Curtis almost finishing the move off with a goal, but his shot slid wide.

After 51 minutes, a move which involved Adeniji, Thompson, Ofori and Gebrai, lead to an eventual goal-mouth scramble that Gorleston managed to hack away. A hopeful ball was then fired up to Walsh at the other end and Ali Njie came to City's aid by clearing off the line after Philp had been beaten.

On 57 minutes, City doubled their lead through Gebrai. Ali Njie found himself with the ball and in the middle of the park. He then expertly picked out Gebrai, who beat the offside trap with a well timed run, and slotted past Bort to give City some daylight.

Just 3 minutes later and City had their 3^rd. Randell worked his magic in finding Thompson, Joe Jefford failed to connect with the ball in the clearance and Thompson passed it home after Bort failed to react. City scoring 3 goals at home in the league for the first time this season.

Gorleston kept going, despite the large deficit, but it could have and maybe should have been reduced when Adam Tann fired wired from six yards after clever positioning from the captain.

After 67 minutes, Walsh picked Thompson's pocket and the resulting shot was crucially tipped over by Philp. But, just 2 minutes after the save, a long hopeful ball by Dion Frary was aimed at Walsh, but it not only evaded his teammate, but also the City defenders, and rolled into the empty net.

71 minutes came and City looked to re-establish their 3-goal lead, Adeniji crossed into the area, Smith missed the ball and then Gebrai tried the spectacular, the over-head kick heading wide.

After 75 minutes Gorleston looked for another goal. Ingram tried it all on his own and his strike was deflected over for a corner. The resulting corner saw Joe Jefford score a free header to cut the gap to just 1 goal.

Gorleston were now confident that they were going to score the leveller. After a small period when Corbyn Dixon received a yellow for fouling Jamie Dicks, and then Randell suffered the safe fate when Dixon himself went down, Harley Black fired in the free-kick and Dixon's flick on found Tann. The captain's luck ran out and a goal-kick was the result.

Again, Smith beat the the offside trap after a ball through by Gebrai, Bort keeping out the City striker to add to his growing list of saves. Another save from Bort denied Smith from range with 5 minutes left of the 90.

Gorleston kept the pressure on for the equaliser, but determined City defending meant that City held onto all 3 points and their 2^nd home win in 6 matches in all competitions this season.

City will now move on to Wednesday with a visit to Grays Athletic, the Lilywhites hoping to pick up points on the road for the first time this term.

Conor Taylor-Creek