Skrill North

Oxford City 1
(Pond 42)

Harrogate Town 2
(Worsfold 26, 30)

OXFORD City’s second season at this level started with defeat at Marsh Lane as they were beaten 2-1 by Harrogate Town, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.

Club president Thomas Guerriero was amongst the fans to see City taught an early lesson by a clinical Harrogate side, who struck twice in the space of five minutes through Ashley Worsfold.

City pulled one back through Darren Pond shortly before half-time but they were unable to build on that lifeline as they stuttered to an opening day defeat.

City looked the brighter side early on, going close through Liam Malone and Jamie Cook.

But they needed a great reaction save from debutant goalkeeper Mark Scott at the back post to keep out a powerful header from Chris Hall at point-blank range.

And after that the visitors took charge, getting themselves in front when Worsfold beat Scott with a snapshot on the turn from 25 yards.

Worsfold struck again just five minutes later, as a simple through-ball sliced through the stunned City defence for the Harrogate hitman to side-foot home his second.

City pulled one back shortly before half-time when a dangerous ball from Tom Winters caught the Harrogate defence off-guard and the alert Pond was on-hand to tap home at the back post.

But they were unable to push on in the second half and were lucky not to find themselves a further goal behind shortly after the restart.

Hall again went close for Harrogate, beating Scott with his shot only to be denied by a goal-line clearance from Lee Henderson.

Adam Bolder also tried his luck, firing over the bar from just outside the penalty area as the visitors looked the more likely to score.

It was a poor performance from City, who were lacklustre throughout the second half and looked tired as they struggled unsuccessfully to find a route back into the match.

Oxford City: Scott, Benjamin, Stonehouse, Ballard (McNish 63), Henderson, Willmott, Pond, Malone, Cook (Green 67), Skendi (Symonds 73), Winters. Subs not used: Learoyd, Basham.

Attendance: 283.