City moved up to fourth in the Evo-Stik Southern premier division after this battling win over relegation-threatened Dorchester who were right in the game until the final whistle.

After a poor first half by the home side, goals by half time substitutes Les Afful and Shane Krac, his first for the club, had seemingly put City in command with less than 20 minutes left.

But a third goal by a substitute, Dorchester’s Matt Oldring, set up a thrilling and frantic finale as City had to dig deep for an 11th home win of the season and the third in a row in 2015.

And with two more home games to come next week against Chippenham Town on Tuesday and Burnham next Saturday, Steve Tully’s men have a golden chance to cement their place in the play-off placings.

Tully made one change from the team that beat Redditch Utd 3-2 in the week, with Dan Sullivan replacing Barry Hayles.

But it was Dorchester, under new player manager Mark Jermyn, who made all the early running with Chris Dillon heading wide.

City struggled to get into the match and were second best for much of the half. Their best chance came just before half time with Isaac Vassell shooting wide from close range.

Tully brought on Krac and Afful at half time for skipper Jake Ash and Sullivan, to give the team fresh impetus.

And it was a move that paid off as the home side at last managed to assert themselves against their Dorset visitors, who included former City players in Dan Smith and Ben Watson.

The breakthrough came after 56 minutes when Vassell robbed Jermyn of the ball and crossed for Afful to finish well from 12 yards for his fourth goal of the season.

Afful then turned provider as he set up Krac who rifled a drive into the far corner which gave Alan Walker-Harris in the visitors’ goal no chance.

But any hopes City might of had of strolling to victory were ended three minutes later when Oldring forecd home a disputed Jake Smeeton free-kick from rightb .

Dorchester threw everything at City in search of an equaliser, but the home side managed to hold on for another vital win in their promotion fight.

Att 474.

Man of the Match awarded to Les Afful.