After a slow first-half, the Hoops came flying out of the traps to overpower the play-off hopefuls in a win that lifts City up to third in Vanarama National League South.

Andy Ballard & Ross Jenkins have yet to name the same starting line up in consecutive games, possibly due to the riches they have at their disposal. Charlie Rowan and Joe Iaciofano both came into the side replacing Harry Kyprianou and Nana Owusu.

It took ten minutes for City to get into their stride but when they did, they carved the hosts apart. Zico Asare sprayed a superb ball across the pitch to George Harmon, who in turn swung the ball into the box, but Elliot Benyon’s effort drifted inches wide of the post as the Hoops started to apply pressure on the Beavers’ goal.

The hosts then grew into the game threatening from range. However, five minutes from time they almost went ahead. Zach Robinson stole the ball on the break and ran towards goal, but he didn’t see the onrushing James Roberts in space to his left. In turn, his shot was deflected over the crossbar for a corner.

The resulting set-piece caused more problems. This time, Jack McKnight fired at the target but Ben Dudzinski’s superb fingertip save re-directed the shot onto the crossbar and away to safety.

City were lively after the interval and the deadlock was broken on fifty-two minutes. Josh Ashby’s free-kick was deflected into the path of Benyon who swivelled and shot past a stranded Alan Julian.

The Hoops then went on to find their rhythm and looked to land a sucker-punch and they were given the best chance to do so when George Harmon was hacked down inside the area. Joe Iaciofano, who has adopted a hop, skip and jump technique took the penalty and placed the ball into the bottom-right corner with ease.

City were full of energy, Harmon had the beating his man down the left and the midfield trio of Fleet, Ashby and McEachran controlled the centre of the pitch.

Hampton came into the fixture with only one win in six games and they weren’t helped when James Roberts was booked for his protests towards the referee, but they kept fighting and were handed a way back into the game when they were awarded a penalty.

Sam Deadfield stepped up to take the spot-kick but Ben Dudzinski astonishingly denied the midfielder and even collected the rebound to silence the home crowd.

There was still time for a third. Substitute Harvey Bradbury had an eventful five-minute cameo. Firstly, giving away the previous penalty but he made ammends when he nicked the ball off the last defender and slotted the ball past Julian for a third.

A dramatic end to the game but if you ignore the drama and look at the paper, it's another three points on the road for City and the win pushed the Hoops up to third.

Starting XI: Dudzinski, Asare, Harmon, Ashby, Matsuzaka, Rowan, Fleet ©, Benyon, McEachran (Coyle 79’), Iaciofano (Bradbury 84’), Carroll

Subs not used: Bancroft, Clark, Kyprianou