OXFORD City were made to pay for a slipshod second-half show as they succumbed to a 4-2 defeat at Weston-super-Mare on Saturday, writes PATRICK LOCK

Strikes from Kavan Cotter – his first for the club – and Rob Sinclair put the visitors 2-1 ahead during the first half.

However, a hat-trick from Gethyn Hill and a header from Aaron Parsons saw Weston prevail.

The hosts took the lead in the fifth minute with a penalty from Hill after a foul by Udoka Godwin-Malife.

City reacted well, putting pressure on their opponents and were rewarded in the 26th minute.

Cotter shot from the edge of the box, his effort taking a deflection before looping into the top corner.

It got better for City five minutes later as Rob Sinclair surged into the box before rifling past keeper Luke Purnell to put them ahead.

Weston hit back five minutes before the break, when Hill grabbed his second, touching home Jarrad Welch’s goalbound effort following a corner.

City had keeper Craig King to thank just two minutes into the second period as he superbly tipped Welch’s free-kick over the bar.

Three minutes later, the hosts did took the lead.

Danny Greenslade’s free-kick was whipped into the far post where Parsons headed past the helpless King.

The game was settled 13 minutes from time when City gave the ball away in their own half.

Hill was played clean through on goal before lofting the ball over King to claim his hat-trick.

Oxford City: King, Godwin-Malife (Henderson 58), Grant, Poku (Fofana 58), Stevens, Oastler, Nombe (McEachran 73), Fleet, Paterson, Sinclair, Cotter. Sub not used: Forde.