MARK Jones was satisfied with the way Oxford City handled the challenge of beginning pre-season against Oxford United.

The visitors, who play three divisions above Jones’s men, ran out 3-0 winners in the first match on the new 3G surface at Court Place Farm.

But overall the City boss was encouraged, ahead of the clash at home to Sky Bet League Two side Cheltenham Town tomorrow.

He said: “I felt there were a lot of positives for us and I was quite satisfied with our performance.

“It’s obviously the first pre-season game against good Football League opposition and we tried to play.

“We want to work on that possession-based game.

“Last year we were a bit more direct, but we have a nice surface to play on now and we want to pass the ball and keep it.

“We tried to do that and played some good football at times. We didn’t create too many clear-cut chances, but that’s something we can work on.

“I was pleased with the effort from the lads on a warm day.

“We didn’t have the luxury of changing the whole team for the second half (like United), but I felt for the first pre-season game I was pleased with what I saw.”

A defensive mix-up which led to United’s second goal, scored by Kane Hemmings a minute after Joe Rothwell had broken the deadlock early on, was the main source of irritation for Jones.

“I was disappointed with the second goal, straight after the first one,” he said.

“We put ourselves in trouble from our own kick-off and the centre backs made a mistake, but I felt we acquitted ourselves well.

“I didn’t think there were many occasions where we looked like we were struggling on the ropes.

“In terms of possession maybe Oxford United just shaded it, but we won’t be playing against that level of opposition every week.

“Cheltenham is another test for us, but for us it’s all about working towards August 5.”