IT was another afternoon to forget for Oxford City as they were beaten 3-0 away to fellow strugglers Whitehawk, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.

Kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes after a nightmare journey resulted in the City team coach arriving late.

And matters would only get worse for the visitors, with Danny Mills finding the net on either side of half-time before Reece Connolly added a third late on as City dropped into the bottom two.

It could have been so different if City had converted their first-half chances.

Mike Fondop found himself clear, but was unable to divert his shot past the goalkeeper.

But it was Lee Henderson who most threatened the hosts, blazing one effort over from close range after Fondop’s initial effort had been blocked.

And shortly after, the City centre back drew a superb reaction save from goalkeeper Lucas Covolan with a powerful header from a Scott Davies corner.

But the visitors were undone shortly before the break when Mills was given space at the back post to nod home Connolly’s left-wing cross.

Nine minutes into the second half, Mills doubled the lead, racing free onto a clipped through ball over the top before finding the bottom left-hand corner.

The introduction of Oxford United loanee Jonny Giles just before the hour mark sparked some life into City and he teed up Fondop to curl an effort just wide.

But after playing 120 minutes on Tuesday night,City tired and the match was put firmly beyond their grasp six minutes from time.

Connolly exploited a gap in the City backline, before emphatically firing home.

Oxford City : City: Stevens, Poku, Grant, Fleet (Isaac 58), Henderson, Cundy (Ofuso 74), Davies, Ashby, Fondop, Roberts, Winters (Giles 58). Subs not used: MacAuley, Ngathe.

Attendance: 315.

l LOUIE Soares was a 52nd-minute substitute for Hungerford Town in their 3-1 defeat to Hampton & Richmond, having agreed a 28-day loan from Oxford City.