Moors’ unbeaten run in National League North came to a shuddering halt at MGroup Stadium as Oxford City ran out 3-0 winners.
Graeme Lee named an unchanged line-up following last weekend’s battling win over Leamington as Moors arrived in optimistic mood following encouraging form of late.
However, it was the hosts who started the brighter and they began to dominate possession, knocking the ball around well on a surface made slick by a pre-match downpour.
Chances were at premium until the quarter-hour mark when the home side surprised Moors with a rare long ball forward which released Josh Parker. Brad James darted from his line but caught in no man’s land and Parker was able to direct it past the keeper and open the scoring.
Moors skipper Glen Taylor had a sight of goal almost immediately from the restart when the ball was worked into his feet on the edge of the box, but his low drive was deflected wide by a defender.
Graeme Lee altered his shape just before the half hour as Matty Dolan stepped up into midfield and he almost created an equaliser with a floated cross into the area which Rob Ramshaw just couldn’t get high enough to meet.
Oxford doubled their lead in the closing stages of the first half after good play down the left saw the ball lifted across goal to Alfie Potter who ghosted in at the far post to power a header beyond James for 2-0.
Moors drafted in Corey McKeown at half time but suffered a further blow when Oxford increased their lead just three minutes into the second period. A corner from the left wasn’t cleared properly and skipper Reece Fleet rammed in a third goal.
Ben Beals – celebrating his 21st birthday – was then forced off through injury as Moors’ afternoon went from bad to worse.
Ramshaw nodded just wide from a Taylor cross before Taylor himself then got on the end of a Reece Staunton delivery but his flick on goal was fielded by Oxford keeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle.
Parker almost added a fourth for The Hoops when he sprinted away into space on the right, but his powerful drive was parried away by James.
Full Time: Oxford City 3 Moors 0
Oxford City: McKenzie-Lyle, Ezennolim, Ashby, Jones, Coyle, Fleet, McEachran (Croker 78), Parker (Andrews 82), Potter (Scott 85), Roddy, Drewe.
Subs not used: Walsh, Carbon.
Moors: James, Ledger, Dolan, Beals (McGinley 53), Dyson (Mondal 78), Ross (Rutledge 75), Shrimpton (McKeown 46), Staunton, Ramshaw, Fletcher, Taylor.
Subs not used: Johnson.
Booked: Ross (57)
Referee: Declan Brown
Attendance: 1,082
Photo Credit: Simon Godfrey
