A game in which Oxford City were forced to wear two kits saw them beaten 2-1 by Curzon Ashton at the MGroup Stadium this afternoon.

In Hoops, City conceded to a Tony Weston opener but a Ewan Clark goal  pulled them level after the break. However City, by then in red, saw Ben Darby ben down to head Curzon into a 2-1 win  late in  and evenly-contested game.

The opener came after just four minutes when the visitors carved City open with a move down the right that saw Jack Stobbs cross and Weston thump past the horribly exposed Sam Lewis for a well-worked goal that was precisely what City did not need.

The Hoops , in white and blue as opposed to their blue and white opponents, saw captain Josh Ashby rattle the right post with a seventh minute effort as they sought an immediate reply but were also grateful their former left back Chi Ezennolim clipped a good chance over the bar soon after.

 After 15 minutes the kit clash was eliminated as City swapped to their third kit red shirts but it did little to turn city into Liverpool as they huffed and puffed to break the visitors down. Indeed it took a superb tackle from Charlie Wiggett to keep it at 1-0 at the break as the Nash threatened to double their lead.

There were load shouts for a penalty turned away, but City needed a response after the break and on 52 they were right back in the game when DJ Campton Sturridge did well on the right flank and the cross found Clark who took it down, danced to his left and gleefully thumped the back past keeper Callum Hawkins from close range to make it 1-1 with his first goal since returning the the Hoops.

To be fair to both teams a swirling wind made it tough to get the ball down and play but there were half chances for Ashby from distance, Tom Scott from closer and the impressive Alex Curran at the other end, denied by a smart save from Lewis just before the hour.

Unfortunately, the visiting side began to build pressure and after 78 minutes Curran was halted by another great save from Lewis only for the ball to loop neatly on to the head of Darby who tapped home to make it 2-1 and decide the game.

Not much to choose between the sides, indeed an Ashby strike in injury time was heading in until it flew clear off his own man in front of goal,  but right now City just aren't getting the breaks, whatever shirt they are wearing...

CITY

Lewis, Burroughs, Wilson (Roddy 46), Wiggett, Johnson, Ashby, Scott (Westendorf 78), Campton-Sturridge (Daniel 85), Humphrey-Ewers, Clark, Parker

SUBS

Treml, McConnell, Kauan

Att: 704

Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Daniels and Darrell Fisher. This report is dedicated to the memory of Ken Ridley. RIP