APM Mears O Canterbury City 2

Canterbury City needed more than an hour to overcome stubborn opponents APM Mears before securing their eighth win of the season in Vandanel Kent County League Division 1 East at Cobdown on Saturday.

APM goalkeeper Alex Pilbeam did his best to deny the visitors with a string of fine saves, after the match had survived an early morning inspection.

In the end two second-half goals in the space of four minutes by captain Luke Lockhart and Royston Gough broke the deadlock, as City maintained their unbeaten record, in their first league game for more than a month.

City suffered a pre-match blow with influential midfielder Dave Read ruled out for three weeks with an ankle injury, and they endured a frustrating afternoon with the home side relying on breakaways.

Calum McGeehan saw his early effort saved by Pilbeam, while the returning Sam Baker added pace and purpose down the right flank.

Lockhart finally put City in front after 65 minutes, heading in McGeehan’s free-kick, and soon doubleds the lead when Gough knocked in Scott Lawford’s cross.

CITY: Wrench, Baker, Lockhart, Hossick Seager, Smith (Langiano), McGeehan, Brooke (Tuite), Lawford, Fittall, (Bonneywell), Gough.