A NEW-LOOK Oxford City side went down to a 1-0 defeat at home to play-off contenders Poole Town on Saturday, writes RYAN BRATLEY.

After a lively first half, Mark Jones’s side fell to Luke Roberts’s 77th-minute header.

After the embarrassing 6-1 defeat away to Maidenhead, City’s squad included all three of his midweek signings, George Essuman starting in defence, and Connor Furlong coming on as a substitute, while Guri Demuria stayed on the bench.

With an early City penalty appeal having been waved away, Ezra Forde had the first sight of goal – jinking past two men before forcing a corner.

City’s best chance of the half fell to captain Lee Henderson, the big centre-half heading wide from a Scott Davies free-kick.

Then Matt Peake-Pijnen saw his drive well saved by Nick Hutchings in the Dolphins’ goal.

City keeper Craig Hill then got down well to push away an effort from Spetch.

With the break drawing near, Peake-Pijnen once again went close.

The hosts were once again on the front foot early in the second half, Reece Fleet testing Hutchings.

Although there had been very little quality on show over the course of the half, Poole were able to produce a single moment of magic to take the lead.

An angled cross from the left wing found Luke Roberts on the corner of the six-yard box and his header back across goal beat Hill.

Jones introduced Kaimen Anderson to bolster his attacking options.

The change almost paid off right as Poole failed to clear their lines.

The ball fell to Anderson on the edge of the area, but his shot was blocked.

Oxford City: Hill, Poku, Grant (Anderson 81), Davies, Henderson, Essuman, Carvalho (Ngathe 75), Fleet (Furlong 62), Louis, Forde, Peake-Pijnen. Subs not used: Demuria, Daramola.

Attendance: 753.