Oxford City were narrowly edged out by a single goal on the road, as the Hoops fell to a 1-0 defeat at Bedford Town.

A game with very few chances was eventually decided by Tyrone Marsh’s first-half strike - as City were hit on the counter.

An even first half saw both teams battle for the ball in a relatively cagey start to the contest. 

Chances were few and far between throughout, but the opener came mid-way through the half from a counter-attack. 

City had just started to turn the tables and bring the game to the hosts’, but as soon as they did they were caught on the break. 

A lighting run down the right saw meant that City were left scrambling back to goal, and a low cross was diverted into the corner of the net by Tyrone Marsh to make it 1-0.

Neither ‘keeper could be described as ‘busy’, but both were called into action. Late on in the half, both keeper’s perhaps had their most anxious moments.

However, both Sam Lewis and Nathan Ashmore were on hand to deal with tricky crosses.

Half-Time: Bedford 1-0 Oxford City 

After the break, it was all City. However, despite all of City’s huff and puff, they couldn’t find the crucial leveller. 

Again, it was a half of (very) few chances, with Josh Ashby’s stinging shot the closest City came to a goal in the hindsight. 

The players were brave and weren’t shying away from the ball, but despite numerous passages of positive play, City’s cutting-edge deserted them. 

In honesty, there’s not too much to write home about across the whole ninety. Josh McConnell was introduced from the bench and impressed in his second-half cameo. 

In the last ten minutes the Hoops pushed men forward as they desperately looked for a leveller, but it was the same old story. 

Another gut-wrenching result, when a point a piece (and perhaps a 0-0 draw), would’ve been the fair scoreline. 

That’s not how football works though, and City simply have to dust themselves off and go again on Saturday at home Leamington. 

Full-Time: Bedford 1-0 Oxford City

Att: 901

Starting XI: Lewis, Roddy, Ashby, Francis, Bearne, Wiggett, Parker, Scott, Clark (Maragh 90’) Burroughs, Humphrey-Ewers (McConnell 62’)

Subs not used: Treml, Wilson, Johnson, Daniel