York City 3 (Coulson 1, Chambers 15, McLaughlin 54) Oxford United 1 (McLaughlin og 23) (From Oxford Mail)

York City 3 (Coulson 1, Chambers 15, McLaughlin 54) Oxford United 1 (McLaughlin og 23)

4:52pm Saturday 1st September 2012 in Sport By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458

A POOR defensive display saw Oxford United's 100 per cent start to the season go out the window with a defeat away to York City.

The visitors were behind in the opening minute, when Michael Coulson pounced on an error from Ryan Clarke.

Deane Smalley had a penalty saved before more ragged defending from the U's allowed Ashley Chambers to make it 2-0.

A Patrick McLaughlin own goal brought United, who looked dangerous going forward, back into the game midway through the first half.

But the midfielder struck early in the second half to restore the two-goal cushion, which proved decisive.

Smalley and Jake Forster-Caskey returned to the side after missing the midweek defeat at Leeds United through injury. James Constable and Sean McGinty made way.

The U's had not conceded from open play in the league before the game, but within 17 seconds they were behind.

A mix-up in the visitors' midfield gave Patrick McLaughlin room and his shot was spilled by Ryan Clarke. It fell to Chambers, who unselfishly squared for Coulson to tap in.

It began a breathless first half littered by defensive mistakes.

United looked rattled, but gave themselves a chance to level on 11 minutes.

Sean Rigg had a shot deflected on to the crossbar and when the ball came out, Smalley's shot hit Charlie Taylor's hand.

The referee awarded a penalty, but Michael Ingham kept out Smalley's low spot kick.

York punished the miss by doubling their lead on the quarter hour mark.

Chambers cut in from the left flank and scythed through a statuesque United back four, swapping passes with McLaughlin to bury a shot past Clarke.

United roared back to reduce the deficit just eight minutes later, when Adam Chapman's corner was headed in for an own goal by McLaughlin.

The visitors still looked vulnerable at the back, but had the better chances up to half time.

Their best chance for an equaliser came with a thrilling move ten minutes before the break.

Rigg played a one-two with Tony Capaldi and crossed low for Smalley, who made good contact with his shot but Ingham kept it out.

More goals seemed inevitable after the interval and it took just nine minutes for the score to change again.

Raynes mis-controlled a high ball in his own half, allowing York to pounce and Chambers set up McLaughlin to tuck a first-time shot past Clarke.

Tom Craddock and James Constable were brought on from the bench in an effort to find a way back into the game.

The latter had a glorious chance nine minutes from time, when the ball was flicked over the defence, but the striker steered a volley wide of the post.

It was the final clear chance of the game and York saw out the final minutes without much drama to end United's perfect start to the season.

United: Clarke, Batt, Raynes, Wright, Capaldi, Heslop (Craddock 59) Chapman, Forster-Caskey, Rigg (Pittman 76), Smalley (Constable 64), Potter.

Unused subs: Brown, McGinty, Marsh, Boateng.

York: Ingham, Oyebanjo, C Smith, Carlisle, Taylor, Parslow, McLaughlin, J Smith, Coulson (Fyfield 79), Walker (Blair 71), Chambers (Challinor 88).

Unused subs: Musselwhite, Bullock, McReady, Potts. Booked: Chambers.

Referee: Scott Duncan.

Attendance: 4,015 (514 visitors)