Didcot Town were relegated from the Zamaretto Soutehrn League Premier Division after a 3-0 defeat by Oxford City in yesterday’s derby clash at the npower Loop Meadow Stadium.

Needing a win to have any chance of staying up at the expense of Weymouth, Didcot were undone by a hat-trick from Lee Steele.

As events were to prove, had Ady Williams’s side won, they would have stayed up as Weymouth lost 3-2 at Truro.

But while Didcot failed to put away their opportunities on a rock-hard pitch, Steele showed them just how to do it with some quality finishing.

Watched by a bumper crowd of 402, City, who were looking to avenge a 3-0 defeat by Didcot in February, started the stronger, with Michael Lyon being denied by Sam Warrell’s legs after breaking clear.

At the other end, Jordan Tabor saw his 25-yard free-kick fizz inches wide of Joe White’s goal.

Minutes later, Steele fired City ahead. A mistake from Didcot skipper Jamie Heapy allowed Kynan Isaac to break clear down the left wing and his cross found Steele, who bundled home at the far post.

Minutes later, Wayne Blossom should have doubled City’s lead from Andy Ballard’s long throw-in, but headed wide.

Didcot’s former City midfielder, Michael Alexis, who impressed throughout, went close with a long-range shot which dipped over the bar.

Minutes later, Michael Bartley should have equalised, but shot straight at White.

Four minutes into the second half, Didcot’s task was made even harder when Steele scored from the penalty spot after Isaac was brought down by Andy Gunn.

Bartley should have clawed a goal back when a clearance fell to him on the edge of the area, but he blasted over. And seconds later Morgan Williams headed a chance wide from Dave Lawrence’s cross.

City were dangerous on the break, with Felipe Barcelos curling an effort just wide.

But four minutes from time, it was all over for Didcot when Steele completed his hat-trick.

Warrell made a mess of a clearance and Barcelos fed Steele, who lobbed in his 13th goal of the season.

Didcot kept going forward, but City’s defence held firm to send their derby rivals crashing out of the Premier Division and take revenge for a 3-0 reverse at the hands of the Railwaymen back in February. Didcot Tn: Warrell, Gunn (Huggins 65), Vincent, Alexis, A Williams, Tabor, Heapy, M Williams (Castello 78), Bartley (Bedwell 81), Lawrence, Osbourne-Ricketts. Sub not used: Scott.

Oxford City: White, Blossom, Organ (Martin 65), Ballard, Peirson, Clarke, Barcelos (Dobson 80), Malone, Lyon, Steele, Isaac (Anderson 65). Sub not used: Knight.

Attendance: 402.