OXFORD City came close to pulling off a superb fightback at Truro City on Saturday but were ultimately beaten 3-2.

The defeat is caretaker manager Mark Jones’ first since taking over from Justin Merritt last month.

City trailed 3-0 after 52 minutes of the Vanarama National League South clash, thanks to goals from Ryan Brett, Rocky Neal and Dan Smith.

Substitutes Shaun MacAuley and Mike Fondop led a spirited fightback, but the visitors fell short.

The hosts got off to a flying start, when Brett turned in Neal’s cross on three minutes.

Truro doubled their lead on 15 minutes when City goalkeeper Tyrell Belford could only parry a Brett cross into the path of Neal.

The striker headed home at the second attempt after his initial effort had been blocked by Godfrey Poku.

City ended the half with the majority of the possession, but they could not find a way through a well-organised Truro defence.

The visitors continued in the same vein after the break, but were vulnerable to the counter attack and the hosts made it 3-0 on 52 minutes.

Neal turned provider this time, setting up Smith to slot home from 12 yards.

Jones made a triple substitution on the hour mark and the changes almost made an immediate impact as the Truro defence had to take evasive action to clear substitute Matt Peake-Pijnen’s dangerous cross.

It was the other two replacements who hauled City back into the game, though.

Fondop found MacAuley, who flicked the ball through the legs of a defender and goalkeeper Martin Rice on 64 minutes.

The visitors continued to pile on the pressure and set up a frantic last few minutes, when Fondop headed home a Peake-Pijnen free-kick.

With five minutes added on, City piled men forward and referee Sam Purkiss waved away an appeal for a penalty as they ran out of time.

Oxford City: Belford, Ngathe, Grant, Ashby, Henderson, Poku, Ngamvoulou (Fondop 60), Fleet, Louis, Davies (MacAuley 60), Winters (Peake-Pijnen 60). Sub not used: Niate.

Attendance: 330.