British Gas Business Football League Premier Division Saturday 24 February 2007 - kick off 3.00pm

Report taken from by Stephen Ware

There was no sign of fatigue after a run of five games in two weeks as City stormed out of the blocks on a heavy pitch to launch an early onslaught. Scott Partridge should have opened the scoring after just five minutes when his shot was blocked by home keeper Rob Beckwith, before the veteran front man was brought down by the hosts' No 1. Appeals for a penalty were waved away and Edwards failed to turn the loose ball home in an explosive opening. Gethin Jones should have blasted the visitors in front instead of blazing over moments later, Chris Holland saw a goal-bound header blocked and Mark McKeever had another shot smothered by the overworked keeper. Partridge was looking like City's most potent attacking threat and he missed another glorious chance when he pulled a shot wide from the right of the area after being picked out by Lewis Hogg. Hitchin centre-back Ryan Frater twice nearly put through his own net as his attempts to repel wave after wave of City attack became all the more desperate. Edwards made the inevitable breakthrough on 33 minutes when he was left free at the far post to turn home one of many fine by-line crosses from strike partner Partridge. The goalscorer should have doubled his tally a minute later when he narrowly failed to get on the end of a McKeever centre, but made amends on 38 minutes as his break and rebounded shot fell to Partridge, who chested into an empty net to put City 2-0 up. Edwards then teed up Scott Rogers, who might have done better than screw wide, but City's vocal band of travelling fans did not have to wait long for a third as the former Yate striker nodded in a McKeever corner four minutes before the interval despite the frantic efforts of defender Liam Folds on the goalline.

Hogg twice skied efforts at the start of a second half in which City appeared content to sit on their lead and frustrate their opponents. That frustration nearly boiled over when home captain Folds cynically chopped down Edwards to receive a booking and McKeever and Gethin Jones were also the subject of petulant fouls. Hitchin were seeing more of the ball, but rarely hurt City, although Hogg had to stoop to head Gavin Jaggard's effort off the line. Edwards then eased any lingering City nerves on 73 minutes when he expertly completed his hat-trick, guiding home a spooned Beckwith clearance from the edge of the area. Beckwith redeemed himself somewhat with a sprawling save to keep out skipper Jim Rollo's long shot late on, though by then the outcome was well beyond doubt.