City's relegation confirmed after narrow defeat in Lancashire.

AFC Fylde 2

Westley 60'

Haughton 79'

Oxford City 1

Parker 15'

Despite a battling display on the Fylde Coast, a superb Nick Haughton free-kick consigned Oxford City to a narrow defeat away to AFC Fylde in the Vanarama National League.

However, a number of key incidents in the fixture went against Ross Jenkins' side after Josh Parker had given them the lead after fifteen minutes.

Joe Westley equalised for the Coasters on the hour mark, but referee Dean Watson made a number of big calls in the game that ultimately went against City.

The first big call came when Tafari Moore was hacked down inside the box by Harry Davis when one-on-one with the 'keeper. However, no penalty given.

The second decision, a 'ghost' foul given against Brooklyn Kabongolo resulted in a free-kick for the hosts, which Nick Haughton spectacularly converted.

It was a tough result to take for the team, who deserved something for their efforts. Ultimately though, results elsewhere in the division mean that the Hoops will return to the sixth tier next season.

Ross Jenkins made five changes to the side that lost to FC Halifax Town on Sunday.

Reece Fleet returned to the starting XI and made his 400th appearance for the club.

Elsewhere there were returns for Mitchell Roberts, Tom Watson, Brooklyn Kabongolo & Jacob Roddy.

City had their backs against the wall throughout the first-half as AFC Fylde brought the game to the Hoops.

However, it was City who struck first.

A quick counter-attack left Josh Parker bearing down on goal, and when he got the better of Sam Graham, he kept his composure to slot his shot past Richardson in the Fylde goal to give City the lead in clinical fashion.

Nevertheless, the hosts continued to press forward and the Hoops had the woodwork to thank just after the half hour mark.

Haughton's first sighter on goal was a fierce shot that bounced off of the wrong side of the woodwork.

Danny Ormerod was next to try his luck from inside the box, but again, the hosts were wasteful with the opportunities that presented themselves to them.

The Fylde youngster dragged his shot wide of the post five minutes before the interval, as another chance went begging for Chris Beech's men.

However, if Fylde were wasteful in the first-half, they were anything but in the second-half.

On loan Burnley striker Joe Westley equalised on the hour.

His curled effort with his left foot found the corner of the net, despite the best efforts of Tom Watson who was at full stretch. A great finish from the striker.

Nevertheless, City didn't go into their shell, and once again pushed on.

They would have had a golden opportunity to go ahead for a second-time from the spot, but their strong claims for a penalty were dismissed.

Tafari Moore looked certain to bury his shot into the net whilst one-on-one with Theo Richardson.

However, when Harry Davis ploughed through the back of the City full-back, referee Dean Watson remained unmoved.

That penalty definitely fell into the 'we've seen them given' category.

Despite that, again, it was the referee who ultimately had a big say in the host's second goal.

Brooklyn Kabongolo was adjudged to have fouled Ash Hunter (somewhere) on the edge of the box.

The decision to award a free-kick bemused players on either side, but as we've become accustomed to, teams at this level will punish you when the opportunity arises.

Step forward Nick Haughton, who made no mistake from the free-kick. His spectacular strike flew over the wall and into the top corner.

Once again, Watson didn't have a chance to keep it out, and ultimately that was the goal that settled the match.

Another tough result for City to take, whose endeavour deserved a point at the very least.

It's clear to see that the players will continue to fight for the shirt until the last ball has been kicked on the last day of the season.

York's victory away at Bromley confirms City's relegation. However, it's 'see you later' and not goodbye for City in their National League adventure as preparations start for next season.

However, there's fifteen points to play for still, and the lads are as hungry for those as much as they were back at Aldershot in August!

We'll see you on Good Friday as we take on Wealdstone at the RAW Charging Stadium.

Attendance: 1,338 (56 Oxford City)

Oxford City Starting XI

Watson, Ashby, Roddy (Coyle 25'), Fleet (C), Roberts, Greenslade, Parker, Humphrey-Ewers (Birtwistle 52') Moore, Kabongolo, O'Connell

Subs not used

Phillips, Potter, Krasniqi

AFC Fylde Starting XI

Richardson, Davis (C), Haughton, Westley, Graham, Barrett, Ustabasi, Conway, Whitehead, Ormerod, Mitchell

Subs

Hosannah, Long, Hunter Adshead, O'Kane