Oxford City began their hectic April with a 3-2 away defeat at Worcester yesterday.

They fell behind just minutes into the Blue Square Bet North clash before levelling through Darren Pond, only for Keiron Morris to restore the hosts’ lead before the break.

City fell further behind after conceding a soft goal from a corner, but Nick Stanley restored hope with ten minutes remaining.

However, Worcester held on for a first win in ten games.

The hosts hadn’t scored for seven matches, but needed just three minutes to breach City’s defence as a lofted ball found Mike Symons, who slotted past keeper Nick Townsend.

City had created very little, but were level midway through the half after Declan Benjamin’s cutback fell to Pond who fired in at the back post.

And Pond then almost turned provider when his corner found Adam Learoyd, who drew an excellent save from keeper Matt Sargeant.

Six minutes later, Worcester restored their lead when a free-kick was headed down for Morris to smash in.

City fell further behind just after the hour mark, when Shabir Khan headed home a corner and their blushes were spared by the assistant’s flag after Lee Ayres headed a free-kick over Townsend and into the net.

Moments later, City cut the deficit after Worcester defender Ayres made a mess of his clearance and Stanley pounced to fire in at the near post.

City frantically chased an equaliser and came close as Jamie Cook’s stoppage-time shot looked destined for the top corner, but Sargeant foiled him with an acrobatic save.

Oxford City: Townsend, Ballard, Stonehouse, McNish, Learoyd (Stanley 62), Willmott, Benjamin (Bell 55), Malone, Basham (Holgate 64), Cook, Pond. Subs not used: Gunn, Mulvany Referee: D Meeson.

Attendance: 597.