Liam Walsh scored a sublime individual goal to give the Sky Blues all three points against Rochdale on Saturday.
The midfielder started his run from just over the half way line, before beating four Rochdale men and firing a low shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.
City had trailed in the game but goals from Walsh and Jordan Shipley moved the Sky Blues up to third.
Shipley had an early chance for the Sky Blues as he met Zain Westbrooke’s corner at the near post but he couldn’t guide his header goalward.
Shipley then tried his luck from range as the ball broke to the midfielder, but his left footed effort flew over Robert Sanchez’s goal.
Jimmy Keohane worked the first opening for the visitors as he broke from deep and took aim from 25 yards however his effort lacked any accuracy and sailed high and wide.
Rochdale took the lead after 27 minutes as Callum Camps drove down the right-hand side, before passing the ball across the six-yard box to Ian Henderson who swept the ball home.
City almost responded immediately as Amadou Bakayoko found Westbrooke on the edge of the penalty area and the midfielder fired a shot just past the post.
Henderson looked set to double his tally as he was released in on goal by Rekeil Pyke but an excellent last-ditch tackle by Declan Drysdale, who was making his first league start, thwarted the chance.
Just three minutes before half time Shipley drew the Sky Blues level as he latched onto a superb ball over the top by Westbrooke and bundled the ball home after his initial shot was blocked by the Rochdale defence.
City were nearly pegged back before the break, as a near post corner from Aaron Morley was flicked on by Camps before ricocheting off the post.
HALF TIME: SKY BLUES 1-1 ROCHDALE
The Sky Blues dominated possession in the early stages of the second half and worked the ball to the edge of the Rochdale box which opened up space for Westbrooke who fired over from 20 yards.
Westbrooke then turned provider as he drilled a ball across the mouth of goal but Bakayoko failed to guide the ball home and sliced his shot wide.
Liam Walsh stung the palms of Sanchez 20 minutes into the second half as another long range effort was fired goalward and from the resulting save Shipley volleyed the ball back at the goal but his effort lacked the power to trouble Sanchez for a second time.
Shipley then had a more clear-cut opportunity as Liam Walsh clipped a ball over the defence, which found Shipley but his shot from a tight angle was straight at the goalkeeper.
After Walsh’s wonder goal 73 minutes in, Shipley almost made it three as Brandon Mason headed the ball down to Shipley who volleyed the ball centimetres past the far post.
After seeing very little action, Marko Marosi was called into action five minutes from time as a deep cross was heading in at the far post before Marosi clawed the ball out and tipped it over the bar.
FULL TIME: SKY BLUES 2-1 ROCHDALE
Goals: Ian Henderson 27’, Jordan Shipley 42’, Liam Walsh 73’.
Yellows: Jimmy Ryan 39’, Declan Drysdale 61’
Reds: N/A
Attendance: 5,433 (293 away)
SKY BLUE XI: Marko Marosi, Fankaty Dabo, Michael Rose (C), Dom Hyam, Declan Drysdale, Brandon Mason, Josh Eccles (Callum O’Hare 88’), Liam Walsh, Zain Westbrooke, Jordan Shipley, Amadou Bakayoko.
Unused Subs: Ben Wilson, Tennai Watson, Jamie Allen, Gervane Kastaneer, Will Bapaga, Jack Burroughs.
ROCHDALE XI: Robert Sanchez (GK), Eoghan O’Connell, Jordan Williams, Callum Camps, Rekeil Pyke, Jimmy Keohane, Matthew Done, Aaron Wilbraham (Calvin Andrew 80’), Jimmy Ryan (Fabio Tavares 79’), Aaron Morley, Ian Henderson (C).
Unused Subs: Jay Lynch (GK), Paul McShane, Kwadwo Baah, Matthew Gillam, Harriosn Hooper.