A prolific performance from Scott Jones, which bagged him a hattrick, with Kaleem Haitham adding another, as Chi overturned a rapid opener to take an important three points.
Seconds into the game the visitors opened the scoring to the shock of those who had arrived on time, and the disappointment of those who were late, as Lucas Tredea looped a header past the helpless Jordan Matthews.
City woke up immediately after, with Matt Axell delivering two killer balls, and George Way firing wide after good link up play which included Conor Cody, Ben Pashley and Rob Hutchings.
Way and Hutchings were involved again moments later, setting up Jones who also saw his effort go wide. Meanwhile down the other end Matthews denied the visitor’s number 9, Matt Daniel, tipping his shot over the bar.
In the 15th minute Josh Clack curled a ball through to Jones, who calmly took it past past Tyler D’Cruz and slotted calmly into an empty net.
Lancing had a chance to regain the lead, Terrell Lewis was caught in possession on the halfway line, Mark Pulling spotted Matthews off his line and shot, only to see his effort go hopelessly wide.
Conor Cody, who shone throughout, set up Jones for his second, with the clinical striker dinking the ball over D’Cruz, much to the home fans relief.
City then pushed for a third, Hutchings and Pashley both having shots on goal, with Jones being denied by a last ditch tackle from Bradley Peters.
HT: City 2-1 Lancing
Peters denied City gain straight after the restart with another perfectly timed tackle on Axell, after Jones’ smart pass. City started as they had left off.
Pashley, who played well at left back, then forced D’Cruz into a save after a fireball of a shot, with the visiting keeper tipping the ball onto the top of the net.
Jones bagged his hattrick, in what was an otherwise quiet second half, after great teamwork, with Hutchings closing down and winning the ball back, Way then crafted a ball through to Gicu Lordarche, who in return found Jones, the striker effortlessly slotting the ball home.
Cody tried to get on the score sheet, unleashing a shot from outside the box, and Lewis was there for the rebound, only to see his shot whistle wide.
There was still time for substitute Kaleem Haitham to add a fourth, after Lordarche unselfishly squared it across to the tricky winger, who guided the ball into the open net.
City travel to Eastbourne Town AFC next weekend in the league.
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