With the Cityzens having only ever picked up the one away to North Greenford United in our previous outings, we knew that our trip to Berkeley Fields would be a tough one.

As the game got underway, City were very much on top with Ewan Lynch causing problems early on.

North Greenford United went close with eleven minutes played with a well worked move towards goal. However the city defence were on hand to comfortably intercept and a goal kick from York got the game going again.

Ewan Lynch took a shot from range as we approached the quarter of an hour mark, but North Greenford United’s shotstopper Jacob Ballheimer was able to comfortably catch.

With quarter of an hour played, North Greenford United found the opening goal of the afternoon as Morgan Cooper tricked the city defence with a cutback allowing Sam Brown to fire past Charlie York.

As we approached the half hour mark, City squandered an oppurtunity to get back into the game after a good cross from Pele Hagger found Ewan Lynch who flicked it on but no was waiting at the back post to fire it home.

City were now enjoying another good spell and with twenty-nine minutes played forced a save out of Jacob Ballheimer after a dangerous throw-in from Eddie Lazarczuk found the head of Ellis Cowd who sent it goalwards.

With thirty-five minutes played City found their equaliser with the help of North Greenford United’s Joseph Mills. Eddie Lazarczuk whipped in a dangerous ball in to the box from the corner and it deflected off the North Greenford United number 6 to get us back into the game.

Shortly before the break, play was stopped as Joe Pilling required treatment for a blow to the back of the head. Having been given the all clear to continue the game got underway. Despite the referee not awarding a foul, in the spirit of good sportmanship our hosts rolled the ball back to Charlie York to get the game going again.

With the scoreline level it was all to play for at the break.

HALF TIME: 1-1

Our hosts started the second half brightly and were very much on top from the off.

With fifty three minutes played Simon Johnson called upon the bench and swapped Will Shaw for Team Captain Josh Baines in the hope he’d motivate us towards victory with the scoreline still locked at 1-1.

As the hour mark approached, North Greenford United grabbed their second after a through ball from Charlie Mitchell found Harvey Killeen, who made no mistake in firing it under Charlie York.

With sixty four minutes played, Simon Johnson once again called upon his bench and made a triple change with Ewan Lynch making way for Emil Mursalov who makes a brief return following a trial at Burnley, Bobbi Emery making way for Daniel Smith and Joel Valentin making way for Noah Chengun.

With less than fifteen minutes of normal time remaining. North Greenford United found their third goal of the afternoon as second half substitute Chris Martin-Thomas put the ball past Charlie York after a cutback from Charlie Mitchell.

With ten minutes remaining, Simon Johnson made his final change with Lamin Sankoh replacing Eddie Lazarczuk.

With five minutes remaining, Chris Martin-Thomas earnt himself a brace with a powerful finish to beat Charlie York.

Full Time: 4-1

Simon Johnson’s Cityzens now have a week off from Combined Counties Football League Premier Division North action as our attention once again turns to the Emirates FA Cup when we welcome Nailsea & Tickenham to the Rivermoor in the Preliminary Round.