Oxford City missed a chance to cash in on one of their games in hand at the foot of the Skrill North table when they were well beaten 4-0 away to Leamington last night.
They shipped four goals for the second game in succession, following Saturday’s hammering at Telford and their only consolation was the defeat of relegation rivals Histon, 3-1 at home to Gloucester.
The visitors made a bright start as Darren Mullings forced home keeper Tony Breedon to push his effort away for a corner and then Tom Winters’s corner was headed wide by Mark Preece.
But it was a false dawn as Leamington went ahead on ten minutes when Lee Chilton converted a cross.
City keeper Matthew Bulman denied Danny Newton, but the Brakes went 2-0 up on 23 minutes when Reece Flanagan was allowed to work his way along the goalline before netting from a narrow angle.
It became 3-0 after 33 minutes as Nathan Hicks broke through City’s back four before driving the ball home to give his side a comfortable cushion at the interval.
Manager Mike Ford rang the changes at the break, replacing Kayden Jackson and Winters with Adam Learoyd and Zac McEachran.
New signing from Bournemouth, Josh Hanlon, also got a run-out, coming on after 55 minutes.
But all too often, City’s passes failed to find their mark and they produced very little in terms of chances in the second half.
Leamington had no such problems and added their fourth goal in the 63rd minute.
City’s defence failed to deal with a corner and Danny Newton found the back of the net through a crowded goalmouth.
Oxford City: Bulman, Pond, Stonehouse, Pook, Preece, Willmott, Solomon-Otabor (Hanlon 55), Mullings, Symons, Jackson (Learoyd 45), Winters (McEachran 45). Subs not used: Benjamin, Ballard.
Referee: D Neeson.
Attendance: 489.
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