City suffer August Bank Holiday nightmare

City suffered an August Bank Holiday to forget at Oxford City this afternoon, losing by five goals to one and ending the game with ten men. There was little sign of the result to come in an even opening to the game and it was City who struck first on 28 minutes, Elliott Frear neatly steering the ball home from Tom Smith’s cross. The lead lasted just five minutes though as Bradbury turned Ashby’s free-kick into the net from close range. A minute before half-time the hosts found themselves ahead in the most fortunate circumstances. Having been mistakenly awarded a goal-kick they broke quickly upfield where Ashby miscued a cross only to see the ball fly over Ryan Clarke and into the net via the back post. City’s sense of injustice was further deepened as it appeared Ashby had carried the ball out of play before his fluke goal, only for the officials to miss that as well. Oxford took full advantage of this good luck though, sweeping City aside after the break. They had already spurned one great chance before Matsuzaka made it 3-1 on 56 minutes. Then four minutes later Ashby crossed for Bradbury to nod home his second and Oxford’s fourth. Any slim hopes City had of a comeback disappeared in the 67th minute when Eddie Jones received a 2nd yellow card for his challenge on Harmon and Oxford completed the scoring two minutes from time through Coyle’s neat finish from six yards.