City signed off their pre-christmas league programme with an emphatic 3-0 win over Halifax. An early penalty converted by Richard Logan, an early second half strike by half time substitute Lee Elam and a seventh in eight games for Jamie Mackie made a mockery of Town's previously unbeaten home league record. In atrocious conditions with rain falling constantly it was City who enjoyed the better possession, made the better chances and had the standout player in Mackie as they enjoyed their first success at The Shay since entering the conference.

After exiting the cup a week earlier Paul Tisdale made two changes to the starting line up. Top scorer Logan was recalled in place of Basham and Steve Tully returned to right back. The full line up was: Jones, Tully, Matt Taylor, Seaborne, Edwards, Carlisle, Gill, Andy Taylor, Moxey, Logan, Mackie. The subs were Marriott, Richardson, Elam, Basham and Stansfield.

It was going to be a day for no nonsense defending and playing the way you were facing and within 2 minutes City had done exactly this and taken the lead. Matt Taylor played a long clearance from the edge of his own box. Mackie, as he would do all afternoon was onto the ball like a shot. He got beyond the last defender and as the keeper came to the edge of his area to block Mackie simply pushed the ball past him. As Legzdins dived across he took the striker down and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. Logan took on the spot kick duty and confidently sent the keeper the wrong way for his 12^th league goal of the season.

As the game started to settle City looked confident. Seaborne and Taylor both looked strong at the back and despite the conditions City were getting the ball down and trying to get Moxey and Carlisle into the game, alongside releasing Mackie and Logan when possible. Within 15 minutes Mackie had caused enough trouble to see a shot flash wide, put defenders under pressure to win throw ins deep in Halifax territory and had been crowded out as he shaped to shoot from a Logan flick on. It was then Logan's turn to have a chance. A long Jones kick was flicked on by the striker to Moxey. As Moxey got to the ball he returned it first time to Logan who had run into the area but he couldn't keep his shot down. Straight from the resulting goal kick City almost got in again. Carlisle was fed on the right and he drove towards the area. He played the ball low towards Logan who left 2 defenders standing with a dummy. Unfortunately Mackie was too far away to capitalise and Halifax cleared.

The home side began to find their feet as the half wore on. Daryn Stamp headed over and Matt Taylor seemed to almost run into a shot and inadvertently block it. On the half hour he was in the right place again to block and then it was Jones' turn to keep Halifax at bay. The ball fell to Stamp, between defenders, 18 yards out. His snapshot was well struck but Jones was more than equal to it and palmed away. But City were far from being outplayed. After Moxey nutmegged his marker Mackie played the ball to Logan who shot wide, and then after a booking for Cortez Belle, for a foul on Mackie as he turned on half way, Legzdins spilled a Logan shot. Moxey himself then saw a shot go wide after Logan and Carlisle had played him in.

Moxey was booked five minutes before half time for a sliding challenge and from the free kick Tully had to be alert to scramble the ball out for a corner. Logan cleared the danger and it led directly to another Mackie chance as he ran through and shot wide from an angle. As the sides played an extra minute of added time Halifax had a final corner which Moxey and Logan combined to clear.

The weather didn't change much during the interval, but City did. Edwards was withdrawn for Elam with Moxey moving to left back. And, just as in the first half, City scored within 2 minutes. Tully threw the ball in to Mackie on the right edge of the area. Before the defender could blink Mackie had turned, pushed the ball through his legs and slipped it across to Elam who couldn't miss from 2 yards out at the far post. Livewire Mackie was at it again minutes later but as he cut back in towards the area after being played in behind the ball was cleared.

Halifax made their first change just before the hour and Jones soon had to be alert to tip a cross away for a corner. The outswinger that followed was met by a free header but the ball flashed wide. As the heavy pitch meant defenders had to be careful against tricky attackers City made their second change with Stansfield replacing Logan. As Halifax had to push forward they had to be even more aware now of the added pace and trickery up front since half time. For the next fifteen minutes the chances all fell to City and it culminated in the decisive third.

First, Carlisle and Mackie exchanged passes only for the Irishman to fire wide, then Gill bursting through from midfield hit a weak effort straight at the keeper from 25 yards. Stansfield then showed good strength to put Mackie away but the favour was not returned. At the midway point of the half Stansfield won a corner as defenders just managed to toe poke the ball away from danger. With 20 minutes to go Mackie then hit the post. Running through from the inside right channel he slotted the ball past the evermore exposed Legzdins but saw his effort rebound to safety off the upright. After Halifax had made their second substitution Mackie did find the goal his display had richly deserved. Another long pass over the defence bounced kindly for him 20 yards out and as the keeper advanced Mackie struck it first time and the net billowed. City's win was nailed on and the 100 hardy travellers amongst the 1160 crowd showed their delight. Within 2 minutes it could have been four but Mackie fell on the edge of the area as he turned to shoot.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes Halifax were still trying to make a game of it. They passed the ball well to try and create openings but their best effort came from distance. Moxey was tackled 20 yards from goal and as the ball broke loose a first time shot was rifled towards the top right hand corner. Jones though managed to get his feet moving on the sticky surface and flew to his left to spectacularly tip over.

A couple of tame, late efforts was all Ha;ifax could muster after that and after Richardson replaced Moxey with three minutes to go City comfortably played out the added time to record their first league win since the 5-1 thrashing of Stafford 4 league games ago.

As for the performance it was just what was needed. The back five were solid and stable. They never panicked despite the slippery conditions and with Jones looking confident in both his catching and shot stopping the foundation was there for the forward players to build on. Gill and Taylor in the centre kept Halifax's midfield quiet and didn't seem to have too much to do as City kept the ball wide or long. Carlisle, Moxey and Elam were always available to join in the play and stretched Halifax which allowed the other forwards to work in space. Logan did the unspectacular well getting to many flicks and converting his penalty and Stansfield was introduced at a perfect time to play to the conditions. But man of the match was Mackie. He hit double figures for the season and with a little more luck could have had two or three. Halifax had little answer to him and his beaming smile at the end of the game showed just how much he'd enjoyed himself.

But now there is a two and a half week break for cup action before a tough christmas schedule. The long awaited return of a Devon Derby sandwiched by Histon at home is the mouth watering prospect facing the Grecians. With all the summer comings and goings the anticipation is building fast and with a bumper crowd sure to be in attendanceCity will be wanting to haul in the play off contenders. Tickets for both Torquay games are still available at www.greciansonline.com so get online, get along to the games and hope to see City give us all a nine point present.