City scored twice in either half, with Lolos opening the scoring followed by a first Hoops goal for Jack Davies, before the former added the final two in the second-half to complete his hat-trick.

After earning a good point at Dulwich Hamlet last week, Ross Jenkins named the same side again for this match between two play-off chasing sides.

Despite the final scoreline, it did take the Hoops about 10 minutes to properly get into their stride, a period that saw the visitors probably have their two best chances of the match.

Canice Carroll was on hand to heroically block a Devonte Aransibia shot at goal when he had a clear sight of goal, then moments later, the Tonbridge forward was only able to volley an effort over the bar as it dropped to him at the far post.

But once the Hoops got into their stride, the Tonbridge defence struggled to contain City’s sharp passing game.

By the 16th minute, the pressure on the visiting defence was growing, and it certainly felt like a goal was coming, and Lolos was the man to oblige. Zac McEachran’s trickery saw him burst into the box, he popped a ball to the striker who took a touch before slotting into the bottom corner of the net.

The Hoops remained relentless, and Tonbridge had Jonathan Henly to thank moments later for the score remaining at 1-0, as he pulled off a stunning save to push a swerving Alfie Potter shot onto the bar and out for a corner.

But that only delayed the second goal arriving, and this time Potter turned the provider. A recycled ball saw the winger burst down the right, and he delivered a pin-point ball into the centre for Jack Davies to arrive and head into the net.

With a two goal advantage, you can forgive City just stepping off the gas a little until the break. This allowed Tonbridge a bit more time on the ball, and Jordan Greenidge looked a particular threat.

However, he was unable to really assert himself in a central position, and only saw himself in wide positions where he was able to cross straight into the hands of Adnan Kanuric. 

But after 15 minutes’ rest, the Hoops came out all firing once again, and had the game all but sealed just minutes into the second-half.

It would be Lolos with his second of the game, and once again assisted by Zac McEachran, who timed a perfect pass to the striker who was again unmarked as he slammed a first time shot across the keeper and into the net.

The crowd didn’t need to wait long to see whether Lolos would complete his hat-trick as he was played through on goal to slot home – however the celebrations were cut short by the offside flag.

But this only delayed it by a further couple of minutes – when one-on-one with Henly, Lolos was brought down, with Dale Wootton pointing to the spot. The striker stepped up himself, and despite the Tonbridge stopper going the right way, there was too much power as it nestled in the corner.

With numerous players having been booked earlier in the half, Jenkins opted to freshen the side in the second period, with Olly Sanderson, Jayden Carbon and Joe Wilson all introduced into the action.

The latter was close to a first City goal with eight minutes to play as a ball from the excellent Latrell Humphrey-Ewers saw the right-back clear of the Tonbridge back-line, but Henly stood tall to thwart him as he looked to lift it over into the net.

Three big points for the Hoops in their hunt for the play-offs, but next up is as tough as they come for the Hoops with a trip to Ebbsfleet United on Good Friday, with the extra incentive of the hosts potentially winning the title with a draw or a win. 

Oxford City: Kanuric; Davies, Carroll, Miccio; Williams-Bushell, Ashby, Humphrey-Ewers, Coyle; McEachran (Wilson 71), Potter (Carbon 82); Lolos (Sanderson 76). Unused: Burley, Bromfield.

Attendance: 544