Wow. On a wonderfully crisp Boxing Day afternoon City put in a totally dominant display to thoroughly thrash a hapless Aldershot side 4-0 in front of a whopping 4989 crowd. City lined up: P Jones; B Jones, Todd, Sawyer, Woodards; Challinor, Buckle, Cronin, Taylor; Farrell, Phillips.

As the first half got underway fifteen minutes late due to an accident on the A303, there was little to choose between the two teams. Both seemed a little tentative and both were spending just a little too much time trying to figure the other out. However, it gradually turned in City's favour, and more and more it was City who were looking the more dangerous. A series of concerted attacks bought dividends on the half hour as Challinor repaid the Shots fans barracking in perfect fashion by launching a trademark bomb of a throw towards the near post. A mis-flick by a defender saw the ball fall to the feet of Buckle on the edge of the six yard box who had both the time and space to sublimely send the keeper the wrong way and slot home all in one movement.

City pressed on, with both front runners not giving the opposition defence a second to settle and as a result it was very soon 2-0. Farrell chased a long punt into the box which the keeper comfortably Viney-ed to safety, but then inexplicably completely lost his head. As Farrell slowed his chase and went to drop back the keeper amazingly and utterly stupidly aimed a wild hack at Farrell, tripping him up whilst the ball was crossing the touchline somewhere near the half way line. The ref immediately signalled a penalty which Billy Jones duly dispatched with customary aplomb. Half time approached, and Farrell very nearly made it three with a superb late run into the box between static defenders to plant a bullet header straight at the keeper from point blank range. By the time the whistle went, Paul Jones still hadn't had to do a single thing other than regulation stuff.

But the second half was soon upon us and Aldershot were a bit more determined to put their pitiful first half showing behind them. This lasted for all of five minutes before City once again were in their stride, and after some, at times, incredibly pleasing to the eye football, it was soon 3-0. Andy Taylor picked the ball up and strode purposefully goalwards. Seeing not much on some twenty five yards out he decided to try his luck with a vicious thunderbolt that beat the goalie all ends up. Unfortunately it cannoned off the bar and was hacked towards the touchline. Challinor stayed alert and collect the loose ball before cutting inside and beating his man on the corner of the penalty box. Whilst we all hoped for a telling pass, Challinor had other ideas and lashed an exocet right through the keeper and into the roof of the net. What a fantastic goal, and if you'd paid the entrance fee and only seen that then you'd still have been quids in.

But City weren't finished and continued to give the fans plenty to cheer about. The fans, in turn, responded wonderfully as the noise level gradually increased the longer the game went on. Now despite their work and running, and willingness to never give up, the strikers were not to be denied a bit of glory themselves, and soon it was Lee Phillips' turn. A sumptuous ball threaded through the eye of a needle in the box found him with little left to do other than beat the keeper - a simple task that he did with glee in front of a packed Bastin Stand to round off a perfect afternoon, although there was still time for Farrell to lash a whumping free kick just over (he'd sorely tested the keeper from similar range in the first half), Buckle to crash a header against the bar and the keeper make another point blank save again from Farrell.

As the game drew to a close legs were rested for the Hereford game later this week and so any chance of a fifth goal was disrupted by the welcome substitutions of Flack, Moxey and Mackie for Taylor, Farrell and Cronin.

But what a game! If you missed it, you missed a corker. Every single player did their bit and more, and everyone contributed hugely. This wasn't a one man show, or a result thanks to last ditch or flukey defending, this was a complete team performance right the way through. As far as the players were concerned for all the work Paul Jones had to do he might as well have stayed at home in front of the fire, such was the utter ineptitude of the Aldershot attack. The defence magnificently snubbed any attack without fuss, and then, contrary to what certain opposition managers would have you believe, played the ball out to colleagues rather than resorting to the high and handsome lamp upfield.

In midfield the tigerish tackling of Buckle and Cronin put paid to any thoughts that Aldershot might have had of playing it through the middle, as both played with a ferocity and determination that at times has been sadly absent this season. Out wide Andy Taylor had his best game this season and Jon Challinor richly deserved his Man of the Match award to ensure the Shots' fans were left rueing the day he decided to move to what he described in Christmas Eve's Echo as a 'bigger and better club'. His passing was immaculate, he never shied from a tackle - such was his appetite for the game he was spoken to merely seconds into the game for clattering one of his former team mates, and his goal was one to be remembered for a long time.

But this club isn't all about JC, the other ten do much to make his work easy, and none more so that the two front men of Phillips and Farrell who ran themselves into the ground. Both constantly chased loose balls, charged down defenders, looked for space and won balls in the air, and neither was afraid to accept a pass in difficult and crowded conditions in the hope of holding it up and waiting for help to arrive.

Of the subs there's not much to say. The game was over and done with by the time Flack came on, although it was nice for the three to get some match time under their belts and give some of the others a breather as the matches will be coming thick and fast in the coming weeks.

I must say a word about the Aldershot fans, who I thought were magnificent throughout the whole game. Their team may have been outclassed, but they certainly weren't and kept their singing and support going right to the final whistle. Well done too to the hardy soul who dispensed with his shirt - it never got above four degrees all afternoon - and led about twenty Santas on a merry conga round the away end just after Phillips had made it four, and well done in general for the 150 - 200 fans who'd made the trip and ensured a good atmosphere was enjoyed by all.

And so we move onto Hereford on Friday, another massive game and another we desperately need to win. Today's performance was magnificent, and if we can carry that through this festive period then there's no reason at all not to think we can't be still right up there when it counts. Today was not the day to nod off in front of the telly, and that almost 5000 of us knew where our priorities really lie shows just how much we want to support our team when it's so easy not to.

So well done to the team - every single one of them - to Alex and Steve, to the fans and to everyone else involved with our club. Today was fantastic day to be a City fan and after that I can't wait for Hereford. Hope to see all of you there.