Canterbury City looked anything like promotion favourites as they scraped past Lydd 3-2 in Vandanel Kent County League Division 1 East.

City had twice beaten Lydd 9-1 this season but the club are much improved since a change of management.

Royston Gough gave City a ninth-minute lead only for Lydd to make the visitors pay for poor finishing with an equaliser, scored by Kevin Bennett.

Wayne Fittall and Gough continued to miss the kind of chances they usually take and it was left to Scott Lawford to regain the lead before a shot from Calum McGeehan struck Lydd goalkeeper Dan Noden and bounced out to Gough who made no mistake for a 3-1 lead.

Ten minutes from the end, slack defending put Luke Lockhart under pressure and he handled to concede a penalty which Bennett converted.

Although Fittall forced a fine blocking save from Noden, Lydd enjoyed the better of the final 10 minutes and were unfortunate not to score on two occasions.

City play Guru Nanak at Bridge, kick-off 2.45pm.