City started positively with chances created early for Alex Grayson and Roy Hissey, however the Melville keeper saved well to keep both out.
Blake Sokolowski had a shot at the far post saved again but opened the scoring after a run from Ryan Haslett down the left resulted in a cross, which Sokolowski met to give City a 1-0 lead inside 10 minutes.
The goal saw City take their foot off the pedal, with the chances created squandered, while the defence did well to keep out Melville’s forays into attack after a couple of instances of bad defending allowed them in. However goalkeeper Cyril Sharrock saved the day for City.
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READ NOWThese scares sparked City back into action and they doubled their lead within minutes with Christian Hogge winning a 50-50 ball with Melville’s goalkeeper and squaring it outside the box for Ryan Kennedy, who was fouled.
An unmarked Sokolowski met Kennedy’s resulting freekick at the back post to double his and City’s tally.
The second half started with Hogge lively again but Melville held firm before a slick pass from Kennedy sent substitute Paul Larvin through on goal and he beat Melville’s keeper with his first touch to make it 3-0.
Larvin could have had a second two minutes later, but he sent his effort wide and the score remained unchanged for the rest of the match.
City stretched their impressive defensive record for the season, in which they have conceded only 14 goals in 20 matches, and did not concede for the eighth match in a row.
Two games remain for the season, with City to face Wanneroo away next Saturday before hosting second-placed Forrestfield at Lark Hill.
State League Division Two ladder (with two matches remaining)