The Cityzens were made to work hard for their victory over the Spartan South Midlands League visitors, who had won both of their opening games, scoring seven goals in the process, and it needed shrewd changes by manager Simon Johnson to get them across the line at Rivermoor Stadium.
With 20 minutes remaining, he made a triple substitution to freshen up his attack with Mo Ceesay, Lucas Taplin and Riley Denny taking over from Henry Paxford, Shane Cooper-Clark and Ollie Harris, and they made an immediate impact.
Denny made ground down the middle and fed Taplin, who found space before picking out Ceesay on the edge of the area, and he unleashed a superb strike past keeper Jake Alley into the net.
City will be home to Fairford Town in the preliminary round.
On Tuesday, they drew 3-3 at Penn & Tylers Green in the Combined Counties League Premier Division North after leading by two goals at half-time.
Wearing a change strip of pink shirts, the Cityzens raced into a two-goal lead at French School Meadow against the Premier Division North newcomers who had won their opening three league and cup ties, scoring 11 goals.
Riley Denny fired them ahead after 26 minutes, and four minutes later Henry Paxford doubled their lead from a chance set up by Harris.
Green halved their deficit through skipper Jamie Essex on 45 minutes, only for the lively Harris to restore City’s two-goal advantage two minutes later.
James Keeley scored a second in the 62nd minute as the hosts came a lot more into the game, and Kajtek Hatalyn equalised in the first minute of added-on time following a corner.
City are back in action tomorrow (Friday, 7.45pm ko) when they host North Leigh.
* Woodley United earned their second Combined Counties League Division One point of the season with a 1-1 draw at Spelthorne Sports on Saturday.
They took the lead on the hour mark. Harvey Collins’ through ball was pulled back from the goal line by Louis Eade to Dan Santos-Keskin to shoot into the far corner from a tight angle.
The equaliser came in controversial circumstances in the 75th minute. George Hurneyman and an opponent both jumped for the ball, and the keeper punched it away as they both fell to the ground. Despite the referee signalling for play to continue, he was persuaded to speak to his assistant, which resulted in a penalty being awarded. Abdi Abdillahi hit his spot kick low inside Hurneyman’s right post, just out of the keeper’s reach.
The Kestrels are in FA Vase first qualifying round action on Saturday when they take on Hellenic League Premier Division side Cirencester Town at Rivermoor Stadium. The second round is on September 12.
With the ground being taken over by the Reading Festival, this will be their only home fixture this month.
They are then scheduled to play away to PFC Victoria at Bedfont next Wednesday (19th), followed by Shepherd’s Bush at Beaconsfield Town’s ground on the 22nd, Oxhey Jets on the 29th and Molesey on Bank Holiday Monday. (31st).