Oxford City boss Mike Ford felt his side’s gruelling run of games has left them physically and mentally exhausted as they went down to a heavy 6-0 defeat at Gainsborough Trinity in Skrill North on Saturday, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.

That was City’s sixth match in the last two weeks and Ford was quick to acknowledge that they were far from their best.

“We looked devoid of anything today,” he admitted. “We lacked urgency, we lacked energy, we lacked a real purpose about what we were trying to do.

“I thought mentally today we looked absolutely shot to pieces.

“I think all the hard work we’ve put in over the last few weeks has taken its toll.”

But with the other relegation candidates, Histon and Stalybridge Celtic, also losing Ford emphasised that City’s fate is still in their own hands ahead of fourth-placed Altrincham’s visit to Marsh Lane tomorrow evening.

“Other scores have gone our way, so we’re in the same position we were before the game,” he added.

“Our pride has been dented, but knowing the players as I do they’ll want to put the record straight on Tuesday.”