City moved to within a point of clinching a place in the Evo-Stik Southern premier division promotion play-offs with a priceless Easter Monday win over rivals Weymouth at Treyew Road.

The result means that City need just one point from their final three matches to be mathematically sure of a play-off place, after goals by Cody Cooke and Jake Ash earned them victory before their biggest crowd of the season, with 769 enjoying the April sunshine, including a healthy contingent from Dorset.

This Saturday, City are at home to leaders Corby Town, followed seven days later by the visit of third from bottom Arlesey Town, before their final league game at Histon on April 25.

Their aim now will to be to finish at least finish third, where they are now, to ensure a home play-off game.

The result though was very damaging for Weymouth who have dropped a place to fifth, just a point clear of St Neots Town.

The game itself was not one for the purists with so much at stake for both sides, but it was all about the three points for a City side which showed four changes from the one 4-0 at Redditch United on Saturday.

Rob Farkins came straight back in after suspension to partner Ed Palmer in central defence, while Cody Cooke, Matt Wright and Isaac Vassell all returned to the starting line-up, with player-manager Steve Tully, Les Afful, River Allen and Craig Duff all dropping to the bench.

It was a day in which defences were largely in control on a tricky pitch and clear cut chances were at a premium.

Set pieces were going to be key, with both City's goals coming from corners.

The first after 30 minutes saw Shane Krac find Matt Wright at the far post and he headed the ball back into the danger area for Cooke to react first and ram the ball into the roof of the net.

With City's defence, in which Ed Palmer was a colossus, looking very solid it was a crucial lead in such a tight game.

Apart from the goal in the first half, neither side really carved out any real openings as the challenges flew in, though City did well to block a George Rigg shot for a corner.

After the break it was more of the same with City determined to hold what they had and Weymouth struggling to create an opening with Stewart Yetton a frustrated figure up front on the ground where he scored so many goals for City.

Copp though did cause a scare with a cross which seemed to come back off the bar, but generally Tom McHale was well protected and enjoyed another solid game.

City were always a threat on the break though Vassell could not make the most of some promising openings, while Palmer forced a flying save out of Wollacott from a fiercely struck free-kick with the Weymouth keeper also doing well to deny Krac.

But with only a one goal advantage, City could not relax until six minutes from time when Ryan Brett's corner from the right was misjudged by Wollacott allowing Ash to head home at the far post and effectively seal a fifth win in City's last six games with what became a third successive clean sheet.

CITY: McHale; White, Palmer, Farkins, Brett; Ash; Krac, Green, Cooke (Allen 84); Wright (Duff 66), Vassell (Afful 73).

Subs (not used): Tully, Moore.

Yellow cards: Cooke, Brett, Farkins,

WEYMOUTH: Wollacott; Wells, Brookes, Poole, Martin (Jevon 80); Kelly, Rigg, Colwell, Copp (J Laird 68), Yetton (capt), McPhee.

Subs (not used); Matthews, J Laird, Fiddes.

Yellow cards: Copp.

Goals: Cooke (30) 1-0, Ash (84) 2-0.

Man of the match: Ed Palmer, a tower of strength at the heart of the home defence.