OXFORD City dropped into the bottom three with their fourth defeat in five games, going down 2-0 away to Chelmsford City.

Shamir Mullings put the hosts in front after half an hour of the Vanarama National League South clash, with Shaun Jeffers netting the second before the break.

It was no less than Chelmsford deserved after dominating the first 45 minutes.

Mullings could have opened the scoring after just eight minutes when he was allowed a free header just three yards out, but somehow managed to miss the target.

Five minutes later he turned provider with a fantastic run up the left, before cutting it back for Bagasan Graham, but he also failed to work keeper Jack Stevens from close range, skewing his effort over.

Stevens, on loan from Oxford United, made an excellent acrobatic save to keep Christopher Bush’s header out in the 25th minute.

But it was his mistake five minutes later which broke City’s resistance.

Coming out of his area to clear a loose ball, Stevens found himself caught out by an awkward bounce, allowing Mullings to nip in front of him and fire into the empty net.

Four minutes before the half, Chelmsford doubled their lead when Jeffers robbed Reece Fleet of the ball right in front of goal before drilling it underneath the keeper.

The striker was denied his second just after the hour mark by another excellent fingertip save from Stevens.

After beating the offside trap Jeffers had just the keeper to beat, but Stevens got enough on his low strike to hold it up, allowing Robbie Cundy to get back and clear the danger.

Anthony Church’s 70th-minute header did beat the keeper but not the upright, clattering back off a post to be hacked clear.

City’s only real chance of the game came in the final minute when captain Scott Davies’ low free-kick arrowed just wide of the right-hand post, by which time the game was already lost and out of sight.

Gosport Borough visit Marsh Lane this afternoon as City look to make an immediate recovery from a disappointing weekend and arrest their recent poor run of form.

Oxford City: Stevens, MacAuley, Grant, Poku, Odhiambo (Neto 63), Cundy, Soares, Fleet, McDonagh (Enver-Marum 57), Davies, Isaac (Ofosu 57). Subs not used: Winters.

Attendance: 613.