City well beaten on the road.

Oldham Athletic 4

Green 14'

Dickenson 40', 90+6

Norwood 90+1

Oxford City 0

Oxford City were well beaten by Oldham Athletic in the Vanarama National League by four goals to nil.

The Hoops simply weren’t at the races on the day and goals from Devarn Green, Brennan Dickenson (X2) and James Norwood consigned City to their first defeat in eight games.

SELECTION

Ross Jenkins’ team selection was severely impacted by a number of absentees. Josh Parker dropped to the bench after sustaining a knock against Eastleigh, so Olly Sanderson replaced him.

Likewise, Tom Harrison made way for Andre Burley in a straight swap at the back. Two further omissions on top of Josh Ashby and Nya Kirby who stayed sidelined. Alfie Potter returned to bench.

First-Half

The first chance of the game fell to the hosts. Striker Joe Nuttall met Devarn Green’s cross after finding space in the box, but he couldn’t direct his header on target.

However, City did show glimpses of going ahead. A glorious cross from Tafari Moore had just too much on it for Aaron Williams-Bushell and eventually ran out of play.

Oldham didn’t have to wait long for their lead, though. The lively Green caused the Hoops problems throughout the afternoon and after wrong footing the defender kept his composure to slot the ball under Chris Haigh.

Things got worse for City too. Zac McEachran was clearly struggling with illness and was forced to come off. Alfie Potter replaced him.

The Hoops were then dealt a sucker punch five minutes from the interval when Brennan Dickenson’s screamer put the Latics 2-0 up. The midfielder collected the ball on the edge of the box and let fly from around 20-yards out, finding the corner of Haigh’s goal.

Half Time: Oldham Athletic 2-0 Oxford City

Second-half

After the break, City came out a rejuvenated side and somehow didn’t pull a goal back.

Oldham ‘keeper Matthew Hudson made a world-class save from point blank range to deny Olly Sanderson before not one, but two Alfie Potter efforts were desperately cleared off the line.

Despite City’s best efforts to find a way back into the game. Oldham were happy to sit back and soak up the pressure. The back four of Kitching, Hogan, Hobson and Sutton were particularly impressive in the host’s backline.

The game was all but over as a contest before Oldham made it three. Haigh can feel hard done by after making two fantastic saves to deny a third goal, but he could do nothing but watch as the ball bounced to James Norwood for the striker to smash a shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

Perhaps harsh on City who had matched their hosts in the second-half, but moreover, there was time for further salt to be rubbed into the wound.

Lewis Miccio had no choice but to upend substitute Alex Reid just outside the ‘D’ to deny the striker a shot on goal. However, from the resulting free-kick, Dickenson smashed the ball into the top corner to put a further dampener on the afternoon.

A day to forget for the Hoops. However, they won’t have to wait long for a chance at redemption.

Gateshead are the visitors to the RAW Charging Stadium on Tuesday evening (7:45pm KO), and there’ll be another chance to bounce back.

Match Details

Attendance: 6,400 (22 Oxford City)

Oxford City Starting XI: 

Haigh, Burley, Miccio, Coyle, Fleet, Sanderson (Parker 70’), McEachran (Potter 23’), Willams-Bushell, Carroll, Humphrey-Ewers (Fonkeu 64’), Moore

Subs not used: Harrison, Wilson

Oldham Athletic Starting XI: 

Hudson, Kitching, Hogan, Hobson, Nuttall (Reid 82’), Sheron, Green (Hope 84’), Gardner, Sutton, Dickenson, Norwood

Subs not used: Norman, Shelton, Willoughby