Oxford City made safe progress in the FA Trophy this afternoon as first half goals from Josh Parker and Phil Croker and strikes from Zac McEachran, Jayden Carbon and Tom Scott after the break eased them past a sporting Sporting Khalsa at the MGroup Stadium with a 5-0 win.

City made changes with Nick Harvey making his debut in goal, and delighted with a clean sheet, and the composed Croker coming in to a three man defence alongside the excellent Aaron Drewe and Jacob Roddy.

Harvey made a neat save in the opening exchanges to settle any nerves but it was opposite number Brandon Ganley who made the first meaningful save of the afternoon as he clawed a Parker header round the post after nine minutes as City started to dominate against a side from two divisions lower.

Three minutes of madness truly tilted the game on its axis though. First Khalsa took an imaginary lead after 24 minutes when Chay Tilt volleyed home from the edge of the box only, with both teams already in position for the restart, for ref Dan England to chalk it off because a team-mate was blocking Harvey’s path.

City’s players were the only ones not feeling any sympathy for Sporting and three minutes later they were (slightly cruelly) ahead after Alfie Potter twisted and turned before setting Parker up for a simple finish to make it 1-0. They never looked back.

Potter could have doubled the lead soon after when the ever-inventive McEachran slipped the ball through, only for Ganley to save well, but on 35 minutes Croker notched his first senior goal to glide home a header from a Fleet cross and give City a two goal cushion that they never looked like losing.

Fleet saw an effort saved, Roddy’s Jacobs blocked a goalbound effort at the other end but City were full value for their half time lead and Parker, Potter and Carbon all peppered Ganley's goal as they sensed that the visitors were tiring after the interval.

McEachran's goal killed off any final  hopes of a recovery after 69 minutes when Parker lofted the ball forward and the unplayable McEachran dribbled the ball into the empty net , and then sub Corie Andrews backheeled into the path of Man of the Match Carbon who smashed a joyful fourth past the overworked Ganley after 79 minutes to ensure it was City who went into the draw.

There was even time for Scott, powering past a laboured challenge in the 90th minute, to smash home a well-taken fifth to cap a fine afternoon all round.

Credit to Khalsa who made it it a proper cup tie throughout; had their 'goal' been allowed then who knows, but also praise for the home side who did their jobs properly, played some delightful football and continue to gather momentum with every  game they play.

CITY

Harvey, Ashby (Ezennolim 77), Coyle, Fleet, McEachran (Scott 70), Parker (Andrews 73), Potter (Walsh 73), Croker, Carbon, Roddy, Drewe

SUB Siddik

Att:  309

Report by Chris Williams, pictures Simon Godfrey