Oxford City's perfect start to the season continued at Spalding this afternoon as a first half goal from Tyrone Marsh gave them a 1-0 win in the National league North.

Marsh's first goal for the club decided a fierce encounter to give City two wins from two games and hand The Tulips their first defeat since promotion last season.

The home side, out to impress in their first home game at this level, tried to utilise the pace of left winger Yusifu Ceesay and his battle with Keegan Bloom was central to much of the action with Bloom tigerish and setting he tone for those around him.

At the other end City almost scored after two minutes when Ludwig Francillette got into precisely the same position from which he scored the winner last weekend. This time he powered his header from Ashby’s free kick well over the bar and that was as close as City came for the first half hour, despite Ashby and Tetek controlling midfield and Marsh and Taylor linking well up front.

Taylor teed up Ashby for a 34^th minute drive that flew just wide, and then on 40 minutes came the decisiive momdnt.  Brown’s pass slipped Marsh in behind to tiptoe through the tulips and as keeper Crook came to meet him Marsh calmly rolled the ball past hiim to give his side a crucial half time lead. Spalding complained but Marsh was being played onside by the injured Johnson, albeit inadvertently.

Good value for their lead, City had to fight hard to maintain the advantage after the break in an increasingly physical game where neither side shirked their challenges. Spalding pressed them back and dominated the first 20 minutes after the break but City responded and Marsh, Brown and subs Scott Pollock and Deago Nelson all had golden chances  to make the game safe.

In the end, a 1-0 win will do nicely.

Two games, two wins, no goals conceded. We're at home to Harborough on Tuesday. Can't wait.

CITY

Maxted, Bloom, Humphries, Ashby, Francillette, Johnson, Tetek, Marsh, Brown, Taylor (Pollock 73), De Silva (Nelson 73)

SUBS

McEachran, Njogu, Carroll, Daniel, Kauan

ATT:

Report by Chris Williams, pictures Mike Allen