Oxford City found free-scoring Merthry just too strong as they slipped to a 3-0 defeat at the MGroup |Stadium this afternoon.

Goals from Aneurin LIvermore, Lewys Twamley and Cawley Cox underlined the threat that the division’s top scorers possess despite City matching them in most areas for much of the game.

The Merthyr men got off to a strong start with Livermore firing home a deflected effort after just five minutes, the vital touch off the torso of George Burroughs leaving keeper Jamie Pardington helpless.

The same player should have made it 2-0 with a better chance soon after but bothered the queue for Festive Loaded Fries behind the goal rather than the relieved Pardington and City rallied after that and took the game to the visitors for the rest of the first half

Jack Bearne and Josh Ashby had shots blocked, .the in-form DJ Campton-Sturridge went close and a poked effort from Zac McEachran in time added on all showed that City were very much in the game at the half -way mark.

Perhaps the one thing they hadn’t done was force keeper Jaimie Cogman into action enough time  and that proved the difference: City didn't test the keeper, Merthry were merciless.

That was evident  after the break when, other than a weaving run and defected shot from the excellent McEachran City struggled to break down a disciplined Merthry back line.

At the other end the Martyrs fired just wide when well-placed on two occasions but after 62 minutes undid City’s hard work when Twamley sprinted forward from half way and began to drive across the City back four. Successive defenders were drawn away by clever runs from forwards meaning that Twamley drifted unchallnnged into the box and applied a simple finish to an excellent move

90 seconds later the game was up as Cox hammered the ball home via the underside of the crossbar to make it 3-0 and give the Hoops simply too much to do despite plenty of spirit, two half chances for the non-stop Ashby and no shortage of effort.

he Merthry men were always going to be a stiff challenge. City rose to that and will play worse than this and win.

CITY

Pardington, Roddy, Ashby, Francis, Bearne (Westendorf 65), McEachran (Daniel 65), Sturridge (Parker 58), Wiggett, Clark, Burroughs, Humphrey-Ewers (Ellis 76)

SUBS

Wilson, Johnson, Ellis, Westendorf, Parker, Potter, Daniel

ATT:  851

Report by Chris Williams