Dominant Oxford City hit four second-half goals at Chelmsford City to strengthen their hold on second place in Vanarama National League South with a 4-0 win.

Top-scorer Bradley Bubb netted from the penalty spot shortly after half-time and a rampant City went on to add further goals from Kynan Isaac, Luke Coulson and Julen Lafuente.

But they really should have taken the advantage sooner after missing a host of first-half chances.

Chelmsford’s best moments came early on, with Tomi Adeloye firing a free-kick just over and then curling another just around a post.

After that it was one-way traffic as the visitors piled on the pressure without scoring.

Bubb was first to fluff his lines after Isaac had pulled the ball back from the bye line for the striker to finish from six yards, but it bounced off him to safety.

  • Highlights via Chelmsford City's Youtube channel

Captain Darren Pond then shot narrowly wide from the edge of the area after being picked out by Coulson.

Bubb then lashed a shot across the face of goal after a delightful exchange of passes had set him away.

City finally forced a save out of Chelmsford goalkeeper Christian Dibble just before half-time when he flung himself to keep out Jose Lapoujade’s powerful header.

The breakthrough came four minutes into the second half, Bubb blasting a penalty straight down the middle after Isaac had been tripped by Aiden Palmer.

In the 74th minute Isaac doubled the lead, racing onto a hopeful through ball before knocking it past the stranded goalkeeper.

That triggered a defensive collapse from the home side, who stood as still as statues six minutes later as Coulson exchanged passes with substitute Omari Sterling-James before calmly side-footing in.

Sterling-James was involved again three minutes later as City added their fourth, skipping through a static backline before laying it off to give Lafuente the simplest of finishes.

But for the acrobatics of Dibble it could have been five, with the keeper stretching out an arm to deny Coulson.

Oxford City: Walker, King, Lapoujade, Del Alamo, Santiago, Arzamendi, Coulson, Fleet, Bubb (Sterling-James 64), Pond, Isaac (Lafuente 75). Subs not used: McDonagh, Benjamin, Pifarré.

Attendance: 988.