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City are tantalisingly close to promotion. But victory over a solid and hard working Lanes End at Bridge was equally tantalising because it took a long time to overcome the feeling that this was a tough match that could have ended in a draw. But, as in several previous games this season, once City started to find the net there was an inevitability about achieving the goal of three points.

Once again the finishing of Royston Gough was not only important but spectacular. With Wayne Fittall held back on the bench because of some concern over a nagging injury, Gough’s ingenuity was the key to victory. Fitness was also a factor. Lanes End admitted that if they had trained as hard as City they might not have found themselves looking back at a game in which, for a long period, they challenged City in all departments but towards the end were frustrated with themselves.

Playing three up front at the start, City were not convincing. They tended to look narrow and their passing was not as accurate or instant as it can be. Lanes End are a mature and physically strong side who here quickly closed down the City strikers and for a long time usually won the ball in the air. However, City’s new signing Dave Read gradually reversed that situation and made an impressive contribution.

Overcoming the Lanes End defence was never going to be simple. They tracked back effectively and always seemed to have a body in the way of City’s early attempts. They also tackled incoming danger with real tenacity. So when, in the 30th minute, Gough beat them with a remarkable overhead kick (not his first this season) there was great relief in the City camp. The referee was not quite so impressed and disallowed the goal for “offside”.

The disappointment was made worse when, two minutes from half-time, City went behind. The defence seemed static and Lanes End’s Jaimie Garside became one of this season’s select company of opponents to beat Danny Black. Manager Dave Fairclough admitted that even he was beginning to wonder whether this was to become a day in which City would have to share points with a side that showed great commitment. “But I knew that if we improved our passing and played to our strengths we would get the goals we deserved. Also, I knew that we were the fitter side”.

His half-time team talk was obviously taken in because five minutes into the second half City drew level. Gough did well to control the ball on the difficult pitch and played it square to Dan Bonneywell who cracked in the equaliser to change the course of the game. Gough was becoming ever more of a problem to the Lanes End defence and was mysteriously denied another goal for offside. Not that he required much time to put that out of his mind. After 66 minutes, with impressive control, he made time for himself before placing the ball in the far corner. Ten minutes later he became the provider rather than the finisher when he took the ball down the right edge. His centre found Bonneywell in front of goal and he side-footed into an empty net.

With Read winning so many balls in the air in midfield, City were gathering confidence by the minute. They eliminated any hope of a Lanes End recovery when Read’s cross was superbly headed in by Gough for one of the most memorable goals of the season. His hat-trick was achieved much less elegantly. The ball across the penalty area from substitute Fittall was intercepted by the Lanes End ‘keeper but came free as Gough slid in. Although flat on the ground, Gough managed to flick out a boot to add City’s fifth.

Perhaps forgivably, City relaxed and were not all that desperate to interfere when, in the last minute, Lanes End mounted a defiant final attack that saw Steve Todd put in their second goal. “Two sloppy goals” as Fairclough said. But five that mean promotion could well be celebrated at Bridge next Saturday when Pembury are the visitors.

City: Black; Baker, Brooke, Hodge, Webb (Woodward), Gutsell, Tuite (Seager), Read, Bonneywell (Fittall), Gough, Lawford.

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