Oxford City got their season up and running this afternoon as goals from Josh Parker and Alfie Potter earned them a 2-1 win over much-fancied Macclesfield at the MGroup Stadium.

The experienced duo struck either side of half time to earn Ross Jenkins’ side their first win of the season as they turned in a highly-accomplished performance in front of a bumper first home crowd of the season with Isaac Buckley-Ricketts' late strike the one blemish on an excellent day's work.

With both sides zipping the ball around and probing for space it made for an attractive game but City were in charge for long spells and keeper Sam Lewis didn’t have a shot to save before the break . There was one brave block from Jacob Roddy to keep a goalbound effort out after 15 even minutes but then after a good spell of possession it was Parker who found the breakthrough after 22 minutes.

A clever pass from Tom Scott opened up the space for the City forward who held off his man and then showed great composure to roll the ball home for his first of the season.

That opened things up and the Silkmen committed more men forward, although Potter and Jack Bearne started to exploit that extra space and both went close to doubling the lead before the break.

Then, five minutes into the second half, Potter made it 2-0 with a joyous goal from close range as Scott once again carved the Silkmen defence open with a perfect cross from the right that Potter potted at the back post.

In their opening game City were in a similar position, 2-0 up and seemingly coasting at Fylde before losing 3-2. Today keeper Lewis did all he could to stop that happening again, plunging to his left to deny Josef Yarney, then flying to his right to make a spectacular save from Regan Griffiths as he let fly from distance. However he was powerless with 11 minutes to go when sub Buckley=Ricketts hooked in from close range  and the home side then dropped ever deeper as they tried to see it through.

That led to a tense last ten minutes but City battled for every ball,  did what they needed to do and in the end were full value for the win.

Long way to go but plenty of positives  as we move on to Kidderminster Harriers away on Tuesday night. Can't wait.

CITY

Lewis, Roddy, Ashby, Johnson, Brane, McEachran (Humphrey-Ewers 71), Wiggett, Parker, Scott, Potter (Westendorf 75), Burroughs

SUBS

Treml, Wilson, Campton-Sturridge, Daniel, McConnell

ATT:  946

Report by Chris Williams. Pictures Simon Godfrey