FOOTBALL: City floored by classy Chester (From The Oxford Times)

FOOTBALL: City floored by classy Chester

10:00am Thursday 10th January 2013 in Football

Chester 2

(Linwood 9, Jarman 53)

Oxford City 0

Oxford City gave a spirited display as they slipped to defeat at runaway leaders Chester in Blue Square Bet North last night following a nightmare journey.

City’s preparations were thrown into disarray after they were held up on the M6 near Birmingham for an hour and 45 minutes by a lorry fire, which closed the motorway for a while.

They didn’t arrive at the Deva Stadium until the scheduled kick-off time of 7.45pm, so the match was put back to 8.30. City were put under early pressure, with George Horan just failing to connect with Dave Hankin’s cross.

And they fell behind in the ninth minute when Paul Linwood ghosted in to head home Wes Baynes’s free-kick.

Chester threatened again, but Nathan Jarman’s first touch let him down and Matt Ingram had a simple task to collect the loose ball.

City then lost striker Ashan Holgate with a nasty ear injury, which required him to go to the Countess Hospital, Chester, for treatment.

And on 53 minutes, Chester doubled their lead when Jarman broke clear to fire home.

Ingram then did well to turn Matty McGinn’s powerful shot away for a corner.

Oxford City: Ingram, Gunn, Stonehouse, Ballard (Mulvany 64), Learoyd, Willmott, Bell, Pond, Holgate (Stanley 27), Benjamin (McEachran 77), Barcelos. Sub not used: Janes.

Referee: P Graham.

Attendance: 1,905.