A mad minute derails Hoops.

Oxford City 0

FC Halifax Town 2

Harker 22'

Oluwabori 23'

Despite an encouraging start to proceedings, a minute of madness consigned Oxford City to defeat at home to FC Halifax Town.

Rob Harker gave the Shaymen the lead after City failed to clear their lines. Marcin Brzozowski made an error a the back, spilling the ball to Harker who provided a simple finish to open the scoring.

Moreover, the away side doubled their lead just seconds later. This time Andrew Oluwabori took aim from the edge of the box, and his shot squeezed past the Hoops' stand-in stopper.

That was all it took for the visitor's in hindsight, but the score could have been increased if City's 'keeeper hadn't made a string of impressive saves late on in the second-half.

Selection

Ross Jenkins made two changes to his team. Tom Watson was replaced in goal with Marcin Brzozowski (later described by Jenkins as an admin error), and Tafari Moore returned to the starting line-up after a spell on the sidelines to replace Harry Birtwistle.

First Half

The first chance of the game fell to City when Lewis Coyle came close.

Josh Ashby's quick free-kick led to Coyle taking aim at goal, but Halifax 'keeper Sam Johnson managed to push the ball away from goal.   

City had started the contest as the better of the two sides, but their positive start (and ultimately the match) went up in a puff of smoke in a matter of seconds.

Twenty minutes in, a mix up led to Brzozowski spilling the ball into the path of Harker, and the striker was left with a simple finish inside the box to score the opener.

However, further lack of concentration led to another goal for FC Halifax just seconds later, this time from Oluwabori putting his name on the scoresheet.

The lively winger took aim from the edge of the box, and despite the best efforts from Brzozowski, the city-stopper just couldn't keep the ball from finding the bottom corner.

City began to push for a way back into the game, but they couldn't find a way past an in-form Sam Johnson in between the sticks.

Harvey Greenslade saw his effort well-saved by Johnson after Josh Parker had cleverly picked out the striker inside the box. Furthermore, Ashby was also close to a leveller, but again, Johnson was equal to his effort from inside the box.

Half-Time: Oxford City 0-2 FC Halifax Town

Second-Half

In honesty, the second-half was a non-event.

The Hoops couldn't find a way to break down a stubborn Shaymen side in the thick of the play-off chase.

However, Brzozowski did well to shake off his earlier errors and make some super saves to keep the advantage at just two-goals.

Fifteen minutes from time, Harker was denied twice by the Polish 'keeper whilst racing through on goal.

Although, the best save of the spell (and the game) came in the 90th minute.

Just two minutes after the 'keeper had denied Tylor Golden on a 1v1, the City goalkeeper produced a stunning save to again deny Harker from point-blank range.

Attendance: 1,312 (89 FC Halifax)

Oxford City Starting XI

Brzozowski, Burley (Roddy 77'), Phillips, Ashby, Kirby (Fleet 65'), Coyle, Greenslade, Parker (C), Humphrey-Ewers, Moore (Lumeka 82'), O'Connell

Subs not used

Smith, Williams-Bushell

FC Halifax Town Starting XI

Johnson, Golden, Senior, Stott, Evans (Jenkins 83'), Summerfield, Thompson-Summers, Hoti, Wright (Galvin 56'), Harker, Oluwabori (Cosgrave 70')

Subs not used

Hunter, Scott