OXFORD City’s four-match winning run came to an end when they lost 1-0 at home to high-flying Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday.

Jason Prior scored the only goal of the game right on the stroke of half-time to consign the hosts to their first defeat in a month and take Havant to the top of the table.

Mark Jones made three changes to the side that progressed into the Oxfordshire Senior Cup final on Tuesday.

Eddie Jones and Reece Fleet were restored to the side after being rested, while Rob Sinclair returned from an injury that had kept him out for a couple of weeks.

Jones replaced Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was recalled by parent club Portsmouth on Friday, while Fleet and Sinclair both started in the centre of midfield.

City keeper Craig King was called into action in the fourth minute, turning Bradley Tarbuck’s powerful shot round a post.

The hosts had a chance, when Fleet was brought down on the edge of the box by Ed Harris, who was booked.

But Joe Oastler’s free-kick flicked off the side of the wall for a corner.

City were posing problems for the visitors’ defence and were awarded another free-kick in a favourable position when former Havant player Godfrey Poku was brought down.

But Matt Paterson’s strike again failed to test the keeper

After the Hawks had gone close from a free-kick that earned Oastler a yellow card, they took the lead in the final minute of the first half.

The last in a serious of corner was driven in low to Jason Prior, who turned before finishing past King through a sea of bodies.

City went close to equalising in the 48th minute when Paterson laid the ball off to Sam Nombe, whose goalbound effort was brilliantly blocked by Jordan Rose to keep his side

ahead.

Despite making a couple of attacking changes, City could make little impression on Havant, who went close to doubling their lead three minutes from time, when King denied Prior.

City’s final chance to salvage a point came when they were awarded another free-kick on the edge of the box. But Paterson was unable to get his shot on target.

Oxford City: King, Jones, Stevens (Forde 80), Poku, Musonda, Oastler, Nombe, Fleet, Paterson, Sinclair (McEachran 66), Grant. Subs not used: Fofana, Godwin-Malife

Attendance: 410.