Oxford City got back to winning ways this evening as midfield duo Josh Ashby and Tom Scott and sub Jack Bearne fired them to a much-needed 3-0 win over ten-man Hereford at the MGroup Stadium.

A free kick from Ashby on the stroke of half time, a clinical second from Scott and a goal with his first touch from Bearne eased the Hoops past the Bulls  who were handicapped by a red card to defender Matt Preston in the incident that led to the match-turning opener.

The opening minutes saw both sides hit the woodwork. First, from a Charlie Wiggett long ball after eight minutes, City forced a corner and Ewan Clark’s wicked inswinger smacked off the back post and away from danger. The visitors then matched that when a loose back pass left Sam Osborne with a clear run on goal. Sam Lewis came to meet him but Osborne poked the ball beyond him only to see it strike the right-hand upright and stay out.

Alfreton loanee Osborne quickly wasted a further chance from the other side of the area, firing well wide when clear once more, and in the end those chances proved costly. 

In the final minute of the half a long ball allowed Josh Parker to turn beyond Preston’s north end. Parker cut across, Preston brought him down right on the edge of the box and a second yellow followed The ultimate punishment came from the dead ball as Ashby curled a perfect free kick round the wall to give his side a priceless half time lead that they never looked like surrendering.

It could have been two inside 50 second half seconds when a deflected Parker cross and a powerful downwards header from Clark produced an astonishing save from Theo Richardson to keep the ten-men in the game.

City have had more than their fair share of games affected by red cards this season, good and bad, and Hereford played the system well despite being a player light, stopping the game, sitting deep and looking to frustrate the home side, but this time City were not to be denied

What The Hoops needed was a second goal and on 64 minutes Hereford’s resistance was finally broken when a slip and a fumble allowed Scott to run clear once more. Richardson came out but Scott was too clever, side-footing home inside the right hand post to make it 2-0 and give his side some crucial breathing space

Bearne then clinched his side's first win since the start of September when a cute pass from Isaac Westendorf sent him through on goal to score with his very first touch of the ball.

Three in three for Ashby, three goals without conceding, and, much more importantly three points on the board. Three is the magic number.

See you at home to Worksop on Saturday...

CITY
Lewis, Burroughs, Wiggett, Francis, Maragh (Bearne 82), Roddy, Ashby, Humphrey-Ewers, Scott, Clark (Westendorf 70), Parker

SUBS
Treml, Johnson, Potter, Campton-Sturridge, McConnell

Att: 618

Report by Chris Williams, pictures Simon Godfrey