Joe Iaciofano grabbed a goal back for the Hoops in the second-half but City couldn’t undo the damage caused by a full-time Ebbsfleet side flying high in Vanarama National League South.

Ross Jenkins made a number of changes in his first official game as manager of Oxford City. Cole Dasilva was handed his debut and Jacob Bancroft, Charlie Rowan, Lewis Coyle and Nana Owusu all came into the starting XI.

Most notably, Reece Fleet started in what was his 300^th appearance in an Oxford City shirt.

In a half of few chances, it was City who would threaten first. Ashby’s drive from 25-yards out was well saved by Louie Moulden and seconds later, some good pressing from the Hoops led to Lewis Coyle going close with his shot.

However, the deadlock was broken in the 18^th minute when the ball fell to Kieran Monlouis from 25-yards out after a turnover in play. H e directed his curling effort into the bottom corner leaving Dudzinski with no chance.

Ebbsfleet continued to push for a second throughout but Ben Dudzinski and the City backline stayed firm to keep the score at 1-0.

Seconds after the re-start, Ebbsfleet scored a second. Dudzinski had to race off his line to tackle Dominic Poleon but the ball fell straight to the feet of Elliott Romain who had the simple task of hitting the ball past the grounded Dudzinski and into an empty net.

City then had a mountain to climb, but they weren’t throwing in the towel. Jacob Bancroft’s shot was narrowly deflected off Chris Solly and spun inches wide of the target to the relief of Goalkeeper Moulden as the Hoops looked to level.

City were starting to get into their rhythm but frustratingly the host scored their third on 56 minutes. Romain’s bursting run into the box went unnoticed and he powered a header into the net to make it 3-0.

Jenkins made a double change just after the hour mark with Ewan Clark and Joe Iaciofano being introduced to the game and it didn’t take long for the duo to make an impact.

Clark’s dazzling run bamboozled the Fleet defenders and after beating three men in his path, his shot at goal was well blocked by the hosts from close-range.

City eventually got some reward with fifteen minutes to go when Joe Iaciofano steered home George Harmon’s whipped cross from inside the area to cut the deficit.

Iaciofano was making a good impact at the top of the pitch and he almost pulled another goal back with five minutes to play but his shot went inches over the crossbar.

Starting XI: Dudzinski. Asare, Harmon (O’Donkor 80’), Ashby, Rowan, Coyle (Clark 63’), Fleet, McEachran, Owusu, Bancroft (Iaciofano 63’), Dasilva.

Subs not used: Matsuzaka, Kyprianou

Attendance: 1,151