Oxford City were beaten 2-0 by Marine this afternoon as a Charlie Jolley goal in the first half and a late second from Offrande Zanzala gave the visitors all three points at the MGroup Stadium

City can have few complaints  after a result that leaves them fighting for their lives to avoid relegation and it could have been worse:: One of the features of City games this season has been early goals and yet again there was a clear opportunity for the visitors after just four minutes when Latrell Humphrey-Ewers swiped the legs from under Jolley, only for Marine’s top scorer George Newell to strike his penalty against the left hand post.

City responded with a Josh Ashby free kick testing visiting keeper Fraser Barnsley and an Alfie Potter cross causing chaos but then they failed to heed the warning when winger Fin Sinclair-Smith rolled a chance just wide after 28 minutes before Jolley raced clear and powered the ball beyond debutant keeper Max Metcalfe to make it 1-0 after half an hour.

Marine, all hustle and bustle, gave City no time on the ball and were quick to spring forward. Metcalfe kept his side in the game with a flying save from Sinclair-Smith after 35 minutes and City were increasingly frustrated as they searched for a way back into the contest. On-loan Solihull striker Callum McFarlane got under the ball with their best chance of the half, sending the ball well over the bar from 12 yards when he should have at least tested Barnsley.

Marine, aptly, had to use a sub before the break when Matty McDonald limped off but it didn’t change the flow as City continued to struggle to break them down after the break.

That prompted three subs around the hour mark which briefly sparked new life with former Oxford United youngster Barnsley making an excellent save to push a George Burroughs header over the bar and Josh Parker twisting and turning but finding the Marine defence watertight.

However, when sub Zanzale nipped in between a static City defence after 83 minutes to make it 2-0 there was no way back.

Credit to a very organised Marine defence but City now need a positive response when they welcome Telford on Tuesday night.

CITY

Metcalfe, Burroughs, Wiggett, Harper-Bailey, Humphries (Roddy 58), Ashby, Humphrey-Ewers (Ellis 58), Potter, Bearne (Daniel 64), McFarlane, Parker

SUBS
Treml, Wilson, Scott, Kauan

Att:613

Report by Mark Edwards, pictures Mike Allen, Steve Daniels, Darrell Fisher