Oxford City general manager Justin Merritt was delighted with his side’s performance in their 7-1 demolition of hosts Gloucester City  in the Vanarama Conference North yesterday.

A devastating attacking display saw the visitors score four times in the opening period, and then add a further three strikes after the interval.

And Merritt felt the result was just reward for his side’s positive brand of football.

He said: “We’ve set our stall out with the way we want to play and occasionally we do make a mistake or give the ball away in a bad area, but that’s the risk and reward elements of it.

“On days like today it’s great to see the rewards far outweigh the risks.”

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The win lifts City to seventh in the Vanarama Conference North table, just two places outside the play-offs.

Merritt urged his side to seize their opportunity.

“You can see they’re all working for each other,” he said.

“We’ve got great team spirit, a brilliant squad, some very talented players and I just really hope they can go on and grasp that achievement for themselves.

“That’s what it’s all about really.