The Magpies had enjoyed a very promising run in recent weeks, unbeaten in 4 and having won 3 in a row, but with all due respect to the opposition they had faced in that time, today's visit to Chichester City presented a far greater challenge as the hosts still justifiably harboured hopes of securing the Premier Division title with just 4 matches of the season to go. Oaklands Park had witnessed just one league defeat and only five matches where points had been dropped by the men in white and green, and the visitors arrived buoyed at the prospect of testing just how far they have come in recent weeks.

​Despite this determination it was the hosts that definitely had the better of the opening exchanges. In just the 4th minute Josh Clack was presented with an early sight of goal with a direct free kick 20 yards out, but his effort hit the wall and went wide. Moments later Harry Bachelor miscued a clearance when under pressure and the ball went straight to Dan Hegarty but he dragged his effort wide. This let-off sparked the Magpies into life and they immediately went down the other end where Byron Napper laid the ball off to Ross Swaine who unleashed a left-footed volley from 25 yards but it flew straight at Anthony Ender in the home goal.

​Although the half began quite promisingly from an entertainment point of view, it then descended into a scrappy affair with both sides struggling to show any significant quality on a typically hard, bobbly surface that adorns most grounds at this time of year. That said, Ollie Moore did draw a decent parry from Ender in the 25th minute when he struck a free kick goalward from just outside the area. Just after the half hour mark Harry Williams made progress down the right for Chi and hung a high ball into the area, which Hegarty rose to meet but he couldn't keep his header under the bar. The hosts' number 8 was to have the only other clear sight of goal in the first half when just before the break Kieron Hartley squared the ball to him in space but he inexcusably poked the ball wide.

The Magpies came out for the second half keen to increase the tempo of their play and to address the hesitation that had blighted their attacking play in the first period. Whilst such desire was evident from the off, they struggled to break through a side that were showing equal intensity as they were desperate to keep their season on track. However, just before the hour mark, Joel Colbran showed a quick turn of pace and fortitude to break the lines from the back and threaded the ball through to Tiago Andrade (right) who rolled his marker before firing towards goal and whilst a deflection aided the effort, the ball nestled in the net for the striker's third goal since joining the club. And it wasn't long before he had his fourth. The impressive Tom Frankland delivered a telling ball into the home box that caused confusion and when the ball was only half cleared to Bachelor on the edge of the box the ball ricocheted into the path of Andrade who stabbed home to double the lead.​

​Chichester should have responded tellingly just five minute later when Hegarty was again on the end of a ball into the box, but when unmarked and just 6 yards out he could only head straight at Dave Carruthers in the Magpies' goal and he held on well. With nineteen minutes to go the lead could have been three when Jordan Warren took a quick throw-in to Andrade and he laid the ball back to Moore who instinctively volleyed but Ender was equal to it, doing well to push it away. The home side did get themselves back into it with eleven minutes left when Colbran was correctly penalised for pulling back his man and referee Richard Sargeant duly pointed to the spot. Ellis Martin stepped up and drilled the ball to Carruthers' left and whilst the 'keeper did well to get a hand to it the ball bounced up into the roof of the net.
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​That flicker of hope for the title-chasers was soon extinguished though when good work from Michael Wood culminated in him taking a quick throw to Andrade who tormented Martin yet again and rolled him before squaring the ball to Williams to tap home with his first touch since coming off the bench. This golden touch was to be repeated before the game came to a close, as in the final minute of normal time Toby House received the ball from Andrade and immediately slipped Ed Davis (left) in and he calmly slotted home past the on-rushing Ender to notch the Magpies' fourth with what was also his first touch of the match.​

​​Despite a surprising amount of added time, the scoreboard wasn't to be troubled again and the Magpies secured a fourth win in a row and in doing so inflict what will probably prove to be a telling blow to the hosts' title ambitions. Whilst the first half performance was lacking the quality of recent weeks, the second half certainly made up for it as the resolution and fortitude of the side was complemented by a greater degree of incision going forward and a much-improved clinical streak in front of goal. ​

Team: Andrade, Bachelor (Williams 81), Carruthers, Colbran, Frankland, Moore, Napper, Scally, Swaine (House 69), Warren & Wood (Davis 89) 
Subs not used: ​Daniel & Gritt