OXFORD City returned to winning ways with a comprehensive victory over Bath City at Twerton Park on Saturday.

Goals from Conor McDonagh and Darren Pond gave City a 2-0 lead at half-time in the Vanarama National League South encounter.

Carlos Pifarre added a third in the second half, before Nick McCootie headed home a consolation for Bath in stoppage time.

After neither side were able to dominate the early stages, City gradually began to take the game to the hosts.

And on 12 minutes, Omari Sterling-James’s free kick was glanced home by McDonagh beyond the reach of goalkeeper Steve Phillips.

City were now in the ascendancy and doubled their lead on 28 minutes.

Philips failed to hold on to a shot from Sterling-James in the wet conditions and Pond followed up to put the ball in to the back of the net.

Bath then went close to reducing the deficit, but Frankie Artus’ free-kick went just wide.

In the second half, Pifarre-Forner almost made it 3-0 when he forced a save from Phillips.

But City did not have to wait long to put the game to bed as they added a third on 50 minutes.

Paul Stonehouse touched a free kick to Pifarre-Forner who found the net just inside the upright.

McDonagh then flicked Pond’s cross just wide as City dominated proceedings.

City keeper Laurie Walker was called into action as he was forced to make important saves to deny Artus, before Kaid Mohamed fired wildly over the crossbar.

They did get a consolation goal in stoppage time as McCootie headed home a corner, but it was all too little too late for the hosts.

Oxford City: Walker, Coulson, Stonehouse, Fofana, Arzamendie, Benjamin (Awadh 82), Pond, McDonagh (Patterson 75), Sterling-James (Lafuente 66), Pifarre-Forner. Sub not used: Isaac.

Referee: C Lymer.

Attendance: 616.