Oxford City were beaten 2-0 by promotion chasing Scarborough at the MGroup Stadium this afternoon.

A cruel own goal and a late strike from Jack Waldron were enough to keep the visitors in the play-off hunt but simultaniously  pushed City further  into the relegation fight despite showing plenty of character and being in the game for long periods.

City, without suspended skipper Josh Ashby, had to ride their luck in the first half as The Seadogs tried their luck from distance- Max Metclafe making a good early save- and had loud appeals for a penalty waved away when Walker was bundled over after 15 minutes.

The tide began to turn after that with O’Shea Ellis almost bundling through the visiting defence but it took another marvellous Metcalfe save to keep his side level when he pounced at the feet of Harry Green just as the forward prepared to pull the trigger.

The combination of Green and Alex Brown down their left was effective as well as colour co-ordinated for the visitors but City held firm and were level at the break before making three attacking changes soon after to try and force the pace.

It almost worked immediately as Ewan Clark’s clipped effort bounced off the bar but when you need a stroke of luck to go your way it’s amazing how often it goes other way. After 70 minutes Rio Allen found space an drilled in a low effort. Charlie Wiggett did well to react and clear off the line but the ball smashed into the retreating Metcalfe and flew into the now unguarded net to give the away side a 1-0 lead.

City threw people forward and sub Matty Taylor almost grabbed a late goal but by then Waldron had fired home when given too much space inside the area.

After a good away win  the week before City lost momentum today. A response is required at Curzon Ashton on Tuesday night.

Today, defeat to Scarborough? Fair.

CITY
Metcalfe, Burroughs, Wiggett, Harper-Bailey, Humphries, Humphrey-Ewers (Taylor 80), Scott (Clark 55), Ellis, Bearne (McEachran 55), Parker, McFarlane (Hemmings 55)

SUBS

Wilson, Roddy, Sturridge

ATT: 776

Report by Dave Pritchard, pictures Darrell Fisher, Steve Daniels and Mike Allen