Oxford City’s first match for four weeks ended in disappointment on Saturday.

A slow start at home to Solihull Moors proved costly as Mike Ford’s men – despite dominating the second half – were left empty-handed in the Blue Square Bet North clash.

City found themselves 2-0 down at half-time thanks to goals from Junior English and Gary Birch after being outmuscled in the opening 45 minutes.

They pulled a goal back early in the second half with a scrambled Darren Pond effort, but were unable to find an equaliser.

Despite their long lay-off, City went close to opening the scoring in spectacular fashion early on when Adam Learoyd met a Jamie Cook free-kick with an acrobatic overhead kick which forced a save from Solihull keeper Jasbir Singh.

But City fell behind moments later when a long ball was nodded down by veteran striker Birch into the path of English, who fired a left-footed shot past City’s debutant goalkeeper Nick Townsend.

And Solihull doubled their lead soon after when a speculative 25-yard effort from Birch looped over Townsend before dropping beneath the crossbar.

City were stunned by the two goals and looked disjointed during the first half, but came out after the break a changed side.

They pulled a goal back when a dangerous cross from substitute Mark Bell was almost turned in by defender Andre Francis, before breaking to Darren Pond who bundled it over the line.

City continued to threaten as they went in search of an equaliser, Paul Stonehouse going close with a snap-shot which went narrowly over the bar.

And Pond was a lick of paint away from scoring his second of the afternoon with a powerful right-footed effort which crashed off a post.

But City were left to rue their missed chances as Solihull were able to comfortably see out the rest of the game.

Oxford City: Townsend, Stonehouse, Stanley (Ballard HT), McNish, Learoyd, Willmott, Barcelos, Malone (Benjamin 75), Holgate, Cook (Bell 24), Pond. Subs not used: Mulvany, Gunn.

Referee: Anthony Coggins.

Attendance: 310.