ZAC McEachran and Matt Paterson were on target from dead ball situations but it was not enough for Oxford City to avoid a 3-2 defeat at Chippenham Town.

While Mark Jones’s side pushed hard at a sweltering Hardenhuish Park, the narrow loss saw them slip four places to 17th in the Vanarama National League South.

City were unchanged from Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Welling United, but conceded in the seventh minute.

Lee Henderson sliced a cross into his own net, completing a bad bank holiday for the centre back, who was sent off on Saturday.

But the visitors only trailed for three minutes, with McEachran equalising via a free-kick.

Back came Chippenham, who made it 2-1 before the 20-minute mark, when James Guthrie smashed in a shot from close range.

City went in search of another leveller and again McEachran found himself in the same position as his free-kick, but from open play his shot flew just wide of the upright.

Andy Sandell stretched Chippenham’s lead ten minutes after the break, with another close-range finish.

It looked all over for the visitors, but they were given hope in the 65th minute, when Godfrey Poku was pulled down in the box.

Paterson coolly beat goalkeeper Jared Thompson from the spot.

After Henderson had a shot tipped over, City goalkeeper Jack Stevens joined the attack in the dying seconds, but could not direct his header on target from the resulting corner as Chippenham held on.

City host high-flying Braintree Town at Court Place Farm this Saturday.

Oxford City: Stevens, Poku, Henderson, Oastler, Navarro, McEachran, Jones, Fleet (Hirst 75), Pearce, Paterson, Sinclair.

Subs not used: Ngathe, Tutton, Bennett.

VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH

P W D L F A Pts

Chelmsford City 7 6 0 1 11 3 18

St Albans City 7 6 0 1 13 6 18

East Thurrock Utd 7 5 2 0 17 10 17

Havant & W’looville 7 4 2 1 10 4 14

Braintree Town 7 4 2 1 14 11 14

Dartford 7 3 3 1 14 4 12

Truro City 7 3 1 3 12 10 10

Hemel Hempstead 7 3 1 3 7 6 10

Gloucester City 7 3 1 3 9 12 10

Bognor Regis Tn 7 2 3 2 15 13 9

Chippenham Town 7 2 3 2 12 11 9

Eastbourne Boro 7 2 3 2 8 8 9

Bath City 7 3 0 4 11 14 9

Hampton & Rich 7 2 2 3 5 6 8

Poole Town 7 2 1 4 8 10 7

Hungerford Tn 7 2 1 4 8 11 7

Oxford City 7 2 1 4 11 15 7

Concord Rgrs 7 2 1 4 6 10 7

Welling United 7 1 3 3 9 11 6

Wealdstone 7 1 3 3 7 10 6

Weston-s-Mare 7 1 2 4 8 14 5

Whitehawk 7 0 1 6 5 21 1