Oxford City picked up an important three points this evening when a Lewis Coyle goal direct from a corner earned them a 1-0 win over Marine at the MGroup Stadium

Having booked their place in the FA Trophy quarter final with a win over Forest Green on Saturday The Hoops may well see this as the more important victory with the three points earning them a little breathing space in the National League North table

With captain Reece Fleet aptly back in the side to face Marine The Hoops looked solid from the start with the skipper’s return allowing Tom Scott and Josh Ashby to move into more advanced positions.

They were dominating play without causing the visitors too many problems but then on 27 minutes Coyle curled a left-footed corner in from the right and keeper Andrew Wogan was horrified to see it fly over the crowded six yard box and then over his head and into the net to make it 1-0

Marine coasted through much of the first half with City’s back-line largely untroubled and there was no surprise to see a Marine sub at half time as they tried to turn the tide.

The changed worked and there was a new urgency  to their play after the break where they enjoyed long periods in possession of the ball. When Enock Lusiama chased a Route One punt just after the hour he might have done better than send a dipping effort into the pulled pork pot in the food hatch ten yards behind the goal but City had been warned and needed a good save from McKenzie-Lyle after 76 minutes to keep their lead intact.

Having weathered that mini storm City went into game management mode for the last ten minutes, closing the game down and ensuring that all of their hard work paid off. There was still a huge save from McKenzie-Lyle after 89 minutes when  Marine sub Owen Robinson sent an effort towards the bottom right corner only to see the giant keeper somehow get a glove to it and push it round the post.

A crucial save. Look, City ran their hoopy socks off on Saturday. Tonight was never going to be pretty but they once again pushed tired limbs to the limit and got the job done. It's been a good weel, let's see

CITY

McKenzie-Lyle, Drewe, Burley, Jones, Ezennolim, Coyle, Ashby, Fleet, Scott (Potter 84), Andrews (McEachran 75), Parker

SUBS

Willcox, Croker, Harvey

Att: 411

Report by Chris Williams, pictures Simon Godfrey and Darrell Fisher